Southwestern Style Decorating
Bring this style to life whether you live in the Southwest or the Northeast
Coarse textures, handcrafted items, natural colors, woven fabrics with
bright patterns all distinguish the Southwestern decorating style. Rooms
display a time-honored palette of green, red and desert toned natural
colors.
Leather, suede and sturdy woven fabrics are used for upholstery, and
colorful wool shawls are great for decorating the walls. These serapes, as they are called,
can also be swathed over chairs or sofas to add color all through the room.
Leather, suede and sturdy woven fabrics are great for upholstery. Use colorful wool shawls
and southwestern art, like pictured above, for decorating the walls.
Southwestern décor can unite your mental pictures of deserts and cacti
and gold mining towns into a distinct decorating style.
You’ll first want to
consider what colors you want to be most outstanding. After you select wall
paint and some accessories such as rugs or blankets with your colors, then
you can start looking for furniture to either go with those colors, or fit
the general décor theme you’re creating.
For some, southwestern décor is about old-time Spanish haciendas and
colorful Mexican homes. Big, heavy, rustic pieces of furniture made of log
pole and rugged materials such as iron, stones and wood are often used to
preserve the natural unrefined flavor.
Talavera pottery and painted ceramic
pieces evocative of 16th century Mexico can also be used to add color.
There’s uniqueness in the southwestern style that can easily be made
clear by picturing a desert scene.
Widespread use is made of the colors that
are found in the deserts. Common colors and characteristics are as follows:
- Vividly patterned fabrics used with natural colors
- Desert hues such as green, red and beige
- Iron, adobe, wood, smooth rocks and other organic materials
- Kiva ladders, adobe fireplaces, oversized furniture
- Native American accents
Southwestern style calls to mind the deserts and Native America found in
the southwestern segment of the United States. Buffalo, adobe houses,
cactus, blowing sand and Native Americans are all represented by this style.
Accessories slant heavily in the direction of Native American accents and
desert plants.
The Southwest is a huge, vibrant, occasionally cruel and hostile ancient
land. Vivid colors, the desert air and natural materials all add to the
homes and interior designs and decorating of the people who live here.
Antique furniture goes well with this style of decorating. Southwestern
style decorating developed into an assorted blend of Spanish and Anglo
furniture as pioneers moved west, carrying their valued belongings with
them.
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