Jul 19 2010
Add a Touch of the Wild West to Your Kitchen
Whether you live on a ranch or in the middle of the city, western style décor offers plenty of color and charm. If you are ready to make a change in your kitchen and dining areas and want to add some spice, this is the perfect way to achieve your new look. This article offers tips and ideas for transforming your kitchen in to a western-themed ponderosa, where the entire family, as well as your guests, will enjoy relaxing in the warm, welcoming ambiance.
Western décor is colorful, often incorporating rich, warm colors such as brown, red and blue. A western flair offers rooms that are colorful, fun and packed with visual appeal.
Use Plenty of Wood and Iron
Adding that home-on-the-range look to your kitchen requires plenty of wood and iron. Wrought iron accents are perfect for this type of décor, as is copper. Your kitchen table may be of a rough-hewn unfinished wood, or even an old wagon wheel topped with glass. Consider hanging a wrought-iron pot rack or a baker’s rack constructed of worn wood and punched tin. Top your table with a runner made of a western-themed fabric.
Add Interest to Counter Tops
Add colorful touches to counter tops with cookie jars, canisters, and other knick-knacks decorated in a western theme. Dish cloths and dish towels can also be decorated with a western design. Wrought iron candle holders are great, as are terra cotta colored pots filled with herbs and other greenery.
You may want to consider a central theme, such as cowboy boots, cowboy hats or even horses. You can find planters that are designed in the shape of a cowboy boot, and horseshoes make great napkin holders. Hang horseshoes and other iron accents on the walls – the more the better! Blending copper accessories in with the iron also makes for a unique look.
Add Color to the Walls
When it comes to your walls, think rustic colors. You may want to paint a single wall, or paint them all. Terra cotta colored paint is great for western décor, as is an amber shade of brown. You may even want to run a boldly colored wall paper border around the top of the walls to add further pizzazz.
For the windows use fabrics that are solid colored or patterned in a western theme or consider using wooden shutters. The trick is to put your own creative ideas to work! Focus either on all that is western, or narrow your décor choices down to one particular theme such as cowboy boots. Your aim is to make your kitchen and dining areas look as though they came straight out of the west.
There are no rules, so have fun! You can find many accents and accessories that are made of worn wood and wrought iron at flea markets and garage sales. Consider putting wood beams on the ceiling to further add to the appeal. You can find lots more ideas by looking through magazines, or even browsing the internet. Remember, fill the room with plenty of rich color for a look that is anything but bland.
