One way to keep a unique style in your home or office is to embrace your love for the west with a fresh, modern approach. Designers agree the rustic charm created with western furniture and complimentary accent pieces is appealing for many reasons. It is a reflection of those involved in the ranch, rodeo and western lifestyle. It’s rugged, yet elegant. It’s simple but durable.

Inspired by historic ranch furniture, western décor is more than a passing trend. It’s a beloved style that among admirers living within and outside the borders of the American “west.”

Cowboy inspired furniture is popular because it’s distinctive and not readily available in furniture stores.

“You don’t normally walk into your everyday store and find western furniture, so it appeals to most people for the uniqueness of the product,” said Annelise Woodard of Carolina Moon Home Furnishings based in Guy, Arkansas.

The furniture is high quality and designed to last more than a decade.

“We hand cut our frames and only use the highest quality of leather, known as top-grain leather,” said Stevie Hall of Cowhide Western Furniture Co. in Denton, Texas.

Best of all, exhibitors and trainers interested in bringing a bit of western flair into their homes or offices can start creating the look with trophies, saddles and awards.

“We scattered trophy saddles throughout the house and it became a part of the décor,” said Lori Grossnickle, an AQHA exhibitor from Michigan.

It’s hard to beat the comfortable, laid back elegant look that furniture made from fine leathers and natural cowhides provide. Western furniture has always been popular and will never go out of style.

“That is what is so great about it,” Woodard said, “when you make that investment you are guaranteed to have something that will last you a lifetime.”

Decorating a home in western or ranch décor is the opposite of modern and not the same as country. Instead, a western interior design is inspired by log cabins, pioneer dwellings, Southwestern Native American culture and early cattle ranches.

While interviewing contractors to build her new home, Grossnickle found that western was often confused with country.

“Western décor is not gingham or plaid,” she said, “to me a western design creates a warm, welcoming feeling where visitors can feel comfortable coming in and sitting on the furniture.”

Best of all, working with a designer that specializes in authentic western furniture, means that skilled craftsmen and women hand build every aspect of the piece and it’s customizable to meet any person’s needs and preferences.

“We have more than 100 different leathers to choose from,” Hall said, “if you want a unique color such as purple, coral, mint, or another, it’s available.”

Once a main color is selected, it’s time to add cowhide, embossed leather, or both. It’s possible to add fringe to nearly every piece. But the personalization doesn’t end there.

“We once used a hide that a customer brought in that he hunted in Africa,” Hall said.

When furniture is handmade and custom designed that means it can also be built to specific dimensions. Hall once added five inches to the back of a loveseat for a very tall customer.

“It was no problem since all of our furniture is made here in the United States,” Hall added.

The highly customizable nature of western furniture makes it a good fit for any customer and any budget. Customers working within a budget have options for staying within a price range. Buyers looking for a piece that is over the top can customize a piece of furniture that fits their style.

“Western furniture is exciting to design because the options are endless,” Woodard said.

Top quality leathers are a core component of most western furniture. Typically, furniture includes cowhide, embossed leathers, printed fabrics or tooled leather.

Hall says there’s not necessarily one hide that is trending more than another, but longhorn, brindle and tri-color hides are usually the most popular.

“The current trend right now is neutral tones,” Woodard said, “many customers are going for gray brindle hides and more neutral colors and fabrics in their furniture and accessories.”

Hall agrees that neutrals like gray are popular, but notes that turquoise is equally hot right now. Native American, specifically Navajo, prints in fabrics and pillows is trending according to Woodard. Although these prints are popular today, they have long been a staple in western interior design.

Prior to losing her home to a fire, Grossnickle had a collection of Apache style blankets and Indian woven wall hangings in her home. Rugs hung from stair railings and were strategically placed throughout the house.

“It took me years and years of visiting markets in Santa Fe and Albuquerque to find these pieces,” she said. “They can never be replaced, but I’ll be looking for new pieces.”

In the fall of 2015, Grossnickle barely had enough time to evacuate her husband and a Corgi puppy from the house. She didn’t even have time to grab her purse on the way out the door. The log cabin had been home for less than a year and the western décor she spent a lifetime collecting was engulfed in flames.

“Though I can’t ever replace the one-of-a-kind pieces that were lost, I won’t let the fire define me and in my wanderings I’ll find more pieces that I love,” she said.

The key for finding the right accent pieces is an enthusiasm for rummaging in off-the-beaten path shops and a willingness to drag extra luggage or haul packages home in the trailer alongside tack and equipment.

“Some of the best pieces I found came from a shop just outside of the AQHA World Show grounds while waiting for my daughter to show,” she said.

Transitioning an entire home from its current style to one with western flair can be overwhelming. Before taking the plunge, Woodard and Hall have suggestions for bringing in a touch of western style without going whole-hog.

Pillows are versatile and can add the perfect amount of flare. If you think you want wild colors or designs, but aren’t sure if you want that on a sofa for years, pillows are a cost effective way to change the entire look of your home.

“I like adding pillows to furniture because it gives you the chance to go wild, be neutral, or have just a little bit of fringe,” Hall said.

Custom, western pillows start at about $50 and can go up to $350 or more. It depends on the size of the pillow and the materials used.