Southwestern decor begins on the outside.
Southwestern style interior decorating is a totally American style that is indigenous to the West but can be used anywhere. It can be worked into any room in the home and also into office décor with style and grace. You can't understand Southwestern style decorating without having an understanding of the land and the heritage behind this style. It's a vibrant and colorful land that is also often harsh and unforgiving. It can vary from high plateaus to the deepest valleys. You can find grassy hills next to volcanic rocks. Does this Spark an idea?
Architecture of Southwestern Style
The architecture is one thing that makes Southwestern style stand out. It's much like the landscape of the area in that it can vary a great deal. Red clay tile roofs are popular in the old Spanish hacienda style. Pitched metal roofs are also common. Fireplaces are essential in the architecture of a Southwestern home and much of the interior decor will be fashioned around the fireplaces. Some homes even have them in nearly every room.
Colors in Southwestern Style Decorating
Colors build the Southwestern interior decor.
The colors of Southwestern style decorating make it really stand out from other styles of home décor. Bold, bright colors are used that resemble those colors that come from the land. Intense blues, cobalt and turquoise are popular choices, as are deep reds like the earth and the rocks. Rich greens and bright yellow and orange mix well in a Southwestern theme. These bright colors mixed with the neutrals of earth-tones like brown, tan, beige and gray all make the colors of Southwestern style decorating.
Southwestern Style Furniture
Part of Southwestern style interior décor is the furniture. Antique furniture is a good match with Southwestern themes, and Spanish colonial or Mexican furnishings are a great choice. Wood and handmade furniture suits the style well and wrought-iron also brings in more of the colonial feel. Large, heavy pieces are synonymous with Southwest style. Carvings in wood or stone furniture pieces are also very common with the style, as are Indian art and crafted pieces.
Southwestern Style Accessories
Accessories complete the Southwestern style interior decorating. There are a great number of accessories that work well with this style and theme. Indian arts and prints, hand-sculpted items and clay pottery are big Southwestern accessories. Spanish and Mexican art, folk art and Spanish folk art work well with this theme. Kachina dolls are a prized collectible of the South. These accessories combined with the right paint, furniture and other décor really complete the Southwestern look.
Combining the Elements
Southwestern style interior decorating is all about combining the different elements together in one to create a warm, comfortable, inviting space. Brightly colored throw pillows, crochet afghans and other small touches help bring the complete package together in your design.
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