Bring the natural beauty of the Southwestern desert into your home.
Be inspired by different people and places. Learn how to bring this stunning Southwest interior design look into your own home...
Southwestern interior design styles take their inspiration from the Southwestern US states, such as Arizona and New Mexico.
The southwest decorating style is heavily influenced by the styles of the original Hispanic settlers in these states, in the 18th and 19th Centuries, as well as the Native American culture in the area.
The southwestern interior design look also draws a lot of inspiration from the desert and nature – colors, textures and styles – which is a large part of everyone’s lives in these states.
It is a great look to go for – simple, natural and colorful – so I am sure it will suit your home. Just follow these easy guidelines, to get the look right.
Walls and Color
Look to your walls, as a great place to start, when aiming for that perfect southwest interior design style. Firstly, get the texture right – go for quite heavily textured walls – try stucco plaster, add builders’ sand to your paint, or use a special effect paint, like suede effect paint, or a faux paint effect, like colorwashing.
Try adding a few architectural details to your room (unless you are lucky enough to have them there already!) – large, rustic, ceiling beams and plaster archways and terracotta tiles. Leave woodwork and doors in plain pine to add to the look.
Now, you are all set to add some color. Use the desert as inspiration for your color scheme. Choose rich, earthy colors - ochre yellow, rust, terracotta and browns.
If you want to add an accent color, try lovely, bright colors, like greens, reds, pink, purple and blue. These will give a great splash of typical, southwestern color to your room.
Flooring
Definitely choose a hard flooring (rather than carpet) for your southwest interior design style. A good choice is clay or terracotta tiles - ceramic tiles or wooden flooring would also look fine.
Warm your room up, and add a bit of interest, by including a rug. Choose hand-woven rugs, in bright, vibrant colors and geometric patterns, to give the most authentic look. Look out for the gorgeous rugs woven by the Navajo Indians, for a stunning southwestern decorating style.
Furniture
Don’t go for anything too delicate or fancy for your furniture. Good, solid, simple, rustic style furniture is your best bet.
Choose a mid toned wood, like pine, walnut or cherry.
Look out for furniture with dark iron hardware, like hinges, door pulls and knobs. Ornate wrought iron is also often seen on furniture in the southwest interior design style.
For upholstery choose natural materials – leather, cotton and linen.
Accessories
Accessories are a great way to be able to get the southwest interior design look spot on.
Choose lighting in wrought-iron, or simple, rustic, wooden styles.
Look out for clay and terracotta pottery and jars, either natural, or with colorful glazes. Pueblo Indian pottery is amongst the best around, for this style.
Clay tiles, too, are very typical of the southwest interior design style. Look out for either natural, terracotta tiles, or glazed tiles, decorated with Hispanic style designs and patterns – especially those from Santa Fe, in New Mexico.
Woven rugs and blankets can also become a very important part of your southwestern interior design look. Use them on the floors, but also use them as wall-hangings, and throws.
Look out for motifs in ornaments and art of gecko lizards and cacti, to help you get your own southwest decorating style.
Also look out for other accessories that suggest cowboys or Native American culture - to get a really authentic southwest interior design style.
Take a look on eBay to find some unique Southwestern goodies, which you can use in your scheme.
This is a live feed from eBay and is constantly updated. Just click on any product for further information, or to bid or buy...
The southwestern decorating style is a fantastic way to bring the natural beauty of the desert indoors – and to bring years of culture and style into your home.
It is a wonderful, cheerful style – filled with color – but very welcoming, relaxing and easy to live with.
Are you ready to start on your southwestern interior design project right away? Then take a look at my checklist of interior design tips – essential reading if you want to interior design it yourself, like the professionals do…
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