Long before the whites, or Europeans, came into America, there were already natives living in the New World. Native Americans, or Indians as they are popularly known, have already set up a culture in this land. They have developed their own way of life, from food to laws. Naturally, they also have developed their own unique art.

Native American art, or southwestern art, is intriguing and beautiful. Most of the art depict nature since Indians were primarily hunters, gatherers, and farmers. They believed in spirits that reside among plants and animals and dedicated art to these unseen denizens of the land.

Southwestern art is still popular now despite the emergence and strength of Caucasian influence. Many homes still are decorated with a Native American theme, which is soothing and reminds its occupants of the gifts of nature.

Want to have a southwestern theme in your home? Here are some tips.

1. Native American art usually consists of hieroglyphs. These are characters written in, constituting, or belonging to a system of writing mainly in pictorial characters. For example, these hieroglyphs may depict pictures of men hunting for game.

Download a picture of that contains interesting hieroglyphics and have an artist paint them into a pillar or a part of a wall in your home. Be careful not to put too much; hieroglyphics can be overwhelming.

2. For a large southwestern wall art, you can purchase animal skin and hang it on the wall. Most common ones are from bears or deer. Be sure that the animal skin you buy does not have bare patches in its fur.

It is easy to maintain animal skin. Just give it a regular brushing, maybe once or twice a week, so that it stays soft and smooth.

3. Bear rugs are also popular southwestern decors. It consists of a real bear's stuffed head and the skin on its body. Bear skins are usually placed as rugs on a living room's floor, a strange but intriguing and beautiful décor for the hunter. Like the animal skin wall décor, you need to give it a regular brushing to make it clean, smooth, and soft.

4. A hunter usually wants to place his trophies on the walls as a display. Stuffed deer head mounted on plaques are common decorations. However, if the person finds the idea of having heads on the walls staring at him ghastly, he can opt for antlers instead. Deer shed their antlers, and these can be found anywhere where deer reside.

5. Another great southwestern wall décor is putting up plates. Yes, plates that we use when we eat dinner. We are not talking about glass, china, or plain plates. Choose plates that have Native American art or those with interesting designs. Arrange them in a line or in a column on the wall.

6. Of course, do not forget paintings. Paintings depicting nature-meadows, mountains, a river cutting through a valley-are good examples. Paintings should be photo realistic, that is, it should resemble those taken by a camera.