You might have watched an episode of some of the current home decorating shows on cable and heard of trendy man caves, right? These are rooms within the home that are designed just for some one only with some very trendy personal accents. Most of the man caves that have been featured in these decorating programs have a theme of some kind, and themes that feature southwestern rugs is just a small part of this phenomena.
Typically desired by men who have either lived in the southwest or just have a love for all things from that region, it is very easy to get into the mindset of such a man to design an appropriate man cave. Southwestern rugs themselves come in a definite variety inside of that theme, and decorating the rest of the room is a snap once you decide on that foundation rug.
The most popular types of southwestern rugs are the real or faux Navajo rugs. These are the ones that feature fringe on either end, usually braided strips of leather, and are flat-woven with some kind of geometric pattern on them. The patterns are usually reminiscent of sand paintings, featuring a totem creature of some sort, in a colorful pattern of primary colors.
Other types of southwestern rugs include wool braided rugs, sheepskin rugs, and leather rugs. You want to start with the largest rug you have as the foundation, and mix in the other rugs as accents. Say that the largest rug is the Navajo rug. This would be placed dead center of the room, leaving at least 24 to 36 inches around it, ensuring that it will be the focal piece. Now, it's time to add in some furniture.
The one thing that is common to any man cave, no matter the overall design is a television. Flat screens are perfect here, because they don't detract from the focal rug. Facing the television should be a comfortable arrangement of preferably leather chairs, loveseat and a hassock or smaller coffee table. Choose items in darker colors than the rug so that the colors in the focal rug shine through.
You can use smaller rugs, like sheepskin rugs and leather rugs as accents throughout the room. A favorite trick to use with this theme is to either purchase a large chest or trunk to act as the coffee table. Place this at the center point, right in front of the loveseat. Find a complimentary colored leather rug or calfskin rug to drape over the trunk at an angle, and you have a nice, rustic showpiece that will complement the rest of the room.
All that's left is to place small tables around the seating area, so that the guys have plenty of places to hold drinks and snacks for the big games. Add in appropriate artwork, shelving and other pieces reminiscent of the southwest, and you're good to go. Now your special guy can relax in southwestern style.
Ways to Create a Man Cave