The town of San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico is one of those places that hits you the moment you arrive. The colonial buildings are painted in these incredible sunset colors. You see burnt orange, deep terracotta, and dusty rose everwhere. The whole city feels like it’s glowing. Bougainvillea spills over every wall in heavenly shades of pink and purple. The Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel rises above everything with its rose-colored spires. You can spend days just wandering between artisan workshops and galleries tucked into courtyards. You can also explore farm-to-table restaurants. The whole place makes it feel as if time genuinely slows down. But San Miguel de Allende isn’t just pretty. It’s a place with deep historical significance for Mexican independence. You can feel that weight and pride in the culture, the food, and the community.
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THE VIBRANT COLONIAL-STYLE STREETS IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
So here’s what got us completely obsessed with these streets. It’s the colors, obviously, but more than that. It’s how the light changes everything throughout the day. Early morning, those terracotta walls are soft and golden. By midday, they’re almost glowing. Then at sunset? The whole street turns this rich, warm amber that makes you want to just sit there and stare.
What we loved most is that these streets manage to feel both calming and energizing at the same time. The earth tones are grounding. There’s something about being surrounded by clay colors and natural materials that just settles you. But then there’s this vibrancy too, this sense of life happening all around you. People talking, colors popping, textures everywhere you look.
We kept coming back to that feeling when we started thinking about workspace design. Most home offices are either sterile and boring or they’re trying so hard to be “inspiring” that they’re exhausting. These streets do something different: they wake you up and calm you down simultaneously. That’s what we wanted to capture.
A Mexican-inspired at-home studio
The idea behind this design is simple: what if your workspace feels like those streets? Warm, textured, grounded, but with enough visual interest to keep you engaged and creative.
We didn’t want another generic home office with white walls and a Scandinavian desk. We wanted something with soul, something that felt like a real place where you’d actually enjoy spending your time. A space that would make you feel connected. To your work, sure, but also to something bigger. To craft, to history, to the natural world.
Basically, we wanted to create a space that would let you work in San Miguel de Allende without actually having to move to Mexico.
THE COLOR PALETTE
Terracotta became our starting point. That classic Mexican clay color that’s earthy but also surprisingly sophisticated. We paired it with mustard yellow, which gives you that sun-baked adobe feeling without being too bright or aggressive.
But here’s the thing: you can’t just throw warm colors everywhere or you’ll end up with a cave. So we balanced everything with beige and soft organic neutrals. Think of it like the streets themselves. Yes, there are those bold painted facades. But they’re always set against weathered stone, pale stucco, and natural wood. You need that breathing room.
The palette ends up feeling alive without being overwhelming, which is exactly what you want in a workspace.
PLAY WITH TEXTURES AND COLORS ON YOUR WALLS
In this design, we made one wall the star of the show. This is where earthly tones really come in, but texture is just as important as color here.
We imagine a wall covered in a natural-fiber wallpaper bringing dimensional quality. It’s not flat. When light hits it, you get shadows and depth that change throughout the day, just like those Mexican walls.
The other walls? We recommend to keep them light and neutral. This does two things: first, it stops the room from feeling too dark or heavy. Second, it creates actual depth. Your eye is drawn to that textured feature wall. Suddenly, the space appears larger and more intriguing than it is.
One focal wall with personality, the rest calm and simple. That’s the move.
On the right, wallcoverings by John Mark Naturals, 100% made from natural sisal in Sangria and Orangutan. Sisal’s inherent texture and organic origins make these wallcoverings particularly well-suited for Mexican-inspired interiors. They also work beautifully in any space where you want to blur the line between indoors and out. They bring that grounded, earthy quality into rooms that crave an elegant connection to nature.
WOODEN OLD FURNITURE
For furniture, we mixed different types of wood instead of trying to match everything. A dark, weathered desk serves as the centerpiece. Lighter wood for shelving or side tables. Maybe you can consider also some medium-toned accents.
This variety helps keeping things balanced: you get warmth and character from the wood without the room feeling too heavy. And honestly? Mismatched wood just looks better. It feels collected over time. It feels like a real home. It does not feel like you bought everything from the same catalog on the same day.
Look for pieces with visible grain and a bit of roughness. Nothing too polished or perfect. The imperfections are what give furniture character and make it feel authentic.
On the left, vintage desk by Urban Vintage (picture via Unsplash).
Similar here.
CHOOSE BOLDLY PATTERNED TEXTILES
The rug is where we got to have some fun. Up until this point, we’d been pretty restrained. Earthy colors, natural materials, nothing too crazy. The rug is where you can add pattern and really commit to the vibe.
We imagine something with geometric designs, maybe some tribal influences, definitely incorporating those warm accent colors we’d been working with. The pattern brings movement and energy to what’s otherwise a fairly neutral space.
Plus, practical point: a rug makes any workspace feel more comfortable. You’re on your feet less, it absorbs sound, it defines the area. But beyond that, it’s the element that makes the room feel finished and intentional.
Similar here.
How to Introduce Mexico in Your Home Through Your Lifestyle
Not ready to redesign a whole room? You can still bring in this aesthetic through smaller pieces.
Terracotta decorative vases are an effortless way to infuse authentic Mexican warmth into your space. Display them on your desk as sculptural accents, whether holding fresh flowers, housing your favorite pens, or simply standing alone as artful objects. Their sun-baked, earthy texture instantly evokes the rustic elegance of Mexican haciendas, transforming everyday surfaces into curated vignettes.
Similar here.
Beyond decorative vases, consider bringing earthy textures to your walls as well. Woven fiber baskets become sculptural installations. They add dimensional texture and cast captivating shadows throughout the day. This is a nod to Mexico’s rich tradition of handcrafted artisanship.
On the right, a set of handwoven wall baskets by Still Lines Studio. Each basket features a unique pattern that adds organic texture and character to the design of your room. Available here.
Consider also statement wall-decor pieces, keeping in mind that materials matter as much as the design itself. Hanging textiles, for instance, offer a dual impact. They tell a visual story while introducing a tactile, layered texture. Patterns inspired by nature offer another avenue for capturing Mexico’s spirit.
On the left, a handwoven triptych by Sparrow and Grass featuring stylized birds in flight. This piece is the perfect choice to bring visual poetry to your space. Its segmented composition creates rhythm across the area. The flowing lines and organic forms recall traditional Mexican folk art while maintaining a contemporary sensibility. It is an elegant, yet original choice for those seeking sophistication without sacrificing authenticity.
Available here.
The beauty of starting small is you can test the vibe before committing to bigger changes. Add a few pieces, live with them, see how you feel. Each element is a little reminder to slow down. It encourages you to be more intentional. That is really what we’re trying to capture from San Miguel de Allende anyway.
All products linked in this blog post are carefully selected with full independence. Should you purchase them, we will not get any commission.
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