If you like a decorating theme that emphasizes hand-crafted items, natural materials and warm tones, Native American decor might work for you. The best aspect of decorating in a Native American theme is that it is simple to add a few key accessories and textiles for a quick update, or you can invest more money and time in a full makeover for the room or home. Extend the theme out to the garden by using earthenware pots to hold cacti and other flora and fauna native to the Southwestern United States. Does this Spark an idea?
Palette
The Native American palette is predominated by medium and dark earth tones as well as rusty reds. Wooden architectural details such as exposed beams, posts, door frames, window frames and stairs are often left unpainted, allowing the natural materials to show. Glossy and slick surfaces are not as common in this design scheme. Instead, emphasize rustic, distressed and matte finishes. Because many Native American textiles and accessories tend to be dark, you might want to lighten the overall palette by painting walls in an antique white, a pale beige or a mellow yellow.
Furniture
Native American style furniture is mostly made of natural materials, most notably wood, wool, leather, cotton, stone and paper. Bold patterns and shapes are common, such as a farmhouse-style dining room table with long benches for seating. Consider a coffee table with an eye-catching natural feature, such as logs for legs or a stone top. Imaginative upholstery integrates Native American motifs, such as arrowheads, animal skin patterns and diamonds. Wrought iron frames and embellishments are ideal for shelves, beds, cabinets, tables, wall art and outdoor pieces.
Accessories
Add bright swaths of color to your interior with Native American accessories. Fill baskets of contrasting weaves with lemons, limes, Indian corn, river stones, persimmons and other things from nature. Cover floors with woven wool rugs featuring Native American symbols and traditional designs. Use lighter cotton textiles on windows to allow natural light to pour in. Integrate splashes of cobalt blue for a bracing contrast to the earth tones and reds by lining a windowsill with blue bottles, setting a table with heavyweight blue glass goblets or creating a water-themed mosaic for a garden wall or table top. Invest in a key accessory to spark conversation, like a Old West wagon wheel or an ornate, tall wrought iron candle holder.
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