Are you getting bored with your current living room decor?  If you’re ready to warm and spice things up a bit, the southwestern theme may be what you’re looking for.  This style of decorating offers plenty of color and gives a warm, welcoming feeling to the room.  The look is relaxed and cozy; bold splashes of color keep the atmosphere alive!

Colors set the mood

Designing a living room with this theme can be lots of fun and you will have many options to choose from when it comes to decor and the color selection.  Before you begin randomly decorating the room, consider what colors you are going to use.  A southwestern theme often includes colors found in a southwestern sunset; the shades of the desert reflected throughout the room in hardwood floors, colorful pottery, and wrought iron lighting.

Wood floors add to the appeal

When deciding on the flooring for your living room, choose a wood floor if it’s within your budget.  Warm hardwoods, distressed pine and wide planks add to the rustic appeal of southwestern decor.  For added sophistication, add wood floors with a red undertone.

Walls speak volumes – liven them up!

When painting the walls, choose colors in shades of yellow, red, orange, or gold in honor of the southwestern sunset.  A unique idea you may want to consider is painting horizontal sections of a single wall using the colors of the sunset.  If you prefer a warmer feeling, think tan and neutral colors such as light brown; furnishings can then be the primary source of color for the room.

Rustic metal wall art, wooden wagon wheels and wrought iron candle holders are the perfect accents for the walls.  Avoid cluttering walls with many smaller accessories; two or three larger accents hung on opposite walls add interest without making the room look busy.

Furnishings for southwestern flair

When arranging the furniture, consider placing larger pieces near a focal point such as a fireplace.  This adds a cozy and intimate appeal to the room.  Darkly colored leather is perfect in a southwestern theme; boldly patterned fabrics that carry through with the sunset tones will work as well.

Rugs in muted earth tones are the perfect addition to the floors; they add warmth and texture.  Look for rugs in bold stripes or abstract patterns to pull the look together.

Copper and turquoise accessories are perfect for the home decorated with a southwestern flair; accents of studded leather and carved wood are often found in this style of decorating.  Accent lamps may be made with fabric shades studded around the edges; a wrought iron base adds the perfect final touch.

Throw pillows containing a Native American design add a bold splash of color to a dark leather couch.  The trick to successfully decorating your living room in a southwestern theme is to play on the elements of nature.  Think wood, stone, leather and iron, incorporated with the beautiful warm shades found in a southwestern sunset.

Throw in a few of your own ideas, and use those accents that have a personal meaning to you.  You will have a living room that not only looks beautiful and inviting, it will actually feel like home sweet home.

Even if you don’t live in the Southwest, that colorful and stylish décor is a great choice for any home. You can incorporate a Southwestern theme into just about any room in the house, from the family room to the bedroom. Here are some tips and ideas to get your creative juices flowing if you are considering a Southwestern theme for your home.

Colors to Consider
When you choose a color scheme for your Southwestern décor, it’s best to start with the colors of the desert. Start with colors such as tan, brown, red, and orange. Focus the color scheme on those colors and then add some more flavor with other colors like yellow, turquoise, and green. You can really liven up the room with these accent colors, giving it some flair. If you don’t want such dark colors in the room, you can always go with something like cream or tan and then use orange, brown, or red to accent things instead.

Southwestern Furniture Choices
If you’re going for a Southwestern look, you want to choose furniture made of wood, which will give the whole room an organic feel. A great wood selection, for instance, would be knotty pine. Furniture made from wooden poles that have been woven together is very typical in Southwestern furniture. Decorative carvings in the wood are another popular and very attractive feature in Southwestern décor.

Fabrics to Consider
A frequently used fabric in Southwestern décors is leather. Leather is used in artwork and accessories, in addition to couches and chairs. You might also add an attractive visual touch with an Indian print blanket or wall hanging, both which provide appeal and vibrancy. Sling these striped and patterned blankets on the back of couches or chairs, or even place them in wooden baskets. If you like, you can also opt to use a fringed blanket as an art piece, hanging it on a large wall. One thing’s for sure, these masterpieces provide a great way to bring color and interest to your Southwestern-themed room.

Other Accessories to Add
As you begin to fill in the décor with other accessories, look for items commonly found in Native American and Mexican cultures. You might also choose to recall the area’s natural features by mixing in pieces such as wrought-iron cacti and desert flowers. By placing these plants and flowers in terra-cotta pots and reed baskets can add a really authentic touch. Native American figurines and artwork, hand-painted vases, clay pots and plates, and wrought-iron candle holders also make great accessories for this type of décor.

You can have a ton of fun decorating with a Southwestern theme. It allows you to pay homage to some different cultures, plus you are given a lot of leeway in terms of incorporating unique pieces into your design. This theme is both rustic and elegant, so it’s important to take the time to be sure everything comes together smoothly. You will end up with a casual atmosphere that your guests won’t be able to stop talking about.