The Story Behind Indian Blankets & Bedding For Southwest Decor
Posted: Sunday, June 21, 2009
by Craig Chambers - Mission Del Rey
Mission Del Rey
Did you know it is exciting to use southwest bedding to bring a taste of rustic style to your house? To set the feel of your room use comforters, bedspreads, blankets and throws all around your house. The rustic style they create is a feeling that you will love.
A few years ago, I was interested in finding an economical way to decorate a room to give it taste of the old southwest. I found a good deal on some southwest blankets at a discount store and wanted to add them to my decor. I loved them so much that I decided to use them in all the rooms of my home. They give it that chic, western style you see in designer magazines.
I never realized that although very popular today among interior designers and in modern style homes, southwest bedding for use in rustic home decor actually emerged in the early 1900's, when Indian trade blankets were put on the market.
Most people think that the blankets and throws they commonly use for southwest bedding were originally made by Native American Indians. I also believed that, until I started digging deeper into the origin of these southwestern style blankets. I found that, although Native Americans were the prime inspiration for the Indian designs and production of trade blankets, they were not the ones who made them.
In fact, southwestern blankets, were originally made by machines, and produced by large weaving companies to supply the Indians with needed blankets. These original trade blankets were supplied to the frontier trading posts where the Native people would buy and trade for them. They used them to wrap themselves in instead of using a modern coat or jacket.
As women became more interested in interior decorating in the early 20th century, southwest decor and western designs made a dramatic rise in popularity. These new "Indian blankets" were desired by people all over the country who wanted to use them for southwest bedding. Today, southwest bedspreads are still a great way to decorate an old couch or chair, using them as covers to accent rustic decor.
The Indian trade blankets were a perfect fit for people needing to cover exposed legs in a wagon, sleigh or buggy, and in the new horseless carriage. Later, they were popular as throws for outdoor activities like camping, canoeing and a new thing called motoring.
Now days, you can easily buy southwest bedspreads. Use them as not only a bed spread, but as a blanket or couch throw to add great character to your home.
If you like southwest, western and American Indian culture and are looking for a great way to add style to your rustic home decor, then you will really enjoy decorating with southwest bedding.
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Craig Chambers is the founder of Mission Del Rey Southwest, offering uniquely crafted southwest bedspreads and bedding plus rustic decorating tips to save you time. Get his popular free Rustic Southwest Decorating Guide http://www.missiondelrey.com
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