The American Southwest is filled with an intrinsic beauty that is subtly conveyed through the natural elements that comprise it. Gorgeous plateaus and buttes, wide open sky, earthy desert, succulents and cacti. These are the natural elements that the American Southwest Indians communed with, and the same elements that attracted Spanish and Anglo settlers. The adobe homes that provided shelter for Native Americans in the Southwest complimented the natural surroundings and had a design aesthetic that naturally combined with the world around them. It’s no wonder that so many homeowners and interior designers choose a Southwestern motif. It has it’s own unique look and it provides an ambiance that is particular to the natural world of the American Southwest. And it’s not that difficult to capture either. Below are some simple design elements that can help you to create a Southwestern feel in your very own home – no matter where it is.
Earth Tones – The foundation of Southwestern design is earth tone colors. Think of adobe homes and the earthy clay tones of the Southwest. Oranges, tans, beiges, and browns are excellent colors for the wall, these are colors that help create the atmosphere of the American Southwest. A terracotta ceramic tile floor is also a near essential Southwestern design element. The earth tones can be accented with turquoise, azures, and reds, too, to represent the open sky and darker clays.
Armoires, Buffets, and Plank Tables – Furniture of the Southwest is rustic and made of solid wood often in the Mission style. Mission furniture is an ode to the Spanish mission revival movement in design. Because adobe homes did not have closets or much storage space built into them, large armoires and buffets for storage are a standard in Southwestern design. Plank tables are also prominent in Southwestern design because they capture the natural simplicity of the Southwestern world. Light to medium toned woods are usual in Southwestern design, but darker woods can also be incorporated if the style is consistent with the Southwest.
American Indian, Hispanic, and Western Accessories – Any mixture of American Indian, Hispanic, and Western accessories will bode a Southwestern design motif well. Think of Navajo rugs and blankets that are intricately woven and have bright colors. Or wrought iron hardware to compliment the solid wood furniture and bring to mind echoes of Spanish settlers of the Southwest. American Indian pottery and Western accessories like wagon wheels and saddles, these are the kinds of things that accentuate the Southwestern design ethic.
Elements of Nature – Because Southwestern design is so reminiscent of the natural Southwestern world, it’s important to incorporate elements of that natural world into the Southwestern design motif. Cacti and other succulents are a sure-fire way to help create the Southwestern appeal in the home. Paintings of a Southwest landscape or native birds of the Southwest are another good way to incorporate elements of nature into a Southwestern design.
