There is nothing quite like hitting the hay after a long day’s work, and there is no cozier place to hit the hay than in an authentic western style bedroom.
You don’t have to be a cowboy to embrace the down-home feeling created by a rustic bed frame combined with cozy Southwestern textiles. Some folks may be inclined to go all out and give their bedroom a top-to-bottom ranch-inspired look, but others might just want to add small doses of western design here and there.
One easy way to dabble in the Western style is to start off by changing your bedding. Bedding is a good place to begin because pillowcases, sheets, and blankets can always be changed if you change your mind. Unlike other design styles, it is quite alright to mix and match prints and motifs when working with western bedding. This means that you can always add new pieces and try different combinations to find the best one that works for you.
Then if you end up falling for the western look, you can incorporate more elements of this classic American design such as dressers, nightstands, lamps and wall decor.
What is Western Bedding?
From the bedrolls of roaming ranchers to the woven blankets of Texas frontier cabins, western bedding draws inspiration from the American West. Western bedding often features traditional Native American patterns, Southwestern colors, and cowboy motifs. It also often incorporates materials favored in the Old West such as leather, suede, fur, felt, and wool, as well as quilted items.
Starting Out With Western Bedding
If you are looking to add a touch of the west to your bedroom without fully committing to making your bedroom look like a Texas lodge, start out with a large wool blanket featuring western imagery or geometric Southwestern designs. You can fold it so that it lays neatly across the foot of the bed, prepped and ready to keep you warm on a chilly night. Alternately, you could drape the blanket over a chair in the corner of your room.
Taking Your Western Bedding Up a Notch
Once you have fallen in love with your western wool blanket, you are probably going to want to incorporate a few more western style textiles to the mix. Some western accent pillows can provide a nice touch, especially ones incorporating real cowhide, faux leather or suede pillow shams.
While a small amount of western bedding pairs well with just about any design style, from modern farmhouse to eclectic to mid-century, at this point you may be done adding potentially-clashing pieces your home decor. A few accents are great, but mixing and matching too much can start to feel like a mess.
Taking Your Western Bedding All the Way
If you simply can’t get enough of the comfort and look of western bedding, then you might as well go all out with a western design for your bedroom. The first thing to do is to find a western style bedroom set with a bed, dresser, and nightstand.
Original furniture from the Wild West can be hard to come by, and if you do you’ll either pay sky-high vintage reseller prices or have to do a fair amount of restoration. Instead, opt for modern-day reproductions of western style wood furniture. A western style bedroom set will feature natural wood finishes. Live edge pieces are also a suitable choice. As far as bed frames go, you might pick one constructed from hardwood logs as an authentic choice if you can find it. Otherwise, a bed frame made of wood planks, or even polished brass, are suitable picks.
Next, you will want to add to your western bedding collection with sheets and a comforter set. To keep your design from getting too busy, choose a solid color sheet set that matches a color in your wool blanket. You might pick two colors so that you can change it up from time to time, or mix and match pillowcases. Pick a comforter or duvet cover with a western design or motif that goes well with everything. This could be anything from a white quilted bedspread to a faux fur comforter.
Finishing Touches
Now that you’ve completed your western bedding set and picked out your furniture, all that’s left is to add some western decor items to complete the look. A few framed paintings or prints in the style of Charles Russell are a great choice for wall art, as are some antique farm tools mounted on the wall.
Other vintage items and antiques can add to the overall atmosphere. Taxidermy or cow skulls are also a common choice for western-themed bedrooms. Antlers and bullhorns are also popular choices. Don’t pick so many that your room looks like a natural history museum; just a couple of nice pieces will do the trick.
By now you have created the perfect western bedroom that captures the spirit of the plains. Remember that with western bedding you can always mix and match and experiment with different natural textures as you see fit. If you’re looking for the best Rustic and Western Furniture for any stage of your decorating process, don’t hesitate to contact Antèks today!