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A few years ago, I was looking for an inexpensive way to redecorate one of the rooms in my home and give it a touch of the old southwest. I came across some southwest blankets at a discount linen store and decided to add them as part of 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.
Since I use southwest blankets and throws everyday as well as southwestern bedspreads, I became interested in the history of southwestern blankets and started studying their origin. The more I read, the more interesting the story became.
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Most people think that the blankets and throws they commonly use for southwest bedding were originally made by Native American Indians.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In fact, southwestern blankets, were originally made by machines, and produced by large weaving companies to supply the Indians with needed blankets.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 design in the early 1900's, southwest decor and western designs rose in popularity. These "Indian blankets" were sought after by people across the country who used them for southwest bedding. Today, southwest bedspreads still make great decorative couch or chair covers to accent rustic home decor.
The Indian trade blankets were perfect for covering exposed legs when riding on a wagon, sleigh or buggy, and in the new horseless carriages. Later on, they became popular as throws for camping, canoeing and a new pass time 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.
