We all look forward to summertime when we spend a lot of time outside. Enjoying longer daylight hours and warmers evenings are wonderful benefits of summer. Watermelon and corn on the cob are summer delights to be enjoyed. Flowers and trees bring beauty to our lives and world.
Summer is sure to inspire us. It gives our creative energies a chance to work on home decorating projects.
Surround yourself with southwest touches. Since so much time is spent outside, its only natural to create a special area to relax and enjoy all that the season has to offer. A unique southwestern environment may be created on your deck, porch or patio. Decorate your outdoor area with a southwest theme. It will become a favorite place of your home where family and friends gather.
Sunflowers are a wonderful way to introduce the southwest theme into your decor. Start with a wreath for your deck, porch or patio that is adorned with lovely sunflowers to welcome family and friends. Hang colorful ceramic birds from ceiling rafters as well as ristras of dried chili peppers for a real southwest theme. Furniture made of wrought iron gives your outdoor space a southwestern feeling. Add brightly colored cushions to complete the look.
Excellent color choices for your southwest decor are plump pillows in the colors of red, gold, orange, yellow, green, or blue. Placing a large area rug in front of the seating area will help pull the area together. Plants in colorful pottery can also be placed around the area to define space. Want to create pleasurable summer memories? Use a fire ring in your outdoor area to cook marshmallows and hot dogs.
Be careful, however, to never leave the fire unattended and to keep the flame small. Create a real southwestern feel by hanging a few strings of chili pepper lights around the area.
As you enter inside your home, go throughout the rooms and look for any areas that seems a little drab and try placing a Native American woven basket filled with magnificent silk sunflowers in that space. Color can do amazing things. Silk sunflowers can be used year round to give your home a sunny and happy feeling.
Talavera, a unique southwestern pottery crafted in southern Mexico, makes beautiful accent pieces in designated spaces. There are all kinds of accent pieces for your home. Each piece is beautifully hand made and painted. There are a lot of items available with hand painted sunflowers. Pottery of this kind will definitely turn your southwestern space into an area of beauty. Stunning colors such as blue and gold can be included in your area.
Organization becomes easier with the use of Native American baskets in various sizes. They work great for holding dried flowers. There are so many uses for incorporating Indian baskets into your home. Try them in your entryway for mail, kitchen for utensils and bathroom to hold towels. As baskets are added to the organizational needs of your home, you'll find so many creative ways in which to use them. Your home will become so organized as you put various sizes of baskets to use.
You can certainly find many treasures at flea markets or second hand stores. For a crafty idea, paint your find and incorporate it into your southwest decor. Any piece of wooden furniture may be turned into a southwest masterpiece. Consider your table, chairs and book cases as a potential piece of art. You'll have a true work of art if you choose a bright color that complements the room. For a unique one of a kind design, once your paint is dry, stencil on designs such as sunflowers of chili peppers.
Candles placed in table top clay chimineas will add sparkle and sizzle to your southwestern room. With this, an authentic "south of the border" theme is created. Wall sconces are also a nice touch. The atmosphere will look calming and peaceful. A nice and needed addition would be the use of big pillows placed in richly woven wool pillow covers. This creates nice areas for floor lounging. For special southwestern touches, play soft Native American flute music and light incense with the scent of sage.
Put a smile on your face this summer by surrounding yourself with beautiful things you love. A southwest summer is such a pleasure to experience. Build lasting memories that will be fresh in your mind throughout the next three seasons.
Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey Southwest, offering unique hand crafted southwest decor and money saving rustic decorating tips. Find out more on his website and get his popular free ebook. The Rustic Southwest Decorating Guide
