Rustic Decor

Rustic style is the interior design style for nature lovers. If the city is to sterile and modern then maybe a little touch of rustic at home will bring you one step closer to the great outdoors. The current technology, all smooth shiny surfaces, plastic and chrome is a big contrast to the rustic style which features natural, organic surfaces.

Rustic style can be quite a simple style to achieve. Here knocks, mis-matching pieces and fading - are a feature not a problem! Although traditionally the rustic look has featured in cabins and lodges its starting to make its way into city homes as well, after all who more needs to get away from the shiny and smart than the city dweller? A rustic design in even part of your home can provide a great contrast to the modern, fast-paced world we all live in. Antler lighting anyone?

Good pieces of country furniture often look like they have survived years of love. It may not be a perfect piece anymore but every ding and dent will have a story to tell "this is where Janie ran her skateboard into the table when she was 5". Not all of us are lucky enough to inherit such pieces but today its possible to buy new pieces which have been distressed to have the genuine "old look". The things to look for is the lack of straight lines. While contemporary style is about cold, straight bold lines, country or rustic style is about warm, soft, imperfect lines. Good country furniture should never look mass-produced, every piece needs to be different and have its own character

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Rustic Furniture

Pine is a common wood used for rustic style furniture. The nature of the wood is that it may still have knots and other imperfections which makes each piece unique. Some furniture may still feature the tree's bark as well. At the extreme end of rustic the furniture may not be completely square and even have a slight wobble. Table tops are often cut to follow and enhance the natural lines of the wood rather than a standard size and shape. Pieces are often finished with a clear covering so that the natural beauty of the wood is enhanced.

This is the key to the rustic look - and as is common with all country styles -this is very much the more is more approach. Whether you are looking for antler lighting or cute bear accessories this is where you go to town. Natural and wood is big - but often you can get the same look for less using faux materials. For example real deer and elk antlers used for lighting and table legs are expensive and heavy. Its possible to get fake antler light fittings which not only cost less but are a lot lighter as well.

Here you have a range of styles to choose from traditional American patchwork to Indian influenced rugs and colors from the southwest. Again layering is critical - one blanket will look wrong in this style - layer a bed with two or three contrasting covers in different colors and materials. Predominate colours are soft and natural colours: warm reds, traditional greens and soft yellows. The contrasting metal is often brass rather than bright shiny modern metals.

Rustic Style Is Not for Everyone

Rustic style can be done to the extreme and can be very overwhelming! Designed to work on a large canvas - if you are decorating an urban room you may have a smaller space to deal with - and large antler light fixtures and stone fireplace surrounds maybe a bit too much.

Done with taste and constraint though the style can work in a lot of spaces.