Architecture & Web Art

Archive for the ‘Wall Coverings’ Category

Even though you might live in a very different climate, most people find that there’s just something special about the Southwestern area of the United States. In addition to the pleasant climate, the beauty of the landscape in this area is nothing short of absolutely spectacular. If you’ve always loved the beauty of Southwestern colors and the allure of traditional Native American art, decorating your home in the Southwestern style might be the perfect choice. If you’re ready to add a touch of the Southwest to your own home, here are a few decorating tips to try.

The Southwestern Color Palette

If you mention the Southwest to most people, they immediately think of the colors of the desert and the beauty of a sunset. Southwestern colors consist of primarily warm shades, accentuated by colors such as turquoise blue and purple. Most people find these colors to be relaxing, serene and even inspirational. Traditional colors to use include terra cotta, sand, gold, turquoise, orange, yellow and red shades.

If you’re the kind of person who enjoys nature and the great outdoors, chances are you are always on the lookout for ways to bring a bit of nature indoors. Perhaps you enjoy the serenity of a beautiful outdoor landscape. Or, perhaps you are an animal or bird lover who enjoys wildlife. Whatever your preferences might be, there are definitely a myriad of ways to bring a touch of nature indoors to enhance your overall decorating scheme. Here are a few fun and easy ways to bring a bit of the “great outdoors” inside your home.

If you’d like to add a bit more charm and warmth to your home, it’s hard to beat the beauty of Western decor. The Western style of decorating just seems to naturally conjure up thoughts of comfort and down-home appeal. Whether you choose to decorate your home in a predominantly Western theme or just want to add a few homey touches, you and your family are sure to enjoy the end result. Here are a few decorating tips you can use to bring a bit of Western country charm to your home.

Western “Cowboy” Style

Many people immediately think of cowboy-style decor when they hear the words “Western style.” There just seems to be something bold and a bit “larger than life” about this style of decorating. Although the style is definitely down-home in nature, it can also provide plenty of elegant comfort. Oversized furniture pieces, which frequently feature overstuffed cushions and bold details, are right at home in this decorating style. Leather, cowhide, wood and metal are commonplace in furniture pieces, decorating accessories and light fixtures.

Warm and Sunny Decorating Styles

When the cold wind starts to blow, you’ll be glad you took the time to design a warm and cozy indoor area. Although you can certainly use any style of decorating that appeals to you, decor that conjures up the thought of warm sunshine often work best. For example, you could decorate your space with Southwestern metal art decor to add a touch of desert heat. Warm Southwestern colors such as terra cotta, gold, orange, red and yellow can also add to the overall look.

It can also be fun to create a garden-like look inside your home. If you have a sunny spare bedroom, why not try transforming it into a garden sunroom? Even if the room gets plenty of direct sunlight, the shorter and darker days of winter can sometimes make it difficult to grow your favorite plants successfully. Fortunately, it’s easy to supplement the outdoor light by using one or more simple fluorescent light fixtures. Comfortable patio-style furniture pieces will add to the overall effect. To complete the look, choose art pieces that are representative of outdoor wildlife, such as a turtle metal wall hanging or perhaps a few metal butterflies or dragonflies.

Although many modern decorators have a tendency to use a lot of metal art these days, it’s important not to overlook the beauty and warmth of wood art. Because of the fact that wood comes from a living tree, it often seems to add a certain degree of character, life and personality to a room that can be lacking in some other forms of art. If you think that wood art can only be used with the more traditional styles of decorating, think again. Today’s wood art comes in a wide variety of styles, sizes and colors, ranging from traditional looks to sleek and modern contemporary styles. If you’d like to add one or more beautiful pieces of wood art to your home, here are some decorating tips to help get you started.