How To Decorate A Farm Country Living Room

Few decorating styles have the cozy, charming warmth of farm country.  My mother decorated in this style when I was growing up, so I always see it with a sense of nostalgia.  It makes me think of the many hours that my sister and I spent following Mom around country stores and antique shops, gathering decorating ideas.  Later, after browsing in several stores, taking notes on things that she liked, and after possibly being talked into buying some candy sticks by my sister and me, Mom would go home, make some plans, and then head out later that week to the craft store for supplies.  In this way, she was able to create the warm look without spending all of her money at the expensive country stores.

The good news is that if you enjoy this decorating style and want to incorporate it into your home, it's easy to do, and you don't necessarily need to spend lots of money on all of the fancy decorations in the country stores.  Here, I’m going to share a few of the things that my mom did to create a home that country store owner friends of ours used to look at and compare to their own stores.

While any color scheme can be incorporated into a country home with great results, this type of country works best with earthy tones.  Warm brick reds and hunter greens brightened up with some cream, are classic colors for farm country.  You can also incorporate some blues, yellows, and even roses for variety, too.  When you find accessories that you like, remember these colors so you don't bring something home that doesn't match up with your vision of your country living room.

One thing that adds to the charm of a country living room is the number of handmade items you find in it. Often made from simple and inexpensive fabrics such as homespun, handmade crafts such as simple throw pillows, dolls, wall hangings, and even curtains will not only give your home that country look, but also provide that handmade appearance that gives the style its cozy feeling.

The great thing about these decorations is that they’re actually very easy to make. A simple set of curtains can be made very simply. Pillows are just squares of fabric sewn together and stuffed. The key is to use fabrics that match the look you want. For this style of country, homespun is perfect. If you're a little more adventurous, look online for some country doll patterns and other home decor patterns.

Whether it's a handmade collection of pillows on the couch or your grandmother's antique dish set sitting on a shelf, a major component of the country style is cozy, planned clutter here and there. Not the clutter that comes from leaving your junk mail on the kitchen table for a week; this sort of clutter is the decorative type where you arrange things that have similarities but have different shapes, colors, or textures together in groups around the room. And you don't have to spend a ton of money on a massive collection of cute purchased decorations to get this look, either -- in fact, it's best if you don't. A small collection of family photos and other pictures in simple, mismatched frames can be displayed on a wall beside a chair with a few small handmade pillows on it. An old or antiqued basket next to a rustic coffee table can hold a 4 or 5 old books or rag dolls. Just make sure that you don't overdo it -- a little bit goes a long way, and you want to strive for bits of clutter that doesn't make the living room feel close and uncomfortable.

Whichever elements you choose to use to decorate, make sure that it reflects you and is cozy and inviting. The quality about country decor that makes it well loved is the inviting warmth that this style has. It just draws you in and invites your visitor to sit down before you even say a word. However you decorate and arrange your living room, make sure that it says "Welcome! Have a seat!" to everyone who walks in.