Creating the proper Western, rustic design can work very well when done right.
Properly capturing a rustic, Western design for your home can be difficult to do. Even if you have all of the necessary pieces and the feel is correct you want to be sure that it feels genuine rather than staged. The key is to be subtle, and to try not to over-decorate. Choose a general design that you like and try to eliminate everything that you don't really need it order to focus the attention on the design choices you did make. This will also create a feeling of room and space while at the same time eliminating mess and clutter. Does this Spark an idea?
Wall Hangings
One way to bring the feeling of the rustic West to a room is to decorate with Native American wall hangings. These hangings are similar to tapestries, and they're typically woven in a variety of bright colors such as red, blue, green and turquoise. Many of these hangings are also interspersed with beadwork, which can add even more authenticity to the room. It's a good idea to pick your room's color scheme first though, because a wall hanging that clashes with the color might make the Western theme look tacky or staged rather than genuine. Try to print out a picture of the hanging, or to get swatches of the color to see how it will stand out in the room before purchasing the hanging itself.
Hardwood
The West was a rugged place, and the furnishings that you choose should reflect that. For a genuine, Western feel you should try and get as much rough or unfinished wooden furniture as you can. This doesn't mean that you have to have a lamp made of a log with the bark still on it, but if that look suits your home then by all means run with it. If you can get a hardwood floor instead of carpeting, and try to match the floor to whatever table or chairs you put in the room. If everything is similar then it creates a feeling of harmony, and the illusion that the entire room was carved from the same copse of trees.
Accessories
Don't be afraid to hang a few accessories on the walls or the mantle if it enhances the design of the room. If you have a glassed-in case holding an old revolver for instance (as many gun collectors and enthusiasts do) then display it. If you want to add a flair of the exotic to the room then place a Native American drum in a place that it seems to fit (near a wall hanging if you have one). Generally speaking don't be cheap with your room's accessories. If you're willing to buy the genuine article then by all means display it, but if you just buy cheap accessories your home might have the feeling of a theme restaurant rather than a rustic cabin.
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