How to Style Bone Inlay Furniture

✨ Elevate Your Inlay

At Mahlia Interiors, we believe every piece of furniture should be both beautiful and deeply personal. Our handcrafted bone inlay designs — made slowly and skilfully by artisans in Rajasthan — are designed to be lived with, layered, and loved.

Whether you're styling a coffee table, bedside, console or cabinet, thoughtful styling can help your inlay furniture become the quiet centrepiece of your space — not just something you own, but something you experience.

Here are our founder's favourite tips for creating timeless, calming interiors using bone inlay furniture.

1. Start with Texture

Bone inlay is inherently tactile — so surround it with other materials that invite touch and soften the visual impact.

Try layering with:

• A linen runner or cotton throw for softness

• Woven elements like jute, rattan or seagrass

• Ceramics or matte glassware for earthy contrast

This is especially useful for consoles and bedsides — use a runner or folded textile to break up the surface and create a natural base layer for your objects.

2. Let It Breathe

Your inlay is the artwork. Avoid crowding it with too many accessories. Leave intentional blank space — whether it’s a bare corner of a coffee table or clean lines across a buffet — to let the craftsmanship shine through.

Think of styling as curation, not decoration.

3. Choose One Statement Piece

Pick a single sculptural or meaningful object to act as your styling anchor. This could be:

• A vintage vase or urn

• A smooth stone, fossil or carved figure

• A stack of beautifully bound books

• A framed photograph in a simple stand

On bedsides, this might be a small lamp and book; on a console, a tall ceramic piece; on a coffee table, a bowl or tray.

4. Play With Height and Shape

Flat styling can feel dull. Vary the heights, sizes and silhouettes of your objects to create rhythm.

• Use a tall candle, a medium vase and a low bowl

• Try round, square and organic shapes together

• On sideboards, lean a mirror or artwork for height

This technique adds interest without adding clutter — ideal for styling longer consoles or large buffets.

5. Curate with Colour in Mind

Bone inlay already carries a visual rhythm, so colour matters. For high-contrast pieces (like black and white), pair with neutral or muted tones to ground the space.

For lighter pieces (like our Brickwork Natural), you can embrace soft contrast — think clay pink, sage green, ochre, rust, or driftwood grey.

Let the inlay inform your palette — not compete with it.

6. Use Trays and Layers to Create Zones

Especially helpful on consoles, sideboards and coffee tables: use a tray to define a section of the surface. This acts as a base for objects and avoids a scattered look.

Try:

• A round tray with candles and coasters

• A rectangular tray with books, a vase and a scented oil

• A mini basket for keys and essentials on an entry console

This is a practical trick that also helps the space feel more curated and calm.

7. Include Something Living

A small plant, a vase of branches, or even a dried bouquet brings your space to life. We love:

• A stem of eucalyptus

• Dried bunny tails or banksia

• A trailing pothos in a ceramic pot

The organic shape softens the formality of inlay and keeps things feeling relaxed.

Final Thought: Style with Soul

The best interiors aren’t perfectly polished — they’re personal. Your bone inlay furniture already carries a story through its craftsmanship. Let your styling continue that story with objects that hold meaning, comfort or beauty for you.

We hope these tips inspire you to create layered, lasting beauty in your home.

Want more styling ideas?
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