The natural warmth of Western décor has a way of turning a bland home into a luxurious and cozy space. The combination of leather furniture, rich woods, and earth tones, are appealing and soothing to the senses. Unfortunately, a house filled with plush leather furniture, expensive antler chandeliers, and handcrafted accents and even wooden dinnerware that characterize a traditional Western décor theme, are beyond the reach of many budget-minded homemakers. Luckily, the look and feel of a comfortable Western lodge can be captured at a fraction of the cost by zeroing in on a few basics.

The first step toward capturing the ambiance of Western décor is to eliminate plastics and synthetics from your home. Take them down and move them out, and get ready to replace them with some real wood, leather, and other organic materials.

Look for hidden wood, covered up by layers of synthetic flooring or paint, that you can remove.

Rather than buying leather furniture for thousands of dollars per item, use genuine leather cowhides, deerskins, or buffalo hides, as throws over beds, couches, and chairs. This will change the look and feel of your room dramatically. A sheepskin or fur pelt thrown over the leather creates a warm look and feel.

Find fabrics with earth tones, American Indian, or oriental motifs, for bedspreads and throw rugs.

Don’t underestimate the power of windows and their decorations. Replace plastic window treatments with natural fibers and fabrics with earth tones.

Use earthy colors and hues on the warm end of the spectrum for walls and trim, and apply the subtle muted effect of orange lighting in corners or hallways.

Scour rural second-hand shops for collectibles to use as focal points. Replace plastic containers with rustic tins and tubs. A washboard, hand grinder, or even a rusty scythe, will be reminiscent of the Old West when used as a tasteful decorative accent on a wall or shelf.

The beauty of expensive antler art pieces created by master craftsman can be suggested by simply incorporating shed antlers in decorative centerpieces with items from your rural treasure hunts.

Use candles and lanterns to suggest the natural flame of fireplaces and woodstoves that are always part of the rustic country home.

You can capture the laid back luxury of a rustic Western lodge with these guiding principles: use materials that nature provides, incorporate earth tone colors, warm the room up with natural flame, and scour second hand stores for country collectibles. Incorporating these elements will allow you to embrace the luscious ambiance of Western décor without spending a fortune on things like leather furniture and expensive antler creations.