Western /Pioneer Style Decorating

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.