Southwestern Style and Native American Home Decor Ideas

Southwestern style home decor has been growing in popularity recently. It’s a style of interior design that has historically been a staple of cabin, mountain, and rustic homes.

However, recently, Southwestern style has taken a foothold in more modern homes. This is usually done by taking some elements of Southwestern decor and blending them into a more modern or minimalist interior design style.

However, the classic elements that you should look for if you’re going to take a bit of Southwestern style or if you’re going to go all in with your decor are:

Southwestern Rugs

The most important element of Southwestern decor is, without a doubt, Southwestern rugs. They are inspired by the vibrant and intricate art of the Native American people that have inhabited the Southwestern part of the United States for centuries.

They are very easily adaptable to be used with more modern decor and a good place to begin your foray into Southwestern decor. More info about the history and application of Southwestern rugs can be found at www.southwesternrugsdepot.com.

Animal Skulls

Whether it be buffalo, deer or bull skulls, no Southwestern style home is complete without a few animal heads hanging on the wall.

When you think of hanging animal skulls on the wall, you may think of hunting lodges that are littered with hundreds of different animal skulls.

However, in Southwestern decor, their usage is very different. Instead of hanging skulls on the walls as a form of trophies, they are used in Southwestern decor as more of a ceremonial way to stay in touch with nature.

Native American have for centuries used buffalo skulls as decoration to honor their connection to the buffalo. Native Americans respect the buffalo because they are one of their main sources of food and so their people would not be able to survive without them.

More info about the spiritual significance of buffalo skulls in Native American culture can be found here.

Intricate and Vibrant Wall Art

Similar to why Southwestern rugs are so loved, you can take the intricate designs of Native American influence and place in on your walls instead of your floors. This can be especially useful if your home is covered with carpet or you’ve already maxed out your floor space with Southwestern rugs.

Handmade Pottery

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Handmade pottery is as much a staple of Native American art and culture as handmade rugs or carvings. Pottery does not always have to have a utilitarian purpose. It can also be used as a form of decoration to great effect. Put some flowers in vases or just line your tables with beautiful and interesting handmade pottery.