Rustic Country Style Decor

When creating a rustic country style decor for your home, it is not a simple equation of distressed weather worn wood plus rugged tiles equals a country style interior. Sure, those elements play a role, but the spirit of rustic country goes far deeper than mere conventional surfaces and textures. This style has more to do with feelings and less to do with furnishings, finishes, fabrics, and accessories. The spirit of country is achieved by designing a rustic escape in which you can relax and reminisce in.

In today's fast passed society we crave simplicity in our lives and in our homes. What gives rustic country its appeal is its visually quiet style, lack of opulence and reminders of comforting remnants of our past. This "pauvrete de luxe" as the early twentieth-century French designer Paul Poiret called it, can be achieved in the following ways.

Recognize that beauty does not always have to be manufactured or come with an expensive price tag. When choosing a paint color, find inspiration from the grey tones of a stone found on a sandy beach or the golden hues noticed on a sun kissed grape. This has far more value than the latest designer color trends and it will withstand the test of time. Said best by Henry David Thoreau, "Let our houses first be lined with beauty...and not overlaid with it."

When it comes to the decor of your rustic country home, a minimalist style works best. Accomplish this by performing aesthetic reduction, minimizing the amount of accessories and reducing their ornamentation. Showy knick-knacks and useless trinkets have no place in a rustic style country interior. Discard the artificial stylized elements seen in typical "country style" interior design and the result is a healthier and more direct relationship with the surrounding countryside.

When shopping for fabric, choose simple linens and rustic leathers. A natural approach is best when selecting such elements. Pull colors from your surroundings and incorporate the textures found only in nature, close-up. For example, use an unexpected woven sea grass upholstered armchair paired with a tea stained slip-covered sofa accompanied by a white washed pickled wood floor and a multi colored cowhide area rug.

When a relationship exists between a home and the land it sits on, the inside harmoniously unites with nature. For instance, when privacy is not an issue, do away with window treatments. This eliminates the inevitable competition between the interior and the outdoors. Who needs extra decoration, artwork and fluff when there are breathtaking views framed by windows and doors. If this is not the case, choose a plain, soft, slightly translucent and free flowing drapery panel that allows the true simplicities of life and abundant warmth to shine.

Borrow from the best of modern developments, technology, architecture and design, meanwhile; never forget what our past has to offer. A home is most comfortable when it is familiar, so bring out those once undesirable vintage light fixtures and antique kitchen stoves and refurbish them. Shop antique stores for other household items and such, the design potential is limitless and the effects of a good find can be profound.

There is a new awareness in design, architecture and the general population, that while we derived inspiration primarily from nature we were not conscientious of its impact on the planet. This new awareness has changed the direction of design towards conservation and recycling. If you're remodeling, try to leave one element of the home untouched. For example, the stark beauty of stone needs no enhancing and the appeal of raw timber is indisputable. If you're building a home from the ground up, try to use woods that were once considered unsuitable. For instance unseasoned larch, its rough qualities will enhance your home's character unlike any other treated or manufactured woods.

A home is a continuously evolving process. Its design and decor begins in our imagination with a combination of ideas from our past, present and future. These ideas are then passed down to those of us who naively transform it, for better or for worse. Relish in the simplicity and unexpected comforts of makeshift homemaking and create a rustic country style decor all of your own.

• Country Style Decorating Ideas
• Bathroom Design Pictures
• Interior Paint Color Combinations

• Country French Style Basics
• Common Themes for Teenage Bedrooms
• Designing for Small Spaces
• Basics of Color Design
• Asian Style Interior Design

• Category:Interior Design Styles
• English Country Style Interior Design
• Lodge Decor
• Country French Kitchen Decor
• Country Farmhouse Decor