Rawhide country lamp shades have been popular for use in western home decor since after the great depression when women started to take an interest in home decorating and interior design. This was the case with not only kitchens, but living rooms and later family rooms and dens also. What is now known as southwest decor and western style, as well as ranch style, progressed naturally as the designs sprung from the necessary use of everyday items. The same transpired with country style homes. As the wealthy started to buy second homes called country homes, the working class started to use the same styles in their homes also.

As primitive style lighting such as oil lamps and lanterns were exchanged for the first rural style lamps, it was rawhide that was turned into one of the first materials to serve as a shade. Since then, it has been used to enhance western and southwestern style in home lighting and for lighting fixtures. If you truly love the unique, old-fashioned style of times past, the natural texture and color tones of rawhide will definitely be part of what you want to include into your country kitchen and rustic design style. There are also other elements that will help you achieve the country style you see in designer magazines.

For a country kitchen, consider decorating with wood. Natural wood with rough edges and variations is desirable when using it to create country style. If you have a big kitchen, darker woods work well whereas light tones look better in smaller areas. Rawhide country lamp shades look beautiful with wooden accessories and work well in any area where a table lamp or rustic lamp would be placed. One very nice feature of rawhide shades is that they are obtainable in light or dark as well as various colors to fit your personal color palette.

As you consider using rawhide country lamp shades in your home, along with other rustic decorating accessories, it may not be necessary to purchase new lamps. Southwestern style lamps are preferable but it is the leather lampshades that make the difference. It may be possible to use lamps you already own by just changing the shade to achieve the same southwestern style. Whether you choose to keep the lamps you already have or decide buy new ones, you will be happy at the change that takes place in your home.

There is no better way to enhance wonderful southwestern style in your home decorating than by using rustic lamp shades. Include some country style accessories like Inidan pottery or Native rugs along with the shades, and you will develop a unique style that will have people talking about your beautiful home long after they leave. It is easy to find one of a kind, decorative lamp shades in a variety of colors and sizes in stores that sell western and rustic style decor, or purchase them online. If you would like to enhance western decor in your home and give it a true, rustic and western look, do so by simply decorating with rawhide country lamp shades.