Using southwest bedding is an easy way to create beautiful, rustic style in your home. A while back, I was looking for an easy way to redecorate one of the rooms in my home and give it a touch of the old west. I came across some southwestern blankets at a discount linen store and decided to use them as part of the western decor. I was impressed with the Native American style they created in the room so much that I decided to put them in all the rooms of my home to give them that beautiful, southwestern flare you see in designer magazines.

Because I used these throw blankets everyday as bedspreads, shawls, or as lap blankets, I became interested in the story behind southwestern blankets and began researching their origin. The more I studied, the more intriguing the story became. I never realized that although very popular today among home designers and in modern style homes, southwest bedding for use in rustic home decor actually emerged in the early 1900's, when trade blankets were put on the market.

Most people I talk to, believe that the blankets and throws they commonly use for southwest bedding were originally made by American Indians. I also believed that, until I began researching the beginnings of these southwestern style blankets and found that, although American Indians were the main inspiration behind the designs and production of trade blankets, they were not made by them.

In fact, as you read about the intriguing history of Indian blankets, you will learn that they were actually made by machines, and produced by large weaving companies for the sole purpose of supplying the Indians with needed blankets. These Indian blankets were then supplied to the frontier trading posts where the Native Indians would buy and trade them and use them to wrap themselves in instead of a modern coat or jacket.

Another thing you will find interesting as you study the history of trade blankets to use as southwest, is that as women became more interested in interior design in the early 1900's, rustic decor and western designs rose in popularity. These "Indian blankets" as they came to be called, were sought after by people across the nation who used them for southwest bedding and as decorative couch or chair covers to enhance southwestern home decor. The Indian trade blankets were perfect for covering exposed legs when in a wagon, sleigh or buggy, and in the new horseless carriages. Later on, they became popular as throws for camping, canoeing and a new hobby called motoring.

Today, you can easily buy southwest bedding online and in places that sell western and southwestern home decor. Whether used as a rustic bedspread, blanket or bed throw, southwest bedding will add great charm to your home and environment. If you are looking for authenticity and traditional American Indian values and are looking for a wonderful way to add western style in your rustic home decor, then you will certainly enjoy owning and decorating with southwest bedding.