Tuesday 30 June 2015

Southwestern Decorating Styles

The southwestern style is popular throughout the U.S.


Even though southwestern d cor is evocative of the southwestern states of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, you can find it throughout the U.S. If you are interested in southwestern art, the Wild West period or Native American d cor, the southwestern style may suit your decorating needs, even if you don't live in the Southwestern United States. With the appropriate wall d cor, furniture and accessories, you can transform your room or home into a Southwestern retreat. Does this Spark an idea?


Painting and Flooring


With wall paint and a change of flooring, you can give a room or home a virtual makeover in the southwestern style. Painting is also a relatively inexpensive way to create a new look. Choose paint colors in earthy, neutral tones such as taupe, warm yellow and orange shades, bold orange-tinted reds and bright, grassy green colors, such as sage. Natural stone floors, terra cotta tile and dark hardwood work best with southwestern d cor.


Wall Decor


Wall decor can have a dramatic impact on the overall look of a room. Copies of paintings by famous southwestern painters such as Georgia O'Keefe or E. Irving Couse can add a southwestern flavor to your walls. You can also hang Native American crafts and artwork, brightly-colored tiles, Spanish-style crosses and antlers. You can create a built-in shelf for your wall with a rough piece of timber and display brightly colored clay pottery, potted cacti and bead work.


Accessories


When decorating in the southwestern style, look for accessories that recall the desert, cowboys, Native Americans and other Southwestern themes. Some ideas include Native American blankets, animal hides and furs, cactus plants, Native American pottery and woven wool rugs. You can find southwestern accent pieces in flea markets and in stores, especially in the Southwest, as well as on online stores and auction sites.


Ranch Furniture Designs


Southwestern-style furniture comprises natural materials or rugged fabrics, such as cracked leather, canvas, stone, logs, suede and wool, especially in Native American patterns. Weathered wooden pieces can give a room a rustic feel. You can also paint furniture in bright colors such as bold reds, greens, yellows and blues or paint Mexican or Native American style designs.

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