How to Decorate With an Indian Motif

Use furnishings made of natural materials such as pine and oak. The American Indians were resourceful and used the materials provided by the land for furnishing wigwams, plank houses and tepees. Choose solid oak coffee tables, unfinished wooden end tables, sofas with wood paneling and small accents such as wooden picture frames, coasters and book ends to reflect the Indians' efficient use of natural materials.

Decorate your space with animal-inspired art. Animals were essential to the American Indian way of life. Native Americans respected the spirits of all animals and wasted nothing when an animal was slaughtered for its meat and hide. Use animal skins and leathers as rugs and wall hangings, or hang a few paintings of wolves, bears and other animals that were important to the American Indians.

Accentuate your space with Indian-inspired accessories and details such as feathers, shells and beads -- significant materials used in many of Indian items like jewelry, games and accessories. Make a feather bouquet for a table centerpiece or fill a few votive candle holders with turquoise beads and shells and display on a shelf or end table.

Decorate bedrooms with dream catchers. These artistic wall decorations have their origins in Indian culture. American Indians believed that negative dreams would get caught in the dream catcher's web, while positive dreams would glide down the feathers and into the sleeping person's mind.

Add Native American ambiance to your space with incense and natural beeswax candles. The American Indians traditionally made and used incense from fragrant herbs and plants and used it for both burning in rituals and as a medium in their artwork. Sage, cedar and dogwood were popular in American Indian incense recipes.

Stick with natural, earthy colors when designing the color scheme for your space. The American Indians colored their world naturally with red, earthy clay, turquoise stones, seashells and the natural pigment from plants and berries. Choose shades of brown, tan, green, brick red, turquoise and beige when coloring your interior space.