Get the Look: Ideal Home’s Santa Fe Southwestern Style

In “Ideal Home,” Paul Rudd and Steve Coogan star as Paul and Erasmus, a couple with an extravagant lifestyle who take in Bill, the grandson Erasmus never knew he had. Throughout the movie, we learn an ideal home is not ideal because of the things that fill it, but the people who inhabit it. Obvious? Yes; But when Erasmus is eating Taco Bell in a fur coat telling his grandson this is the happiest he’s ever been, it does feel a bit more nuanced.

Set in Sante Fe, New Mexico, Erasmus and Paul’s home is true southwestern style. Plaster walls, pottery, and iron chandeliers fill each room, and the palette is natural with plenty of Ikat, Ganado, and Chinle patterns.

To get the look, start with a patterned rug. Red and black are typical colors and they add contrast against neutral and natural walls. The beauty of southwest decor comes from the hand-made quality of the objects. If you can, source rugs, textiles and pottery from local artisans; the traditions of the Native American populations in the region are unique and deserve to be celebrated.

Furniture in this space is not dainty. If you’re doing a sofa, do it in leather. Overstuffed cushions and nailhead trim are perfectly suited for this look. However, if you are doing a leather sofa, pair it with fabric armchairs. Not everything has to be leather. If you’re feeling like it’s not enough, invest in some chaps.

Look toward Mission, Spanish craftsmen, and Sante Fe-style furniture. Pieces are typically dark stained woods with decorative hardware or carvings. I suggest focusing on storage pieces because you’re not going to want to display too many knick knacks on your shelves. The patterns on your textiles are busy, so you won’t want the visual clutter of too many small objects around. For example, Erasmus and Paul store their adult film collection in a beautiful wood and metal cabinet. It keeps their DVDs from drawing attention away from the beautiful interiors.

Southwestern style is more than just rough and tough. There is an elegance that can be brought in through beautiful linen draperies against black hardware, curvaceous oversize pottery, and intricate iron light fixtures. When choosing light fixtures, especially installed pieces like sconces and chandeliers, look for dark finishes and curvy arms. Bare bulbs work better with chandeliers than sconces, so if you need shades, stick with off-white or cream in crisp, simple tapered shapes. Another great light source is lanterns, which work perfectly with this style. The bigger, the better—just like an order at Taco Bell.

• Chair:Pottery Barn Fionah Upholstered Armchair, sale from $799
• Cowhide rug:Safavieh Cowhide Rug, $224
• Chinle rug:Navajo Chinle Wool Rug, $550
• Credenza:World Market Langley Storage Cabinet, $550
• Bench:RH Sorenson Leather Bench, from $2,695
• Coffee table:Anthropologie Semisfera Coffee Table, sale from $1,189
• Curtains:RH Belgian Textured Linen Drapery, from $235
• Floor lamp:RH Petite Candlestick Floor Lamp, $379
• Chandelier:Shades of Light Rustic Iron Chandelier, $579
• Lanterns:Moreno Lantern with LED Candle, $33
• Vase with handles:Tuscan Urn, $34
• Vase:Zentique Jar set of 6, $159
• Paint:Benjamin Moore 1515 Natural Elements; Benjamin Moore 1233 Cedar Ridge; Benjamin Moore 1010 Rose Dust