Whether you live in the city or in the country, we can all agree that rustic decor is suitable for every home. Rustic decor is a great way to bring the feel of the great outdoors into your home, or to pay homage to a simpler time. Distressed wood, natural stone, vintage and weathered items, neutral colors and burlap/jute are all hallmarks of rustic decor. They create a sense of comfort and charm that’s hard to beat. Rustic decor is all about creating a relaxed, lived in look and feel. Check out these 8 tips to bring this cozy aesthetic into your home.
Add Texture
Rustic decor is the ultimate mixed media display. Rustic decor is all about creating texture and depth. Metal chairs around a distressed wood table. Linen pillows on a leather couch.
You’ll want to mix neutral colors with earth tones, weathered wood next to metal, warm light bulbs in industrial lamps. Layering textiles will create dimension and visual appeal. Layers add warmth and interest and can be used throughout the room (rugs, sofa, curtains and art). A mix of linen, cotton, jute, wool, leather, and other organic fabrics will bring a super down to earth feel to your home.
Plush
A comfortable seating arrangement is essential in rustic decor. Whether you’ve had a long day on the farm or in your office, creating a comfortable “hygge” place to sit is central to this look. Overstuffed sofas, thick rugs, faux fur and plush pillows are all welcome additions to this look.
Embrace Vintage
Not only is thrifting super fun, but it’s also the perfect way to bring in that distressed look to your rustic decor. Vintage furniture immediately creates a lived-in feel that is super welcoming. Anything with a weathered look or patina adds a lot of visual appeal. Wear and tear is a badge of honor of a well loved item.
Upgrade your Essentials
Something as simple as upgrading a light fixture can alter the look of a room. But the perfect way to transform the look of your home is to add a barn door. Not only will it LOOK more rustic, but it will FEEL that way as you glide your door open on it’s black matte hardware.
Traditional doors definitely don’t belong in a rustic home. lThe Knotty Barn Door is perfect for rustic spaces that lack texture. The dark knots on the light colored wood work as a cozy design feature.
For a slightly more modern look, Reclaimed Look Ranch Barn Door is a stunning addition to any room. What could be better than a modern, but rustic, door that allows you the freedom to create a look that suits your home.
Play With Color
On top of neutral tones, you can use a splash of color to your advantage. The neutrality of the room will help feature the vibrant color palette. White washed walls are a popular choice for rustic decor. Use contrast to your advantage by placing darker woods against white walls. Remember to create as much contrast as you can without clashing. When neutral colors meet distressed wood, it is easy for the furniture to blend in a little too well.
Metals
Without going too industrial, you definitely want to feature metals like copper, iron and brass in your rustic decor. Adding metal is ruggedly chic, and the best part is that you can often find real metal pieces at estate sales and thrift shops. There are also loats of immitations that can do the trick.
Organic Shapes
Straight lines don’t really have a place in rustic designs.In lieu of these clean lines, we want to see natural rock shapes, the curve of a tree branch, knots in wood. Nature rarely conforms and this look definitely plays that up. Symmetry is hard to find in nature, so don’t feel like the layout of your room needs to be completely matchy-matchy. The couch doesn’t have to match the lounge chairs. If you’re really bold, you don’t even have to have a set of matching chairs around your dining table. Embrace imperfection.
Quality over Quantity
Part of the charm of the rustic look is having weathered furniture that was built to last. Sturdy, well-crafted furniture is essential. Instead of less expensive, synthetic fibers, adorn your couch with a thick wool blanket. Rustic decor is based on function over form. Everything in the room should serve a purpose and less is definitely more. Focus on simplicity and charm.
