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For A Wild West Vibe!

7 Simple Western Living Room Ideas.

When thinking of Western living room ideas, close your eyes, and imagine “rustic charm, cowboy, prairie”. Think Wild West Wanderer! Howdy, any ideas yet? No? I’ve got some below, you can try ‘em fer yerself or get some inspiration.

7 most popular western living room ideas are the rustic retreat, desert oasis, cowboy charm, modern ranch, prairie style, mountain lodge, and antique/vintage themes.

Together, we’ll cover 6 major elements; color palettes, floor and walls, lighting, furniture, rugs and textures, and accessories and personalization.

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Rustic Sanctuary

This works best if you already have a fireplace or exposed beams, but you can always make your fireplace. You’d want colors that speak “earth” or “ countryside” - wood, brown, beige, burgundy, terracotta, etc.

Use the wood-like colors for your floor and the terracotta, burgundy, or similar for the walls.

For lighting though, natural light would be best, you don’t want anything too fancy;

a wrought-iron chandelier or rustic pendant light would do good for night times.
You can also try those hanging candles.
If you prefer lamps, then opt for lamps with natural fiber shades.

Your furniture should give a worn feel, sorta like cowboys or hunters, so I’d advise;

a brown leather sofa, weathered-looking armchairs, wooden ottomans, or a center table.
using tree stumps or reclaimed wood as these work best.
Sturdy furniture.

In some cases, you can do without area rugs, but if you want to use area rugs, then;

layer textures.
woven wool, jute, and animal hides are more popular picks.
you can add nature-inspired throw pillows and throw blankets for your reading nook, social area, or pets.

Your living room window covers should be in either:

bold solid colors.
or subtle patterns.

No in-between (unless of course, that’s what you want).

Next is personalization, go crazy, but remember… Wild West;

scented candles,
animal sculptures,
antlers,
woven baskets with plants, etc.

Desert Oasis

For a Desert theme, consider natural textures, sun-bleached tones, and natural desert colors like terracotta, sandy bieges, cream, rust, mustard, etc. Remember, you want warm and inviting colors for your color palette.

Let’s start with your walls and floors, you can use tan or sandy beige for your walls, and for your floor, terracotta tiles to give you the feeling of walking on the desert’s sunburnt earth.

Next, let’s talk about lighting, consider diffused natural light;

large windows.
skylight.
possibly sliding doors if that sits well with you.

Your aim should be to allow plenty of sunlight to enter your living room and enrich the textures in your house.

If you prefer softer glows, opt for;

sheer curtains or blinds that filter light.
natural fiber pendant lights.
Moroccan lanterns.
sconces with warm-toned bulbs.
scented candles, or fairy lights for a fantasy or romantic environment.

Now for the furniture. For sofa and seating, think “relaxing and low-profile”. Some ideas are;

a linen-upholstered sectional sofa as the anchor, woven floor cushions, and poufs scattered around it for cozy and casual seating.
natural wood or rattan chairs with colorful cushions in desert patterns.
sofas, chairs, tables, and shelves with simple and streamlined silhouettes – no clutters.
wooden coffee tables with hammered metal tops, or mosaic tiles inlaid.

If you decide to use rugs, think of breathable fabrics that have light layers, Beni Ourain rugs with geometric patterns add warmth and texture.

You can stop there, or you can choose to add some accessories, accents, and personal touches. If you intend to do so, for accessories, try;

on your shelves, terracotta flowerpots with cacti and succulents.
weathered wooden sculptures of desert animals.
hand-blown glass vases filled with desert flowers.
snacks or smaller items in woven trays, baskets, or bowls placed strategically.
hanging mirrors on the wall to reflect the natural light and make your living room feel bigger.
hanging framed desert photographs or woven tapestry on the walls.

Here’s a bonus. Since Oasis denotes fertile water sources in the desert, it’ll make sense to add a water feature don’t you think? Perhaps;

a bowl with floating candles.
a small tabletop fountain.
a fishbowl.
a big, beautiful Tetra aquarium.

Some beautiful fishes you can raise are;

white clouds mountain minnow,
zebra danio,
rosy red minnow,
endler’s livebearer,
pygmy sunfish.

For context, these are ornamental fishes that’ll thrive well in a desert environment, so they’ll fit right in with your desert theme.

If you’re new to aquariums, here’s a short guide that’ll help you.

Cowboy Charm

Consider neutral color palettes like beige, tan, brown, gray, cream, terracotta, etc., to reflect the Western landscape. For contrast, use colors like red, yellow, or green.

For walls, imagine the sun setting on a dusty ranch, consider colors like terracotta, brown, or even burnt orange. If you can, go for exposed bricks, shiplap wood in weathered finishing, or adobe textured plaster.

For floors, think “sturdy”, try reclaimed wood, or rustic tiles.

Your lighting should make you feel like the Western warmth is shining in your home. Think;

rustic wrought-iron chandeliers (these are actually a classic choice),
pendant lights with woven shades,
mason jar sconces, or lamps for that farmhouse charm.

Next up, furniture, you can try;

brown leather Chesterfield sofa to anchor your living space, with rustic armchairs in rich velvets or worn fabric on the sides.
ottomans in cowhide upholstery or repurposed wood crates for extra seating and storage.
rustic end tables made from tree stumps, wagon wheels, or distressed wood.

Use linen or neutral cotton curtains for your windows, for a more complete effect, use curtains with western-theme embroidery. Layer your textures, try using large cowhide area rugs with geometric patterns. Faux fur or chunky knit throw pillows will help boost comfort levels.

For accessories and personalization, try;

family photos in rustic frames.
western-themed sculptures like cowboy on horseback, western wildlife (buffalo, eagles, mountain lions, wolves, etc.), cowboy hats, boots, etc.
antlers.
weathered metal signs.
rustic wooden shelves.
woven baskets with pampas grass.
flowerpots with cacti, succulents, and/or fiddle-leaf figs.
wood-scented candles.

Modern Ranch

Consider colors like beige, light gray, warm white, warm taupe, soft olive green, or even a bit of terracotta.

For your walls, you can:

start the base with neutral colors like the first three colors I mentioned earlier.
paint your exposed bricks white.
paint your accent wall to warm taupe, soft olive green, or any muted earth tone of your choice for added depth.
use light shiplap paneling to add more texture.

Consider light-colored hardwood, polished concrete, or large-format ceramic tiles in muted colors for your floors.

Next, lighting;

use modern lighting for elegance – sleek chandeliers, pendant lights, recessed lights, and sconces with clean lines and metal finishes, think “minimalist”.
use minimalist floor or table lamps to highlight specific areas or provide focused lighting.
go modern with your fireplace (an example would be a clean-lined surround in stone, tile, or metal).

Now for furniture, try;

clean-lined sofa in neutral colors.
low-profile leather sectional in a neutral color as your anchor, flanked by plush armchairs in woven fabric or bold velvet.
leather or fabric accent chairs in earthy colors.
minimalist wooden coffee table with clean lines and a touch of metal.
geometric coffee tables.
ottomans with metal bases and woven tops for extra seating and storage.
end tables with clean lines and natural wood, glass, or metal finishes.

Subtly layer your textures;

use large rugs with neutral colors and minimalist patterns to anchor your seating area.
for your throw pillows, consider leather, faux fur, or chunky knits.
use sheer linen or cotton curtains in neutral or muted tones to diffuse light while keeping your room airy.

Keep things simple and free from clutter.

Now for the fun part – personalization, try;

large bold artworks that reflect branch aesthetics.
small sculptures with metal accents.
family photos, heirlooms, or travel souvenirs.
rustic pottery with clean lines.
pops of color.

Prairie Style

Prairies are vast expanses of open land, so I want you to think of “vastness and earthiness”.
Colors to consider are creamy whites, beige, soft greens, terracotta, subtle blues, browns, and rich burgundy.

For your walls, try;

light airy colors like creamy whites, beiges, soft greens, and subtle blues for openness.
warm earthy colors like terracotta, deep greens, and browns.
adding contrast using deep blues or rich burgundy for balance.

For your floors, use materials with natural colors like stone tiles, terracotta tiles, or hardwood.

Next up is lighting.

For natural light, you’d need large windows to allow sunlight flood your living room.

For artificial light, try;

wrought iron pendant lights with stained glass,
floor lamps, and sconces with natural fiber shades,
a stone or brick fireplace, and candles.

For your furniture, to get that prairie look, consider;

clean-lined wooden furniture with simple geometric shapes. My recommendations are Oak or cherry wood in medium to dark finishes.
armchairs with woven rattan backs and plush cushions.
end tables made from rustic wood.
ottomans with leather or linen upholstery.

Add more weight;

make the seating area a focal point using a large and geometrically patterned rug in an earthy tone. You can try patterns like squares or rectangles.
layer your throw pillows in rich velvets, chunky knit, or floral print for some subtle prairie charm.
use linen or cotton curtains in natural hues (at this point you’d probably be using linen or cotton colors for most western living room decor, lol. However, if you want something different, try Roman shades).

Finally, personalization, you could try a few things like;

bringing in indoor plants or dried flowers.
displaying handcrafted items.
displaying art inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement.
decorating shelves with natural stones, vintage farm tools, or earthen pottery.
using vintage trunks as extra storage.
pops of color.
hanging artwork or a large tapestry depicting a prairie landscape.

Mountain Lodge Theme

Some colors you can use for this theme are rich brown, deep green, warm red, mutated blue, beige, light gray, and mossy green.

For your walls, you can use beige or light gray to create a backdrop for the rustic elements or consider using exposed brick, shiplap wood, or stone veneer. You can either keep the color palette neutral, or natural.

For your floor, wood would be your best bet – reclaimed oak, wide-plank pine, and hardwood floors, these would let you feel that original mountain lodge vibe.

For lighting, try;

lamps with wrought-iron or wooden bases and warm shades,
antler chandeliers for focal points,
rustic pendant lights, or sconces with natural fiber shades.
accentuating your fireplace with rustic-style stone or brick surround.

For furniture, try;

chunky, comfy furniture with leather upholstery for a rugged feel.
wooden furniture with a rustic or distressed finish.
plush armchairs with weathered fabric or woven textures.
sturdy end tables made from reclaimed wood or tree stumps.
ottomans with repurposed wood-crate bases.

For some extra texture, try;

exposed wooden beams on the ceiling.
a stone fireplace surround.
you’ve come across this many times in this post, but try faux fur, wool, animal hides, or cable-knit for throw pillows and throw blankets.
linen or cotton curtains in subtle patterns or solid colors (another thing you’ve read multiple times, I promise it’s not my fault 😉

Time for those personal touches. Git ‘er done! Consider;

antler accents.
wooden carvings.
framed nature prints.
decorating the mantle of your fireplace with lanterns, candles, pinecones, or twigs.
family photos.
pottery.

Antique/Vintage Feel

Yep, we're starting with colors again, consider muted tones like ivory, cream, beige, and terracotta as well as deeper hues like burgundy, navy, and hunter green. If you've got more vintage color ideas, feel free to experiment.

For your walls;

showcase warmth and richness with the deep hues mentioned earlier.
if you prefer a lighter feel, then go for the muted tones.
for some more flair, consider exposed brick (yes exposed brick again), shiplap paneling in a distressed finish, or textured wallpaper with a damask pattern.

For your floors;

consider hardwood floors in a rich walnut, mahogany stain, or distressed finish for that aged feeling.
that’s not all, you can also try using reclaimed wood or terracotta tiles – different ways to get the vintage effect.

For lighting;

try a vintage or crystal chandelier with ornate details to create a focal point,
lamps with brass or ceramic bases and fabric lampshades,
brass sconces.
don’t forget, nothing says vintage like a good old fireplace with firewood.

For furniture, consider;

antique furniture pieces (genuine or high-quality reproductions), focus on items with intricate carvings, curved lines, or claw feet.
mixing different vintage furniture styles for a dynamic look.
vintage Chesterfield sofa in rich leather, flanked by velvet armchairs.
ottomans with antique tapestry upholstery for extra storage.
repurposed antique trunks for extra seating.
antique side tables with intricate carvings.
repurposed vintage suitcases.

Layer your decor with textiles and area rugs;

not just any area rugs, think oriental rugs with vintage patterns, or vintage Persian rugs with intricate patterns.
for this theme, use velvet curtains in deep hues or floral patterns.
layer your sofas and armchairs with velvet, brocade, or damask throw pillows.
for those warm cozy evenings, consider chunky knit blankets.

Lastly, personalization, you can try any of the following as a standalone or mix;

vintage accessories like vintage mirrors, picture frames, or clocks.
your vintage collection – books, figurines, old stuff.
vintage artwork.
a vintage record player and a stack of classic vinyl records.
potted ferns, or spider plants.

Conclusion

We're finally at the end of this blog post. Well, I hope I didn't bore you with this many words. There are various other Western living room decor ideas, but these 7 are among the more popular options.

Feel free to experiment, feel free to stray from the norm, as far as you feel comfortable, it doesn’t matter what any other person thinks, take it as a fun adventure 😉

8 Comments

Olga February 22, 2024
This article is so inspirational! We want to remodel our living room, and I really like the rustic and prairie theme. I think green or brown colors will fit our house.
Laura February 22, 2024
Love this. I’m obsessed with all things western.
Diomayra February 24, 2024
I’m obsess with all of these especially the Desert Oasis. Desert Oasis is so calming and welcoming.
Geeky Daddy February 24, 2024
I love rustic beams on a vaulted ceiling. something about that aesthetic makes any room appear grander and classic
Amanda Gleeson February 26, 2024
Very detailed article with some really specific tips, I like that your take on the Wild West is modern and comfortable, not cheesy!
Sheenia Denae | Lifestyle Blogger March 2, 2024
Such a fun, indoor theme. I love the decorative photos. Thanks for sharing!
Ann March 2, 2024
I simply love the Rustic Sanctuary! That’s close to the style of my home. This give me some ideas for decorating. Great post!
Salvatore August 14, 2024
I recently discovered your blog, and I must say that I genuinely enjoyed reading your posts. I’m planning to subscribe to your updates, and I hope you continue to provide new content regularly.