Photos by Michael Woodall 1. Bed. This king bed – handcrafted from Rosa Morada and Parota hardwoods (also used in the chest and bench pieces) – features leather panels, braided stitching and a 72-inch-high headboard. Cost: $3,943. 2. Cordoba High Chest. Incorporating tooled leather panels and drawers, this bedside beauty has buxom 34 x 30 x 24-inch measurements and costs $1,929. 3. Fleur-de-lis lamp. Featuring an iron base with metal cutwork shade, this 29-inch-tall lamp sells for $225. 4. Rafaela Bench. As shown, this 48-inch bench comes with hair hide and is also available in leather or 60-inch and 72-inch lengths. Price is $689. 5. Throw pillows. The two 21-inch red chenille pillows sell for $169 each. The tooled-leather and hare-hide throw pillow behind the neck roll is $268. (Others are part of a bedding collection.) Fiesta Furnishings 15320 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, 480-951-3239 fiestafurnishings.com

From cowboy curios to rustic Navajo rugs, surprisingly eclectic Southwestern décor can be whatever you want it to be.

Say “Southwestern décor” to a dozen designers and you’re liable to get 13 opinions on what it means. Does it harken back to the Old World or scream Santa Fe? Does it turn on wagon wheels, 1940s lodge artifacts and Hopalong Cassidy? Is it cowboys? Or Indians? Or both?

Let’s start with what Southwestern is not: pale woods and coyotes. Just as Arizona washed off the mauves and country blues of the 1980s, those howling Southwestern coyotes disappeared years ago.

 “Nowadays, true Southwestern has a more Western appeal,” says Valerie Watters, owner of Valerie’s Furniture and Accents in Cave Creek. “You’ll still see Navajo baskets and rugs, but these elements are blended more with spurs and branding irons, leading into more of a Western feel.”

In fact, Watters may have hit upon a key word: feel.

“All design comes from a feeling. Somehow in the hearts of all of us, Western and Southwestern furnishings are so American. Maybe we’re all searching for that feeling, waiting for the good guy to come galloping in. People gobble it up,” she says.

For Nick Colamartini, owner of Urban Southwest in Phoenix, Southwestern means warmth and easy living without much maintenance. “It’s not fancy, and not everything needs to match,” he says.

For Paul Folk, owner of Rustic Stuff in Scottsdale, Southwestern is casual and sophisticated. “Wood finishes are distressed, aged and worn,” he says.

Less ornate than Old World, Southwestern similarly draws upon aged, dark, rich earthen tones, he says. In fact, while furnishings may take center stage in the drama of your décor, tone and hue are the light and sound that create an inviting ambience.

Whether you want to capture the rollicking Wild West or Old World sophistication tailored to a simpler style, these furnishings will point you in a Southwesterly direction.

The ValorConceived and designed by Rustic Stuff owner Paul Folk, the chair’s acid-washed cowhide makes it a statement piece. Antique brass studs add Western flavor. As pictured, $3,399. Rustic Stuff 15040 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale, 480-596-0345 rusticstuffhome.com

Turquoise beaded cross lampThis hand-painted resin base lamp features a turquoise cross and beads with a buckskin suede shade. As pictured, $289. Valerie’s Furniture and Accents 6070 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, 480-483-3327 valeriesfurniture.com

Churro saddle blanketPerfect as a throw blanket, this saddle blanket is woven from the wool of Churro sheep, a breed used in Navajo trade blankets. It measures 66 inches by 39 inches and costs $128. Pendleton 7237 E. First Ave., Scottsdale, 480-874-2655 pendleton-usa.com

Ponderosa pine cart Made in Mexico from recycled materials by a friend of Urban Southwest owner Nick Colamartini, this fully-functional 48 x 28 x 18.5-inch cart will roll on demand. Cost: $750. Urban Southwest 1016 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 602-266-3311 urbansouthwest.com