Rustic and Horse Decor

Walls and Furniture

• Paint the walls in shades of brown, such as light tan or dark brown, to give a rustic look. For a bedroom, use an overhead projector to enlarge a picture of a horse on the wall and then paint it. Horse wall stickers and wallpaper border are also available online. For a woodsy feel, cover the walls with a heavy wood and a coat of low-gloss varnish. Select wood furniture that is weathered. Another idea is to purchase inexpensive furniture from a thrift store or garage sale. Distress the furniture yourself or use stencils to paint pictures of horses on the furniture.

Windows

• For a basic rustic look, decorate the windows with tan and brown curtains. Make a window treatment by hanging two dark brown panels on both sides of the window. Drape a sheer tan panel across the top of the curtain rod. Allow the sheer panel to fall to the ground on both sides of the window. For horse theme window treatments, hang valances or curtains with horses printed on them. You can also use horse stencils to paint horses on curtains. Glue real or artificial horseshoes to the ends of basic curtain rods or curtain tiebacks for added decoration.

Wall Decorations

• Hang horse tack items, such as a bridle, stirrups, horseshoes and bits, on the walls for decoration. If you have a large room with extra space, place a saddle in the corner. Hang horse-printed quilts on the walls. Other ideas for wall hangings include pictures with cactus, pine cones and Western scenes. Rustic stars also add a nice touch to walls and are available in a variety of sizes, colors and designs. Decorate shelves by gluing rustic horses to the shelves and hanging them on the walls. Sepia-colored family photos are ideal to hang on the wall for a rustic look. Another idea is to hang old-time family photos.

Accents

• Use rustic and horse accents all around the home to set the tone. Drape horse-printed blankets and throws over the edges of furniture. For bedrooms, horse-themed bedding is available online, or you can use a light tan or brown bedding set. Other accents to decorate a rustic and horse theme include branding irons, horse figurines, cowboy boots, horse-shaped or printed rugs, cowboy hats and chaps. Use copper in bathrooms and kitchens for a rustic look.