Whitewashing enhances the natural grain of the wood but also provides a white hue.
Southwestern decor is usually characterized by earthy tones and a handful of bright colors, contrasting textures between rough and smooth and an array of handcrafted, woven and ceramic or clay elements. Furniture in Southwestern decor can range from wooden, to wicker, to woven cotton and leather, particularly in bedrooms. An easy way to upgrade your bedroom decor is with a technique called whitewashing, which is done to wooden furniture and helps create that texture contrast that Southwestern styles are all about. Whitewashing is simple to do and provides the furnishings with a distinctive, rough but cozy appearance. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Add pieces of whitewashed furniture to bring interest to a bedroom that is plain or boring. These could include a large mirror with a whitewashed frame (complete with inlaid turquoise for an even larger Southwestern kick), a bedside table, a vanity table or chair or a dresser. Adding one whitewashed furniture element can add some character as it contrasts with other textures in the bedroom, such as a cherry or oak wood bed or a rustic metal bookshelf.
2. Choose one large whitewashed furniture piece as the focal point in the bedroom instead of one or two smaller pieces. For example, make your bed frame the whitewashed element in the room, which will brighten up the room as well as give it a more Southwestern rustic appeal.
3. Incorporate your whitewashed pieces with Southwestern paint colors in the bedroom. Keep three of the walls neutral, such as a warm tan color, and paint one focal wall adobe red, cactus green or bright Indian turquoise to make the whitewash pop. You can also incorporate paint colors into the whitewashing process--add in shots of dusky orange, sunny yellow or a Southwestern pattern like Native American designs.
4. Add whitewashed furniture to a bedroom for someone who likes the Southwestern decorating style but also wants a more feminine look. Whitewashing provides the rustic element of seeing the natural wood grain, but also keeps the feminine touch of delicate and muted lines. It is the best of both worlds.
Tags: whitewashed furniture, paint colors, Southwestern decor