Southwestern rugs are an excellent way to create that one-of-a-kind western, rustic or Native American feel in your home decorating. Because of their versatility and affordability, more and more designers are choosing to buy southwestern rugs online. Used as western accent rugs and also southwest area rugs in the different rooms throughout your home or when decorating a log cabin with a rustic or western theme, southwestern rugs give your home that rustic appeal and a true authentic Native American look. When buying American Indian style rugs, you will find a large selection of southwestern rugs to choose from and will no doubt want to add a few of the most popular and sought-after rugs in your home decor. These rugs have a long history that has changed over time and can truly be considered as pieces of art.
Some of the most popular southwestern and western rugs are handmade area rugs, spirit rugs, Mexican Guadalupe rugs, Oaxaca Mexico rugs including Zapotec Indian rugs, Mohair and Navajo rugs. Each of these types of rugs uses a combination of beautiful colors and characters, symbolizing spirituality or depictions of historical events. An excellent example of this is seen in the Southwestern Spirit rug which contains a variation of colors and designs. The spiritual characters used in these rugs are made in a variety of patterns and forms that represent and express the spirituality of the people.
Not only are southwestern rugs admired for their incredible beauty, but the skill and hard work needed in making Native rugs and runners is also very impressive. The makers of hand woven wool rugs are highly skilled and begin the rug making process by kneeling in front of a vertical wooden-framed loom. The designs are then placed by using a shuttle to weave a variety of colored yarn together, making large-scale geometric characters and designs. In the beginning, Navajo rugs as well as those of some other Southwest Indian tribes were made of hand-spun cotton thread. However, after the wool of domestic sheep was introduced to the region by the Spanish settlers, the people primarily used wool to create their colorful rugs and other traditional weaving.
Today, many of the modern southwestern rugs come from areas where Spanish and Native American histories joined together to create unique designs. Southwest rugs, with their warm earth tone colors and one-of-a-kind southwestern designs make them a great choice for rustic home decorating. If you are looking for great southwestern rugs, you will probably purchase from American companies or directly from Native American weavers. Purchasing rugs from Navajo or other American Indian tribes not only gives you the satisfaction of owning a southwestern rug that is woven by Indians but also helps to support the Native American heritage of rug weaving, and the people who themselves sell their rugs, blankets, and Native American art.
The rug you purchase will certainly depend on what you like and what kind of decorating you decide on. You will find that southwest rugs are the perfect southwestern accent when combined with rustic or western home decor. Whether you are changing your home decor or decorating an entire house using a rustic theme, you will come across many designs and colors available to choose from. Among these options you will find everything from Zapotec rugs with no two alike, to southwest table runners and southwestern tapestries. Designers love hand woven rugs because of the rich colors and textures. Whatever your style and whatever your decorating needs, you will no doubt enjoy the warmth and color brought to life in your home by decorating with southwestern rugs.