6 tips for a Southwest-inspired kitchen

Southwest style is made up of a number of beautiful elements, like weathered wood materials, rich colors and intricate patterns. This warm and casual design is perfect for the heart of the home. If you’re looking for a little Southwest flair in your kitchen, we’ve got a few tips that can help transform the space:

1. Choose appropriate finishes
The finish that you choose for your kitchen faucets is crucial. You want to stay away from using shiny materials like chrome or stainless steel – these finishes lend themselves to a more modern and contemporary kitchen design. Instead, opt for something a bit more rustic and natural, like copper or oil-rubbed bronze kitchen faucets.

2. Bring life to your kitchen with greenery
Southwest style isn’t complete without some greenery in your kitchen. Dress up your table using a mix of succulents and cacti. Feel free to bring in arrangements of bright flowers to contrast with the greenery. Lay down a patterned table runner to add even more color and texture to your table setting.

3. Find a way to bring in patterns
Intricate markings are a must-have for Southwestern interior design. These geometric patterns can be implemented using everything from area rugs and window treatments to backsplashes and tile floors. Talavera tiles are perfect for a southwestern style because they feature geometric designs and patterns. If you don’t want talavera tiles covering your kitchen floors, use the tiles on a backsplash behind your sink.

4. Choose an earth-focused color palette
When trying to choose the appropriate color palette for your Southwest kitchen, always select hues that you would be able to find in nature. For instance, colors that would be found in the desert, like rusty oranges and deep reds, can be contrasted with a bright and sunny yellow or beautiful turquoise to produce a warm and welcoming palette for your kitchen.

5. Add architectural elements
In modern homes, you always see straight, sleek lines, but this isn’t the case with Southwestern style. Curved windows, doors and archways are necessary for pulling off this design. The slight curve may seem like an insignificant detail, but the unique architectural element brings a certain charm to your kitchen.

6. Mix natural materials
Distressed cabinets paired with wrought iron light fixtures and hand-painted tiles make for a harmonious combination. Achieving Southwest style is all about mixing and matching natural materials.