Inspiration File: Wild & Modern Southwestern Style

Whether you live in New Mexico or another state in the southwest US or not — you can have that iconic southwestern style in your home! The calm and relaxed bohemian feel of southwest style, plus the bold patterns and arrayed color choices, make it a fun style to modernize a bit, for a traditional look with a twist.

We picked out some of our favorite modern southwest-inspired spaces to show you today, which combine traditional southwestern style and patterns with modern and/or minimal design and fresh, updated (or even wild, if that’s your style!) color schemes. Add in a generous dose of natural tones and textures (like wood, wicker, rattan, and stone or adobe) plus plenty of woven textiles, and the resulting style is lovely and comfortable! Which one is your favorite?

See more southwest style in our Inspiration File.

Muted colors with a neutral bedspread are all brought together by that beautiful rug in this guest room, by Domestic Imperfection.

This living room features plenty of traditional geometric patterns, but the simple coordinated color scheme helps them work together (via Nest Together). And did you see that the art over the couch is hung with binder clips? Easy and smart!

A few Southwestern patterned textiles combined with the natural woods and that arrow wallpaper make for a fun relaxed nursery (via MiniStyle). I was ogling that same wallpaper here!

Neutral white, wood tones, and BAM, an awesome rug make for a calming space that’s not boring (via The Design Files)

Similarly, a controlled neutral and wood tone palette in this living room make the rug and sofa pillows shine for just the right amount of southwestern style (via Design Sponge).

The black wall grounds and modernizes this southerwestern bedroom (via Brit+Co).

Southwestern woven blanket, check. Natural wood, check. Wicker, check. Colorful flowers and books, check. Add it up to a great southwestern niche by Emily Henderson!

This room goes southwestern in a more unusual place: the curtains! (via Better Homes and Gardens)

https://www.stylemepretty.com/living/2016/01/22/southwest-inspired-interiors-that-put-the-dream-in-dreamcatcher/

All white with varied neutral textures makes the bold rug shine — and the arrow art on the wall is wonderful decorative touch (via Style Me Pretty)

white and colorful southwestern style living room via StyleMePretty, photo Tessa Neustadt — photo Tessa Neustadt

Again, neutrals plus warm metals and one big POW of southwestern pattern looks lovely in this bedroom! (via Style Me Pretty)

modern neutral southwest style bedroom via Style Me Pretty, photo Monica Wang — photo Monica Wang

Aren’t the colors and patterns on this child’s bed nook just perfect? (by Violante & Rochford Interiors, featured here)

Colors and textures combine (and look at that light!) for a comfortable relaxed southwestern inspired bedroom (via Style Me Pretty).

modern colorful southwest inspired bedroom via Style Me Pretty, photo Tessa Neustadt — photo Tessa Neustadt

modern color southwest inspired living room area via Style Me Pretty, photo Amy Bartlam — photo Amy Bartlam

The red elements in this living room unite the entire space amidst the neutrals — and I’m not sure which I love more, the owl end table or the furry footstool! (via Style Me Pretty)

For a more subtle modern southwest look, pair wood tones and terra cotta pots with a bold geometric rug (via Domino)

minimalist southwest living room via Domino, photo Michael Wiltbank — photo Michael Wiltbank

Who says a leather couch has to be any particular style? It fits right in with these southwestern pillows and wall art (by Thoughts From Alice).

Don’t forget the cactus! If you want to evoke a truly southwestern vibe, you’ve got to have a cactus — a succulent can stand in for its prickly cousin, too 😉 (via Apartment Therapy)

Another example of bold patterns working together in a limited color scheme. And what’s more southwest than a hat or two? 🙂 (via Style Me Pretty)

modern minimalist southwestern style via Style Me Pretty, photo Daphne Mae — photo Daphne Mae

If you prefer neutral spaces, create the southwestern style by using a few varied patterns — and toss in a cactus for good measure 😉 by The Crafted Sparrow

And last but not least: isn’t this space by Amber Interiors gorgeous? This whole space is a great combination of modern and traditional.

Wondering about creating your own modern southwest space? Our friends at Overstock put together this fun mood board with some great picks to get you started! (contains affiliate links; see our full disclosure policy here)