How to Give Your Bedroom a Native American Theme
You’ll also have a little luck if you search for catalogs that carry Native American items. You may have to search individually for the catalogs such as “Native American rugs” or “Indian sculptures”. In a big city it might be possible to check the phone book and find a place that specializes in Native American or Indian decor.
Fabric departments and fabric stores have many Native American designs from which to choose. It’s easy to make simple curtains, pillows and bed skirts using Indian themes and a machine or fabric glue. Hem curtains with the glue then glue your rod pocket in place before making simple tie-backs. Make pillows quickly by cutting the shapes and gluing them almost completely together then turning and stuffing. Use clothes pins to hold the opening shut while the fabric glue dries.
Even make your own rugs by purchasing the rubber piece at a home improvement store then using fusible webbing to fuse fabric to the rubber. It’s easy to do if you follow the instructions. Find the fusible webbing anywhere sewing supplies are sold.
Simple touches that you add to things already in your room can make them appear Native American. Align feathers along the base of the lampshade perimeter then wrap around a thin strip of leather cord to hide the quills. Or, string turquoise beads and use them to decorate the edges of the lamp.
Wrap leather stripping around posters on a bead and slide a bead up to secure the strips. Insert glue into the bead hole and put in feathers. Or choose a ceramic Indian that is flat on one side and use contact cement to affix it to headboard or footboard.
Take an ordinary solid-colored quilt and make it Native American by using rubber stamps and fabric paints. Stamps can be found in the shapes of teepees, bows and arrows, buffalo and other Indian designs. Dip them into fabric paint and press them, here and there, all over the quilt. Do the same with sheets and pillow cases. Or, cut images from Native American-theme cloth and attach them, by sewing or gluing, to quilt and pillow shams. Give them dimension by placing a small amount of pillow stuffing under them before attaching.
Check craft stores for Indian decor. They have a large selection of ceramic Native American pieces like teepees, Indians, coyote and much more. These pieces can be arranged neatly on a bookcase headboard or shelf.
Use Native American stickers, found at most craft stores, to make small improvements on things like doorknobs, drawer handles, mirrors or even your bedroom phone. If you have an old pair of moccasins line with plastic and use one to hold change and keys, the other to hold an artificial plant.
Purchase notebook-size pieces of leather at a craft store or larger pieces, possibly at an upholstery shop. Cut out steer head, teepees, arrowheads and other images then glue them to the sides of a dresser, doors, drawers, and lamp bases.
If your walls are a solid color use rub-on appliques to make a Native American border around the room or a design, here and there, on the walls. The appliques also work great on mirrors, lamps, headboards, dressers and most any smooth object.
Make easy dream catchers by using faux fur and a crafting hoop. Glue the fur onto the hoop then attach ribbon with beads and feathers to the sides and bottom. Glue on a hanger then a piece of fur to cover the backside. Cut an Indian picture from a magazine and place it under a piece of glass then center it on the night stand. You can also cut pictures from books or magazines and decoupage them onto drawer doors, headboard or a mirror.
Large flea markets are likely to have a table or two where you can find Native American trinkets, horseshoes, dream catchers and other decorative items. You’ll love your new Native American bedroom decor when it’s complete and it will be if you’re diligent in looking for the items to fill your room.
