7 Ways to Get the PNW Look in Your Home

Vampires, tech companies and coffee aside, the Pacific Northwest is having a moment for its look. And, no, we don’t mean flannel. So what is PNW style? It’s an eclectic mix of influences, from traditional American Indian patterns to clean lines a la Scandinavian furniture to rustic-chic lodge vibes.

The look is everywhere, from decor powerhouse One Kings Lane to this year’s HGTV Dream Home to Walt Disney World. Yes, there’s a mini PNW in Central Florida. If the humidity didn’t give it away, you’d really think you were out west.

Disney World’s new Copper Creek Cabins feature PNW-inspired materials, such as red cedar, rainforest marble and native textiles. “American Indian inspirations common to many tribes are integrated into the design motifs, from floors and pillows to furniture accents,” said Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Architect David Stofcik.

Stofcik and his team were meticulous when researching and curating the cabin’s decor. But Stofcik noted that PNW style goes beyond specific accessories. There’s an emphasis on harmony with the outdoors. It’s more of a state of mind than a decorating style.

“The Pacific Northwest is about the authentic character of natural materials, colors and details and the inherent relationship between indoors and outdoors, not brightly polished brass or finished items and objects,” he said.

If you love the Pacific Northwest, love the idea of embracing the outdoors and want to get the look in your home, check out these easy, minimal decor swaps.

Live Edge

Instead of a color palette, the PNW has more of a signature material: wood. It’s everywhere in design from exposed wooden beams to live edge furniture. But if you don’t have space to outfit a giant custom piece, there are easy decor swaps if you like the look. “Live edge wood planks found at local lumber yards and mills can be used for drawer fronts or amazing headboards for your bed,” said Stofcik.

Textiles

One of the signature elements of PNW design is textile patterns. And you can’t talk about PNW textiles without mentioning Pendleton. Known for its signature wool blankets, the Oregon textile company is the epitome of rustic-chic style. To get the look, add a couple of Pendleton’s geometric pillows in muted earth tones to your sofa and chairs.

Ferns

One of the calling cards of PNW design is bringing the outside in. And one of the easiest ways to do that is houseplants. Ferns are found everywhere in the Pacific Northwest and make excellent indoor plants. Maidenhair Ferns are super trendy right now but if you don’t have a green thumb, you could frame a fern instead. Olympia maker Chelsea Garrow sells pressed botanical and foliage art on her online store Frame and Flora.

Garrow said she was inspired to start pressing ferns after watching an episode of Fixer Upper where Joanna Gaines pressed leaves found in Waco, Texas. “Now, various types of pressed ferns accompany canvas prints, vintage maps and family photos on our living room walls,” she said. “Nothing could possibly say ‘home’ to us more than that.”

Natural Light

Twilight got one thing right. It rains in the Pacific Northwest. A lot. So when your world is a constant grayscale, you need all the natural light you can get. It’s very common to have floor to ceiling windows, whether it’s a small apartment downtown or large home in the Cascades. There’s really no room for art on these walls because there are windows everywhere. But that becomes the art itself, especially if you can see nature outside.

Scent

If you can’t make decorating changes, fill your home with the smell of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon candle maker Hannah Turner of Wax & Wane Candles has a line of PNW-inspired candles with scents that represent different climates in the region.

“Timberline represents the Douglas Firs and Ponderosa Pines that remind me so much of winters spent cross-country skiing up in the mountains and summers spent adventuring through the Cascades,” Turner said. “Portland Rose reminds me of the years of college I spent living in the Willamette Valley. There's this magical time where the rain seems to be subsiding in spring and all of the flowers (especially the rose gardens) are blooming. Pacific reminds me of the moody and rugged coast that runs all the way up the PNW.”

Art

HGTV Dream Home 2018 is located in Gig Harbor, Washington, and one of the most impressive elements of this year’s giveaway home is the collection of PNW-inspired art. Take a look back at all of the curated art walls for inspiration for your own home.

Pottery

Thanks to Dale Chihuly’s iconic art, hand-blown glass gets a lot of tourist hype in Seattle. And while it is a big deal (and this writer is obsessed with the wares at glassybaby), the pottery scene is just as cool. These mugs with hand warmers from Made in Washington are very popular during the winter. And, yes, they have versions for righties and lefties!