You don't have to live in the Southwest to decorate your home in a colorful and stylish decor. A Southwestern theme can be incorporated into just about any room in the home from a bedroom to a family room. If you are considering a Southwestern theme for your home, here are some tips and ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Colors to Consider
In choosing colors for your Southwestern theme, keep the colors of the desert in mind. Colors such as tan, brown, red, and orange are great starting points. These colors should be the focus that you use for the room and then you can add some more pizzazz with green, turquoise, and yellow. These colors accent colors liven up the room and give it some flair.
If you don't like dark colors, then consider cream or tan and use orange, brown or red as the accent colors instead.
Furniture Choices
For a Southwestern theme choose furniture that is made of wood and gives the room an organic feel. A good wood selection would be knotty pine.
You can use furniture that is made from wooden poles that are woven together, as this style is very typical in Southwestern furniture. Decorative carvings in the wood are another common aspect in Southwestern décor.
Fabrics to Consider
Leather is frequently used in Southwestern themes. Leather can be found in couches and chairs as well as in artwork and accessories. Indian print blankets and wall hangings are attractive visual touches that add appeal and vibrancy. These striped and patterned blankets can be placed on the back of couches or chairs or placed in wooden baskets.
You can even take a fringed blanket and hang it on a large wall as an art piece. These masterpieces are a great way to add color and interest to a Southwestern themed room.
Other Accessories to Add
When choosing other accessories and decor pieces, look for items that would be commonly found in the Native American and Mexican cultures. Pieces such as wrought iron cacti and desert flowers can be added to the room to recall the area's natural features. Place these plants and flowers in terra-cotta pots and reed baskets for an authentic touch.
Some other accessories that you may consider are Native American figurines and artwork, hand painted vases, clay pots and plates, and wrought-iron candle holders.
It's fun to decorate with a Southwestern theme. You have a lot of leeway to incorporate many unique items into your design and you get to pay homage to different cultures. While the theme is rustic it is also remarkably elegant, so take the time to make sure that everything comes together smoothly.
It's a great way to have a casual atmosphere that will give your guests a lot to talk about.
