How to Use Rustic Style Furniture to Recreate the Southwestern Style

The United States is known as being a very diverse continent with different lifestyles and scenes to be found wherever you travel. When it comes to decorating ideas however, the Southwestern style must be the most distinctive and most thought-provoking. Across the land, homeowners in any climate or environment think about reconstructing that unpretentious, back to basics, lived in and laid back approach, so typical of a Southwestern abode. Rustic style furniture selections should be considered for the ideal look and any would-be designers should aim to achieve authenticity.

Your larger items may be made of wood as this is the most common component of southwestern rustic style furniture. Don’t expect complex detailing as the overall look, while being substantial, is quite simple. You may include some striking accents, but you are looking for a distressed and weathered look ultimately. Wood can be found within architectural featuring, with exposed beams, and hardwood floors a part of that rustic charm.

For your major rustic style furniture items, minimalist is a good byword to bear in mind. When you are thinking about how you will stage your home, throw away the plan and don’t opt for inch perfect positioning as modern designers prefer. The less composed and the more natural look you achieve the better. Aim for color scheming that mimics nature, just as if you were bringing the outside indoors. You have a big variety of colors to choose from and try and picture nature, the sky, the earth and water. Major furniture items should have that distressed look even if you have to create it artificially using sanding methods, for example.

For those who are used to a more contemporary style of living, experts recommend that you really do some research before trying to re-create the southwestern look using rustic style furniture. Let your mind wander back to the creativity of native Indians, early settlers, Mexican life, ceramics and adobe construction, furniture and accents made from natural resources and animal castoffs.

Some people think of the Southwest and think of the desert environment, which they deem to be quite sparse and uninviting. However, nothing could be further from this truth as a typical Southwestern sunrise or sunset can evoke many brilliant and rich colors. Desert landscapes are dominated by the huge variety of plants, running the gamut of colors. Remember that with your main rustic style furniture items, try and avoid too busy a look, but start off with that calming and welcoming style.

Southwestern rustic style furniture is famous for a wrought iron look at this is perfect for smaller furniture items such as end tables or coffee tables. Remember that mixing and matching is recommended and you can have a variety of different southwestern styles within your finished home.

Your main rustic style furniture items should be selected from wooden or leather options, for your sofa, chairs and tables. Remember that you have a wealth of choices when it comes to accessories, lighting and wall effects and with some forethought you can create the drama this look is renowned for in your home.

Rustic style furniture should be very functional, yet also warm and inviting. Oversized items work very well and can be perfectly accented with throws or pillows.

For additional material on rustic style furniture, pick up the popular free Rustic Southwest Decorating Guide by author Craig Chambers, founder of Mission Del Rey Southwest, for unusual ideas and rustic decorating advice. www.missiondelrey.com.

categories: southwest decor,decorating,home improvement