Look for southwestern color inspiraton in indigenous plants.
Color palettes in southwestern design range from the brilliant blues and reds influenced by Mexican decor to wispy pinks and yellows inspired by the desert landscape. Earth tone wall colors may reflect a more traditional rustic scheme while bolder colors may represent a more updated and urban appeal. Your southwestern wall color options include much more than Navajo white and sage green paint. Does this Spark an idea?
Sunset Colors
Sunsets in the desert and mountainous landscapes of the southwest are a display of intense shades of yellow, red and orange. Draw from these colors for a lively design scheme. Select a golden yellow paint with an orange tint for walls that accentuate strong architectural details, such as kiva fireplaces and arched doorways. Paint the walls red, and glaze them with a yellow tint for a more dynamic look. Use a contrasting color for the trim for visual interest.
Desert Colors
Sandy pinks and pale shades of brown add a sense of quietude to southwestern decor. Use these colors for the walls to balance the deep greens, rich reds and sharp blues in fabrics with strong graphic patterns. Spanish and Mexican influences on southwestern design include a multitude of colors and textures. The paler desert tones keep the color palette in check.
Mountain Colors
The mountains of the southwest are filled with shadowy grays, grassy greens, dusty browns and smoky shades of white. Use these colors for your walls to accent leather furniture, granite counter and table tops, and whitewashed hardwood floors. Sage green is a traditional southwestern paint color, but don't discount the fresher leafy greens or richer grassy greens. To complement southwestern artworks, use quiet grays or subdued whites. The dusty browns of rock and gravel work well with earth-toned granites and leather furniture.
Urban Colors
The distinctive architecture of southwestern metropolitan areas suggests orange-pinks and yellowish blues, celery greens and lemon yellows. Select from these colors to complement the traditional styling of the pueblo with its parapets, the Hacienda architecture with its courtyards and the Mission style with its ceiling beams and casement windows. The interiors of urban homes in the southwest reflect the exterior architecture. Use the orange-pink for a traditional native style, the blues and greens for a rustic appeal and the sunny yellow to brighten a style emphasizing the earth-toned Mission style of design.
Landscape Colors
The home landscapes in the southwest emphasize the use of indigenous plant life. Draw inspiration from the green of the cacti, the flowers of succulents and the delicate purple of the Texas sage flower. Paint the walls using colors found in the garden, such as sweet pepper orange, tomatillo green or summer squash yellow.
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