Modern Southwestern design is a blend of Spanish and Native American styles that draws inspiration from the local environment. The styles fuses the colors of the southwest and natural textures to create a space that is warm and unique. Southwestern style uses open floor plans, exposed wood and bright oranges, reds and yellows. Let’s have a look at how you can bring this style into your own interior design at home.
The Colors
The colors used in southwestern design take their inspiration from the natural world around them and the deserts of the area. You can use azure blues from the sky, reds and oranges from the local flora and the warm earth tones from the desert sand. There is a lot of color in southwestern design, you can use natural colors on the wall and splashes of color are added with area rugs, and throw pillows.
The Furniture
One of the great things about southwestern design is how incorporates different textures, making your room feel warm and lived in. You can use big oversized leather furniture next to a simple wooden rocking chair and it works beautifully. Wood will be the predominant material for coffee tables or end tables but they can have decorative tile or ornate metal fixtures to make them stand out. Here are some more design styles you can incorporate into your home.
Accents
The art work and accent pieces are where you can really make a statement and showcase that unique southwestern style. You have so many options to choose from but traditional accent pieces will combine different colors and textures. Wrought iron and metal feature heavily in this style, if you have high ceilings you can include a large wrought iron chandelier. Flooring is usually stone tile or a rich hardwood but you can soften that up with thick fleece area rugs. Leather furniture is fairly common and you can accent it with colorful pillows and a Navajo blanket. Candles and Native American pottery work well and if you want to put some art pieces on the walls then landscape portraits or deer heads add to the overall design scheme.
Southwestern design can tread a very fine line between beautiful and kitschy, so don’t go over the top. Add pieces slowly until you have the look you are trying to achieve. Southwestern design is a fun style that is meant to be lived in and it can be great fun scouring antique shops and thrift stores and finding that perfect piece.