Southwestern design
is rich in vibrant, nature inspired colors, handmade pottery and rough textures. No room is complete without lighting, so accentuate your Southwestern style with lighting indicative of this Native American-inspired design style. While the color palette of a Southwestern room includes bright colors such as red, turquoise and gold, earth tones are used as foundation colors to ground the accent colors. Select lighting with a earth tone base, with details and hand-painting that picks up on the accent color you have chosen. Does this Spark an idea?
Chandeliers
Look for lighting that has ceramic covers and bases. Southwestern design is rich in handmade pottery and other crafts, so your lighting should reflect that flavor. A Southwestern chandelier is a grouping of individual cylinders, hung with chains from a handmade wood or ceramic base.
Wall Sconces
Southwestern wall sconces also are made of ceramic or porcelain, and have decorative details indicative of Southwestern design. Southwestern inspired designs are the butterfly, hummingbird, crown and the easily recognizable kokopelli, the Native American fertility deity. There are nature-inspired designs, but many options exist for geometric patterns if you prefer not to have a butterfly in your living room.
Ceiling Fans and Fixtures
Circulate the air in the room with a hand-painted terracotta ceiling fan featuring an Aztec design or red chili peppers. Southwestern designs borders on whimsy, and so should the lighting. Flush-mounted ceiling lighting coordinates with the ceiling fans, so install a set.
Tags: Southwestern design, design rich, handmade pottery, Southwestern design rich