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You are here: Home / Interior Design / Decorating with Southwestern Flair

Decorating with Southwestern Flair

February 20, 2011 by Dan

Although the Southwestern decorating style is naturally quite popular in the Southwestern area of the United States, it’s also a style that is used extensively in other areas as well. The style is warm, colorful and quite beautiful, reminiscent of the desert and Native American culture. There are many ways to use this decorating style in your home, whether you want to decorate just one room or carry the style throughout your entire home. Here are some great ways to bring the Southwestern look into your own home.

Southwestern Colors

The warm colors used in the Southwestern style of decorating are generally vivid and quite eye-catching. You’ll find traditional Southwestern shades such as yellow, orange and red, combined with greens and deep turquoise shades. These brighter shades are often combined with earthy neutrals, creating a nice contrast. You’ll frequently find these shades combined in natural Southwestern patterns, such as a striped rug or a Native American patterned tapestry wall hanging. Because of the warmth of the color palette, a room decorated in this style just naturally feels comfortable and welcoming. For this reason, the Southwestern style of decorating is frequently used for family rooms and other rooms where people tend to congregate.

Fabrics and Textures

The fabrics used frequently have rich colors and textures woven in. Tapestries are common, as are rustic woven rugs and other textile items. Fabric is also a great way to easily add the Southwestern color palette to an existing room. For example, if you already have a sofa and chair, there’s no real reason to replace them. Instead, cover them with a beautifully colored yellow or red slipcover. You can then add a pile of throw pillows featuring Southwestern colors and patterns. The end result will be beautiful while still fitting into your decorating budget.

Art and Accessories

Art and accessories can be used to great advantage when decorating a Southwestern styled room. Although you don’t want to go overboard with too many accessories, unique wall art, sculptures and other artistic pieces can definitely add to the overall effect. Traditional paintings, Native American art, natural furs and hides, woven wall tapestries and even the occasional painted animal skull can add to the rustic and natural charm. Pottery and tin are also common materials used when decorating in this style. For example, a beautiful set of pottery bowls could be displayed on the fireplace mantel. Or, try hanging an authentic Mexican tin mirror on the wall. Choose pieces that have a natural look to them for the best effect.

Sculptures can be used in a very natural fashion when decorating in the Southwestern style. Whether you display sculptures on shelves or decorate the room with Southwestern wall sculptures, the look can be quite rustic and eye-catching. Metal, wood and stone sculptures can all be used to create a variety of different decorating effects. Using sculptures on the walls can be especially effective, since the walls of a room are so easily viewed. Add a few rustic light fixtures to complete the Southwestern look.

Filed Under: Interior Design Tagged With: accessories, art, color palette, Decor, design, fabrics, Home, Southwestern decorating style, textile items, wall art

About Dan

Dan Fargo,the editor-in-chief of Archtopia, an online magazine dedicated to architects and designers.

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