The Southwestern region of the United States is considered to be mainly composed of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, California, Texas and Oklahoma, - basically, where cattle and buffalo used to roam free . Going back to almost four centuries the style of Southwest Furniture has not changed much, on purpose. The Old Spanish mission-style furniture, which Southwest Furniture emulates, is large, heavy and expensive-looking. After all, it was the furniture used by the Spanish Catholic clergy and well-to-do ranching families back then. The craftsmanship that the wood workers who were brought over from Spain in the 17th Century, continues, as shown in the detailed work of the artisans of today. Reminiscent of The Mission Period, the wood is intricately and lovingly worked. In the making of Southwest Furniture, an old-time tool known as the hand plane is still used by some carpenters as are other time-renown carpentry methods. The woods used in the making of Southwest Furniture are, mainly, the very solid and heavier ones - i.e., pine, oak, log, willow, poplar and cedar. Even recycled white oak from California wine barrels and reclaimed word are also being used to achieve that aged look. A rather new tendency in the manufacture of Southwest Furniture is to inlay different materials such as marble, decorative tile, copper and cactus, to enhance the look. Also, the use of old hardware, such as hinges and handles, are being salvaged to complement today's Southwest Furniture's appeal.

In the 17th Century the area that we know today as the American Southwest belonged to Spain; therefore, everything there was emulated from the Old Continent - the clothes, farming, religion and yes, of course, even the furniture. The Spaniards brought over their carpenters - who, in reality were true artisans, to the New World. They, in turn, trained the local Indians to be their helpers. The flipside of this new and unexpected partnership was that the Spanish artisans also learned from the Indians about adobe and materials of all sorts which they came across in the New World and, that the Indians shared with them. What we refer to today as the Old Mission Style in Southwest Furniture is reminiscent of this particular historical period. Because the wealthy families and the Catholic Church were the only ones that could afford to hire the artisans/carpenters, the furniture was large, heavy and impressive-looking. Even today, Southwestern Furniture has the look and feel of affluence.

The craftsmanship employed today is of the highest quality. In most places where Southwestern Furniture is sold pieces may be ordered to fit your personal specifications. The hand plane, an old time woodworking tool that, according to the experts in the trade brings out textures in the wood that go much deeper than simple sandpapering does, is still alive and well. Another old-time, but still popular alternative is the mortise-and-tenon joinery. During the Mission Period, this method was used when nails were scarce or unavailable. Today, Southwestern Furniture that is built with this kind of method which continues to assure the buyer that the furniture was handmade by expert craftsmen with meticulous care and calculations.

While in the olden days the wood that was readily accessible was the one that was used to build, today the ever-popular and trusty heavier woods such as pine, oak and cedar are still used in the making of Southwest Furniture. Logs and willow, all-time favorites are also consistent materials currently being used in the manufacture of Southwest Furniture. The combination of these fine woods with the new tendencies of incorporating other materials such as copper, marble, slate and decorative tile is simply breath-taking.

Another new material which is becoming more and more popular with Southwest Furniture is cactus. Some companies make the extra transportation expense and import cactus from as far away as Chile, in South America. The part of the plant that is used is actually the already dead and decayed leaves of the cacti.

Nowadays Southwest Furniture offers you a myriad of choices, both in style as well as materials, for your interior decor requirements. The furniture is sturdy, which means it will last you a long time. It's also ageless as far as elegance is concerned. All in all, you simply can't go wrong when choosing Southwest Furniture. So saddle up here, pardner, and consider Southwest Furniture when it is time to redecorate your home, office or vacation get-away.

Most likely the best place to search for tapestry with a variety of patterns is the internet or a place like eBay. You want to focus on colors like purples, pinks and turquoise as they are the main colors that go along with Southwestern decorating. If you decide to go Western, the colors change to: red, black and grey. If you're looking for a Native American inspired look, the Navajo pattern is one of the most popular for homes.

If you're starting a home decor project, use color samples to determine which Western tapestries fit best in your home. Watch out for cheap imitations, and stick to tapestries that are handmade with materials like Wool. Getting a handmade tapestry is important because they are much more durable and authentic looking than one crafted by a machine.

The Kiva ladders are very decorative and made from hand-scraped pine poles. Each rung is notched to into several upright poles and are laced together with rawhide into a cross pattern. The ladder has a narrow top adding a noticeable dimension in height.

The Indian ladders are reminiscent of homes made from adobe as they usually reside on the roofs. This design is iconic to the southwest style and can be found on many homes in Arizona and New Mexico. They have also become popular in cabins and country homes.

A great way to incorporate the pueblo style into your home without actually re-designing is to use a simple pueblo ladder or Kiva log ladder. These ladders create a nuanced Southwestern feel for your home as well as provide a convenient place to put a southwest rug or a saddle blanket.

There are a few other things that go good with wooden ladders. Navajo blankets, Indian pottery and drums as well as wooden dough bowls and rustic lamps with leather lampshades pull everything together providing that authentic southwest look. If your furniture already claims that style, then you're all set! Also remember that the ladders can have their own unique designs like kokopelli or other village-related patterns.

If you use a bit of creativity you can do just about anything using a log ladder. One tip is to use two ladders together to form an "A" and place several rustic boards on the rungs. This gives you a few extra shelves.

One last thing to use your Kiva ladder for is a holder for your southwestern throw blankets or comforters. These are perfect when you need to wrap up tight on a cold night.

To avoid having to drop a ton of money on something stylish like a piece of Southwest furniture, you should try re-finishing your own furniture whether it's Southwest or not.

Refinishing Your Furniture -

If put for the effort, you can make that old piece of Southwest furniture into a beautiful addition to your living room or bedroom

Shop Around Town -

To find the best deal, you'll have to broaden your viewpoint as traditional, consignment, discount and online stores will all have good buys for you to peruse. You'll also be able to get a good idea on the prices.

Knowing the background and history to the Zapotec rug lets you appreciate the hard work put into weaving these colorful wonders if you ever decide to use one for your Southwest furniture theme. The Zapotec Indians themselves have a prehistoric past and were never known to migrate. They believed they were born from nature. Before the Spanish came, they were primarily farmers and learned new methods of weaving from the Spanish. The Spanish also taught them how to build and use a weaving loom and brought over sheep. Oaxaca is the main state where all of this started and still continues to this day.

Like most Southwest decor, the Zapotec rugs display vibrant colors, which is the most noticeable aspect of them. The dyes used to make the beautiful patterns are usually synthetic although some people still stick to the traditional dyes made from natural elements. The rugs themselves are dyed in a large pot or vat hanging over an open fire. The most popular natural element of the dyes used nowadays comes from an insect called a cochineal. The insect is dried out then smashed into a fine red powder.

The process of rug weaving often involved the entire family. The first thing to do is clean the wool, then wash and dye it before spinning it into a yarn. It's very intriguing because each rug has its own unique design, which is never the same among the families.

In the end, however you choose to use the rug, whether it's pat of your Southwest furniture theme or just want a fancy rug to lie down, you'll definitely appreciate the effort that goes into creating each rug. Finding a good deal is on these Southwest-inspired rugs is another thing. Looking online for deals is probably your best bet in finding something affordable.