1. Warm And Comfortable Southwestern Style Touches Full blown southwestern design isnt appropriate for every home but touches of southwest dcor can liven up almost any home where ever you live. Southwestern style is warm, friendly, welcoming and joyful. Its also colorful with lively hues of pumpkin, gold, yellow, red, greens, bright blue, light brown, purple and rust. All the colors of a desert sunset. The feel is comfortable and relaxed and easy-going. Theres sub-styles that include cowboy or western, American Indian, and Mexican (all southwestern design has Mexican or Spanish elements). This is a perfect style for Southwestern architecture but if you have a timber frame or log home or even a country style home go for it!! Its the perfect theme. Where to start? Find a southwestern style rug or throwmost are Indian designs. Take your colors from that. For each of the major rug or blanket colors you should have two or three dcor items of a similar color around your room. Any less they will look too random. You should also have wooden pieces of furniture or tan items to break up the colors. Dcor accessories include the Indian rug, throw or blanket itself draped over the back of the sofa or upstairs railing, Indian and western art, ceramic figurines of western or Indian themes. Cactus and other native plants in pottery pots give an instant southwestern touch. Pottery of every kind is a large part of southwestern design vases, pots, and decorative bowls in southwestern colors. Dinnerware can also give the color and feel of the southwest. Always choose ceramic dinner- and serving-ware. Choose casual stylesnothing too elegant. Italian dinnerware can work since you will find designs that are very similar to Spanish or Mexican. Two excellent examples is Vietri Dinnerware such as their Bellezza dinnerware and baking dishes in Tomato Red or Orange and Fantasia Yellow designer dinnerware. Skyros Designs Cantaria Collection is a perfect addition to any kitchen and dining room where you want to add southwest design. The colors couldnt be more perfect, pine or sage green, almost yellow, golden honey, poppy red, and caramel,. Mix and match for a true southwest look. For lighting ceramic pottery lamps are an excellent choice. Light should be a bit dim to accent your browns and reds but to accent your tan and lighter colors you can turn up the lights. Natural light is always preferable so go easy on the window treatments and let the light in. So make your home a warm, comfortable, southwestern mecca where friends and family will love to gather and celebrate life.