Southwestern Interior Paint Color Schemes

The rugged beauty of the American Southwest has long inspired interior designers and homeowners. From the terracotta rooflines of Santa Fe to the sweeping desert landscapes dotted with cacti, the Southwest's iconic architecture, textiles, and culture offer a vibrant palette for interior spaces. When working with Southwestern inspired decor, paint is one of the most critical elements for pulling a cohesive look together. Carefully chosen hues can perfectly highlight stucco walls, spotlight beloved weavings, and complement adobe fireplaces to embrace the spirit of the region.

Defining Key Traits of Southwestern Interior Design

Before selecting interior paint colors, it helps to understand common traits that define Southwestern style. Earthy desert tones are a hallmark of the region's aesthetic. Warm hues like sand, cream, tan, brown, terra cotta, and brick red reflect Southwestern landscapes. Accent colors also play an important role in Southwestern decor. Pops of bright turquoise and coral draw inspiration from Native American art and textiles. Other hallmarks of Southwestern interiors include:

• Natural textures and materials like stone, wood beams, leather, wicker, straw, wool
• Rough-hewn wood tones paired with sleek metals
• Geometric patterns and motifs in rugs and fabric
• Wrought iron accents and hand-forged metalwork
• Carved wood furnishings with leather upholstery

By thoughtfully combining all these elements and choosing complementary hues, homeowners can craft living spaces that truly embrace Southwestern essence from floor to ceiling.

Southwestern Color Palettes and Paint Selections

Certain shades perfectly encapsulate the colors found in Southwestern landscapes and architecture. Warm tertiary colors like terracotta, salmon, brick red, and mustardy gold are ideal backdrops. Different values of creams, taupes, tans, and whites make excellent neutrals. Pops of brighter secondary colors add eye-catching accents. Some quintessential Southwestern paint palettes include:

• Warm whites and tans paired with touches of coral and turquoise
• Terracotta walls with deeper brick red and sage green accents
• Creamy taupes and sand tones accented with bright yellow and blue
• Soft brown walls with pops of rust, purple, and green

Homeowners wishing to emulate classic Santa Fe style often opt for an off-white base with terracotta and sage green accents. More boldly colorful schemes take inspiration from the vivid dyes used in Native American rugs and blankets. The hues selected will ultimately depend on the overall style homeowners want to achieve.

Choosing Paint Colors for Key Southwestern Rooms

While every home and color preference is unique, certain spaces lend themselves well to iconic Southwestern shades. For example, creamy tans, taupes, and sand colors work beautifully in living rooms and bedrooms. These warmer backdrops allow accent walls or furniture in terracotta or brick red to really stand out. Some perfect paint combinations for key rooms include:

Southwestern Living Room Colors

• Toasted almond walls with terracotta accent wall and turquoise curtains
• Sand colored walls with sage green couch and patterned rug featuring red and purple
• Cream walls with dark wood beams and brick red media console table

Bedroom Paint Colors

• Light tan walls with salmon and turquoise patterned pillows and bedskirt
• Warm white walls and ceiling with terracotta headboard wall and matching nightstands
• Toasted almond walls with cream bedding and pops of yellow, blue, and green in artwork

Bathroom Paint Color Ideas

• Sand colored walls with terracotta tile floor and shower surround
• Sage green walls with brick red and turquoise tile accents
• Cream vanity and wainscoting with salmon painted upper walls and ceiling

In bathrooms especially, paint sheen plays an important role. Bathroom walls and ceiling are best done in an eggshell or semi-gloss sheen for moisture resistance. Vanities and trim can utilize semi-gloss or high-gloss for easy cleaning. Satin or matte finishes should be limited to accent walls in low moisture areas.

Kitchen Paint Selections

• Terracotta with cream trim and backsplash tile in sage green and brick red
• Warm white upper cabinets with wood beams and brick red lowers and island
• Sage green perimeter with neutral white island featuring turquoise and yellow ceramic tile backsplash

Kitchens demand durable finishes, so satin and semi-gloss sheens are best for cabinetry and walls. For a harmonized look, extend wall color into open shelving. Wood furnishings can pick up paint colors from walls or backsplash materials like tile, granite, and metalwork.

Matching Paint with Common Southwestern Fabrics and Materials

An essential tip for pulling off Southwestern interiors is choosing paint hues that coordinate well with other finishes like fabric, leather, metal, and wood. Some perfect color pairings include:

• Terracotta paint with aztec-patterned rugs in red, yellow, turquoise and purple
• Sage green walls with brick red leather chair upholstery
• Cream walls and wainscoting with salmon and turquoise patterned fabric curtains
• Wood beams and paneling with metallic cream walls and mustard yellow leather sofa

When selecting paint, bring fabric swatches, tile samples, throw pillows or other existing pieces to compare. Remember that wood finishes can pick up colors from walls, appearing warmer or cooler in contrast. Leather with green undertones pairs better with cream than stark white. By choosing harmonious hues, spaces will feel cohesive.

Coordinating Wall Color with Flooring

Southwestern inspired flooring like terracotta tile, slate, saltillo, and wide plank wood offer gorgeous textures that can influence wall color choices. Terracotta tile boosts brick reds in walls while saltillo tile brings out tans and taupes. Slate grays pair well with sage green or turquoise lower walls while blond wood flooring keeps rooms light and airy. Be sure to bring flooring samples when selecting paint.

Crafting Cohesive Southwestern Color Schemes

With so many potential Southwestern paint colors to work with, narrowing down combinations can be tricky. As a general rule of thumb:

• Select a lighter neutral tan, cream or white for majority of walls
• Use a bolder secondary color like terracotta, brick red or sage green for an accent wall
• Incorporate bright pops of turquoise, coral, yellow or blue in smaller accents like throw pillows, art and accessories

This formula allows accent colors to stand out against neutral backdrops. Designers also recommend limiting color schemes to 3-5 hues for cohesion. Try pairing wall and trim samples before painting entire rooms. And don't overlook ceilings! Extending wall color overhead or painting ceilings a lighter accent shade is an impactful yet overlooked detail.