Popular Horse Decor For Living Room Pizzazz

By John West


Horses and humans have a special bond. Myths, legends, and folk tales have horses in them more often than not. The gods had winged Pegasus and fiery teams to drag the sun across the sky. Famous people have had famous horses: think of Alexander the Great's Bucephalus, George Washington's white charger, Robert E. Lee's Traveler (still on display in Lexington VA). Horse decor for living room, den, and foyer is grandfathered in for us all.

There's no limit to the decorative items designed on an equine theme. Even the most humble hut might have a horseshoe nailed up over the door, turned open end up so the luck won't run out. Metal horseshoes were invented early on, maybe circa 900 AD. Around the same time, elegant pottery or bronze statues of martial horses graced royal palaces in ancient China.

Statues of horses are effective table-top ornaments, free-standing or made into lamps. Carousel horses can prance behind a couch or over a fireplace. Spirited steeds with flowing mane and tail catch the eye on lamp shades, mirror and picture frames, or sofa pillows. A specially-designed flat casting in iron, with or without paint, makes a great door stop.

For a traditional look, get a vintage or reproduction hunt print. Actually, artists are still creating original paintings about contemporary subjects, since the sport of foxhunting is still flourishing in America. These scenes of horse and hound are generally matted in red and framed in dark wood - an elegant, country effect. These prints evoke the rich history of England, Ireland, and our own colonial period.

Hunting print scenes are also common on coasters, which look great on end tables throughout the room. Prints and pictures can focus on racehorses, jumpers, or harness horses with an equally fine effect. If you have had winners in any area of the sport, you might be able to display trophies on your mantel. An award might also be a silver tray - perfect for decanter and glasses - or an engraved bowl that you can use for flowers or fruit.

If you're tastes run to western art and accessories, that's another whole world to draw from. Cowboys and the horses that they rode have been popular in America since they first showed up in big hats and tooled boots. (Actually. Boots make a good accent piece, whether they are the tall black ones worn by English riders or a hand-stitched pair from Texas.) People decorate with original paintings and prints of lone cowboys in the mountains or desert, cattle drives and stampedes, or wild horses roaming the range. Artisans use horse motifs on rugs and throws, wastepaper baskets, magazine racks, and other useful items.

Horse gear looks good in an informal setting. Fold a colorful saddle blanket over a couch or chair. Hang a bridle or hackamore on a door, put a silver-trimmed saddle in a corner of the room, and keep your hat and gloves on a table by the exit. These make great conversation pieces, as do portraits of favorite horses or childhood ponies. Riders always have great stories and treasured memories.

The internet is a great place to browse for horse-related things to customize your living room. From wall hooks to chandeliers, you can find pieces to enchant and inspire. Do a broad search or narrow it to your favorite theme.




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