The United States Southwest - a land of arid climates, hot temperatures, wide-spanning, deserts, colorful cacti, sandy homes, and big blue skies. The southwest is full of rich visual color tapestry for you to use in your home. Here are some tips for you to create a southwestern style in your own bathroom.

Start with the color palette

The southwest is full of rich earth tones: dark browns, cactus greens, sunny yellows, terra cotta, deep cobalt blues, and turquoise.

Pick a focal point and have it made out of your favorite of southwest colors

A great place for the focal point is a vessel bathroom sink. The benefit of choosing your vessel sink as a focal point is that they come in many color options that traditional in-cabinet sinks do not have. A multicolor glass sink, for example, of mix yellows and browns such as Kraus Copper Snake Glass Vessel Sink, is a great choice. Or choose a single color glass sink in a rich cobalt blue. Kraus has many blue glass vessel sink combinations available. A Blue or Red and Yellow Vessel sink is a great attention-grabber in your bathroom.

Choose a backsplash or wall style to contrast with and compliment the focal point

The southwest style is full of rectangular details and repeat patterns. The origin of these details is the Native American adobe homes made of sand bricks. Think "square, repeat." For example, if using a deep blue vessel sink as your focal point, compliment it with a backsplash made out of small yellow or orange tiles. Blue and Yellow are complimentary colors. If your sink is yellow/red, choose a green or blue tile backsplash. Find a bathroom vanity made out of dark wood so that it won't take too much attention away from the sink/tile combination.

Bathroom Faucets

Select bathroom faucets and fixtures that compliment the yellow-blue sink/tile combination. Oil Rubbed Bronze, Gold, and Antique Copper are all great colors. They are part of the southwestern palette.

Lighting is important

A blue glass arched lamp is a great option. In fact, you can hang several in a row. That way you'll still have that detailed feel, but with great bathroom light! I do not recommend wall panel lighting, because that is very modern, and not very southwestern. In fact, you can put in as many different hanging lamps as you want, with southwest lighting, consistency is not important. Better yet, match lighting to knobs and hardware.

Finally choose hardware and details to match

Iron cabinet handles, or detailed square knobs would be a great option to get that southwestern feel. Colored glass knobs are also a great option. To make knobs stand out against a dark brown vanity, have them be cactus green.

ExpressDecor has many sinks, faucets, and fixtures options available to fit your needs. Check out our many sink and faucet combinations. Ask our representative about free mounting rings and pop-up drains.