When you think about equestrian style, typically we think of the traditional fall/winter trend of riding boots, English riding breeches and traditional hunt scenes in red and green tartan in home decor. However, incorporating equestrian style into your home can take on a variety of different style and tastes. While we love to reserve the traditional tweed, countryside hunt scenes and tartan for fall/winter style, we love focusing on the light and brights for spring, summer, and coastal homes. In this article, we’ve scoured the net for some of our favorite light and bright equestrian style inspiration.
Here are our top 10 ways to showcase light and bright equestrian style.
- Use your own personal touches. I love finding vendors on Etsy that will create unique items out of my old tack, horse shoes, and even horse hair. In my office, I have a leather-backed pillow with a halter that has brass name plates of some of my favorite horses I’ve owned. Another item I love is a horse shoe from my old Amateur-Owner hunter horse, Sir Walter, who passed away a few years ago. I keep it on my side table to remind myself he’s still always with us.
Another great way to feature some personal detail is to showcase your ribbons, trophies, or other awards. We are loving what Heather Kuhl from Florida put together below. She showcased a collection of her favorite ribbon rosettes in a white shadowbox. A personal work of art!
Framing old horse bits in a shadowbox is also a great way to add personal equestrian style. Whether it’s an old bit form your first pony, or a bit you used in a champion hunter or jumper round on one of your favorite horses, they make great wall decor! We also love how she used an awarded tack trunk as a furniture piece in this room. Fabulous!
2. Don’t be afraid to make your barn (or horse pastures) a backdrop. Utilize big windows and light as much as you can. French doors looking out to the barn can be the best way to relax from your living room. If you don’t have the luxury of living on a farm, you could always do a wall mural to pretend!
3. Decorate with details. Horse bit patterns in silk prints either on pillows or a detail in an Hermes scarf framed and hung on the wall make a great conversation piece. Stylish Equestrian has some great detail pieces we love including the Luxury Silk Bit Pillow in pink:
4. Sterling silver accents and geometric mirrors create a modern and classic look. Hydrangeas are great florals to add a romantic touch.
5. Use equestrian furniture as a main attraction to a room like this console hall table from Rusty Pony Homedecor or the ‘Harley chair’ by Julie Browning Bova.
6.) Make equestrian light and bright art the focal point of a room. We’re loving this piece by Belinda Baynes featuring a girl riding a white horse bareback on a beach complete with tropical umbrellas, family, and pastels leaving us feeling completely inspired… the perfect summer scene!
If you’r looking for a more traditional look, go with something like this piece from Vanessa Whittell, the “Summer Show Hunter”, an original acrylic painting featuring a girl hacking her grey horse in the show ring. There’s something about grey horses we just love, they make any room feel magical!
7.) Add florals to bring out a pop of color in the artwork like this below… We’re also loving the sterling trophy vase to complete the equestrian look.
Add textures, mixi and match metal tones…
8. Light walls with distressed wood creates a fresh barn-chic look. Adding tack hooks for towel hooks and personalized leather bridle detail like this from the Gegorek Farmhouse in Monroe, North Carolina are simply stunning. Oh, and we can’t forget this printed ottoman under the vanity is fabulously English-chic…
9. Shiplap and burlap do wonders together! Think of the old traditional feed bags leaning up against a white wood plank barn, this is where the inspiration comes from. We’re loving this living room featured by DecorPad complete with French burlap sack pillows and a Moroccan wool rug.
Ralph Lauren features equestrian style in a room complete with an iconic polo saddle hung on a shiplap wainscoted wall, a rich jute rug (which reminds us of a burlap texture), leather Holbrook Director’s Chairs, and navy and white accented Lafayette Throw Pillows.
10.) Keep it eclectic. Pick your color scheme and add accessories that make you ‘feel at home. Stack coffee table books for different heights and balance. Adding blue floral ginger jars is classic and fresh adding to a French-country look.
Did you design your home with equestrian style or horse decor? Have some great tips or ideas? Be sure to add it into the comments section below!
