Western and Prairie Decorating
by Nancy, the Frugal Decorating Diva
Description: Creative ideas for decorating your home with a western or prairie theme.
Sponsored links:
One of the less frequently written about styles is western or
prairie decor. If this style is for you, you may be able to
relate to the following question asked of me. And check out my
answer to see if there's anything you'd like to add to your
decor!
Q: My husband and I live on a ranch in Southeastern Wyoming in
a 100 yr old plus house that was a outlying house for cooking
and housing for the Swan Land and Cattle Company ranch that
encompassed acres from the Colorado Wyoming border to beyond
Wheatland. Since its purpose was more utilitarian, the house
is basically a rectangle, long rooms with windows, old
stovepipe holes covered over, few electrical outlets, not many
redeeming features!
That being said, my husband and I love it because of the
history, but I would like to "fancify" it somewhat. I love the
Cottage style, but because we are ranchers, would like to do
more in the way of Western style as in when the pioneers first
came to this area. There is virtually no money for doing
anything and in order to get to flea markets and such I have
to travel between 1-3 hours away. Can you get your creative
juices flowing and help me out?
I am wanting to change from white interiors to deep jewel
tones, such as purples, golds, rusts. I have two other friends
who are wanting to do the same style era. We are even jokingly
considering doing a book as there is nothing out there that
really addresses this era unless you consider the "Cattle
Baron" look in a few books.
Michelle
A: Using what you already have, plus "stuff" from nature would
work with this style and budget. Starting with what you have:
1. Pitchers, pots and pans, measuring cups - anything with
looping handles can be hung from cuphooks on your walls as art
(plus a great place to store them). I have some pictures of
copperware I've hung to give you an idea:
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/copperpot.jpg
and
http://www.frugalbydesign.com//images/copper.jpg
2. Platters, plates, casserole dishes (flat things) can be
hung from ribbon loops off of cup hooks.
3. Horseshoes (if you have those) can be made into a wreath by
tying them together with bandanas.
4. Bandanas can be used for lots of decorating, including
stitching them together to make curtains, valances, table
runners, placemats, etc.
5. Worn out boots of all kinds can be great decor. Hang them
on the wall with their toes pointed out and use these has
hooks - maybe in eth bathroom for towels, or by the door for
coats. Plant them with dirt and plants from your yard -
including small trees. These make great Christmas trees.
6. What "clear glass" stuff do you already own (candlesticks,
bowls, plates, - whatever). These have more decorating uses
than I can list here. If you tell me what you have, I'll give
you some ideas.
Now about "natural" stuff:
1. Stones are an awesome decorating tool. They can be used to
fill bowls, as flower frogs, to make stone sculptures for your
table - put a photo between two stones to hold it up.
2. Branches are also great decorating tools. I used a bunch of
them to make a chandelier in my house - hanging crystals from
them.
3. You can remove thin bark from limbs and cover your window
frames (if you have enough bark) or your switchplates (if you
don't).
4. Nuts, cones, seeds - all that natural stuff can be used as
decor - plus some of them (like seeds) can be mixed in paint
to give it texture.
5. You can always frame grasses, pressed flowers, or moss. Or
you can use those same materials to trim out picture frames
and mirrors.
6. Nests of all kinds - bird nests, wasp nests, bee hives -
even critter nests attached to limbs, can be used as accents.
So can bird houses, if you have those.
Nancy, the Frugal Decorating Diva, turning "stuff" you have
and don't want, into "stuff " you need. Read more about how to
do that at http://www.FrugalByDesign.com or email Nancy at
nancy@frugalbydesign.com.
Related articles:
Budget Kitchen Makeover Ideas
Country Home Accessories
5 Best Budget Kitchen Decorating Ideas
