Santa Fé style: decor ideas to bring the desert look into your home

Enchanted by the dreamy colours of the desert? Santa Fe style is the decor for you!

Published: January 6, 2020 at 10:21 am

One of hottest decor trends right now , Santa Fe style evokes summer sunshine and long, balmy evenings. Sometimes called Pueblo Revival, the Santa Fe aesthetic has its roots in the colours and materials of the desert settlements of the American South-West. Modern takes on Santa Fe style often also incorporate influences from North Africa and the Middle East.

Picture the colours you’d find in the desert landscape and take your cues from there. Start by making a base of warm, earthy tones - like Dulux's colour of the year for 2021, Brave Ground.

Keep the colours consistent to avoid it feeling cluttered. Blush, mustard and avocado make great accent colours.
Keep the colours consistent to avoid it feeling cluttered. Blush, mustard and avocado make great accent colours.

Opt for cream, pink biscuit hues, alongside bolder reds, oranges and browns reminiscent of baked clay and adobe. Deep blue, turquoise and green will contrast with the natural tones to create a vibrant look.

Bedouin beauty

Take inspiration from desert dwellings to create an opulent oasis

This neat styling tip adds colour to a plain wall while helping to frame your favourite display pieces, just give a mini-canvas a wash of paint and place it at the back of the shelf
This neat styling tip adds colour to a plain wall while helping to frame your favourite display pieces, just give a mini-canvas a wash of paint and place it at the back of the shelf

If you’re looking to decorate your bathroom or kitchen in Santa Fe style, seek out Mexican-style tiles. Moroccan clay tiles, while less traditional, can also create a similar vibe.

Style up your space with handicrafts - clay ornaments or hand-woven baskets are great for this.

Statement patterns in earthy tones add interest to the look without being overpowering
Statement patterns in earthy tones add interest to the look without being overpowering

If you have a wooden or vinyl floor, find rugs with a deep pile (a classic Berber-style rug, for instance) or thick, flat woven rugs in bright colours or bold patterns.

Make a feature of handicrafts and souvenirs from far-off places, by turning them into decorative wall art
Make a feature of handicrafts and souvenirs from far-off places, by turning them into decorative wall art

Think carefully about texture, this will help prevent your neutral scheme from looking washed out. Choose textiles with a visible weave, such as linen with slubs.

Spend v save

Bring some dazzle to the dining table

Choose thickly woven textiles to create a layered and tactile look
Choose thickly woven textiles to create a layered and tactile look

Keep the window dressings light - a simple voile with a matt finish will soften the strongest rays. Leave wooden furniture in its natural state, adding a coat of wax to protect it from scuffs. Then settle down to enjoy your place in the sun.

Santa Fe style moodboard

For more decor inspired by exotic destinations, check out our guide to travel-inspired decor.

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