Much more than a place, the southwest is a feeling. This feeling can be brought home most strongly with southwest decor. It conveys a reminiscence of our past, a time of rugged individualism and freedom. Although the day of the cowboy is really past, the strong echoes of that era will always be with us. It can be expressed easily by using design elements from the southwest in our home decor. Calling up the cattle drive, bunkhouse, and lonely nights on the range, southwest decor can transform your home into an oasis of the old west.

Decor with a southwest theme is about both color and natural quality. Only elements of the earth and great outdoors seem to be appropriate here, so choosing materials that conform to this will carry through the southwest theme easily. As you add different design elements to your home, the casual, relaxed atmosphere everyone associates with the southwest will develop. Antler lamps or rawhide lamp shades which are wonderful accent details, will become a focal point and add to your decor theme. It is important not to introduce plastic or ultra-modern furniture or fixtures when decorating in this style. You will be delighted at how like a ranch house your home can seem by keeping everything natural.

You will find everything you need in the rich collections of tapestries, rugs, pillows and bedspreads if you choose a southwest decor theme based on Native American heritage. Bring back the days of the pueblo by using the creativity of these indigenous people to develop the interior of your home. Your rooms need not be cluttered with these things to look good. You will convey the southwest style simply by keeping the room open. Be sure to include kokopelli and sun designs to give your home an authentic feel when going with the Native American theme.

A wonderful way to bring southwest decor to your home is by introducing the days of the cowboy and cattle round up. The spirit of the outdoors, the long trail, and nights around the campfire can be brought to any room with the choice of the proper furnishings and accent pieces. The time of rugged independence and the resourcefulness of the cowboy can be echoed in your very own home. Your home will radiate a spirit of relaxation and neighborliness by decorating with a cowboy theme. The faithful companion of the trail, the horse, is a wise accent theme. The era of the cowboy come alive when you decorate in a style that depicts reminders of the trail, longhorn cattle and wolves.