The rustic style of decoration is inspired by the interiors of country houses. With its bright spaces and warm, comfortable atmosphere, it recreates the atmosphere of the countryside and its tranquility.
With multiple reminders of nature, the use of raw materials and natural tones, rustic decorating is a true return to its roots.
Table of Contents
What is the rustic style?
The rustic look is a simple, unpretentious and warm decorating style, sometimes with a touch of nostalgia and romance.
Drawing inspiration from the country lifestyle, rustic style favors the use of natural materials and little work. Thus, field stones and exposed wooden beams rub shoulders with furniture made of raw wood or wrought iron.
In the rustic decoration, we find many elements coming from nature. Light is also very important as well as soft colors. It is a style of decoration that creates a soothing atmosphere, as opposed to the hustle and bustle of urban environments.
In addition to wood, which is found in furniture but also in panelling on the walls, ceiling or floor, we also find wicker, wrought iron, rattan, ceramic and leather. The beams on the ceiling and a stone fireplace are beautiful additions to a rustic style decoration.
The natural materials of the rustic style
Wood
Embrace wood as one of the primary natural materials in your rustic style. Choose reclaimed wood flooring for a rustic-inspired design; if that’s not in your budget, opt for reclaimed wood effect laminate instead, as an alternative to rustic decor.
Wood paneling will also add a touch of luxury, or if you opt for a light wood, you’ll feel like you’re in a cabin in the woods. If you have beams in your home, don’t hesitate to incorporate them into your decor and showcase them.
Stone
Dimension stone flooring is perfect for a rustic look in the kitchen; as well as a rustic bathroom. It’s natural and durable and gives you a warm, cozy feel while being practical and long-lasting.
Stone fireplaces are perfect for an updated rustic living room. Don’t have a fireplace or the ability to install one? A great tip for creating that warm, fiery glow is to use soft yellow/orange lighting all around your room.
Metals
Iron, copper and brass are all natural metals perfect for rustic style accessories. If you’re on a budget, imitation versions of these metals still look great and allow you to achieve your interior design goals without breaking the budget.
There are also some great rustic metal lighting fixtures. They will add the finishing touch to any room; as well as fireplace accessories, such as fire pits and fire baskets, that are ruggedly chic.
Fabrics
Find fabrics in warm hues to make your country-style decor even more inviting. Think cozy blankets, plaid fabrics and thick knits to create a cozy, relaxed environment. For more luxury, choose a faux fur throw for the sofa and a patterned woven rug to complete the room and add a pop of color. Rugs are perfect if you have a wood floor and need warmth during the cold seasons.
The heat from a fireplace can easily damage a wood floor over time. A durable rug will protect your floor, while adding color. For a feminine touch, consider including floral upholstery. With rustic interior design, you risk making your room feel too utilitarian and masculine; you can easily counter this with a traditionally feminine touch.
The furniture
In the rustic style, the furniture is mainly made of wood, quite massive and classic in appearance, without neglecting its comfortable side. The wood can be stained, painted or aged to give it a vintage effect. We also find the presence of metal and iron in the furniture, such as small garden tables in wrought iron.
In the dining room, a solid wood table in the center of the room, with a sideboard or china cabinet is preferred. In the kitchen, the cabinet doors will be made of wood and there will often be a central island.
The colors
In the rustic style, natural and neutral colors are popular. For the walls, white, cream or pale beige are preferred to balance the sometimes dark colors of wood and metal used for the furniture.
Other natural colors include taupe, earth tones, sand and brown, but also ochre and blue. We forget the colors too bright in the rustic decor. Pastel colors, powder blue, lilac, pale green are also preferred for their soothing side.
The patterns on the decorative accessories, curtains or cushions are inspired by elements of nature, such as flowers or leaves. We also find patterns of small peas, stripes and checks.
The wood of the furniture is often painted in white or pastel colors, but it can also be left in its natural color.
The accessories
When it comes to accessories, we go for simplicity with slightly retro and rustic objects, without overloading. We’re thinking of items we get at flea markets, antiques or handicrafts.
An antique mirror or wooden frames, rattan baskets, hand-woven rugs, brass items or patchwork cushions on the chairs will complete the decor.
A few vases of wild or dried flowers and lace curtains will also soften the more massive side of the furniture and raw materials used.
You can be inspired by nature for the accessories and choose wooden bowls, log slices as trays or coasters, or pine cones to decorate. For a more masculine effect, you can also hang a stuffed deer or moose head on the walls as well as accessories that remind you of hunting and the forest.
Light is a very important element of rustic style. For the windows, we avoid very thick fabrics and materials; instead, we opt for lace or light fabrics that let the light through.
For lighting, candles, iron fixtures or metal chandeliers are used, as well as table lamps. You can even opt for an oil lamp, for a more old-fashioned look.
In the living room, a rug or a faux fur blanket will contribute to the warm and cozy atmosphere. In the bathroom, accessories and towel racks can be made of wrought iron and the vanity of painted wood for a guaranteed rustic effect.
In the kitchen, you can hang dishes, pots, pans and utensils on the wall. Mason jars of groceries and old metal tins for cookies can also be displayed.
The origins of the rustic style
The rustic style draws its inspiration from the countryside and the homes found there. It is especially in the 2000’s that the style gained in popularity, when an interest and a craze developed for country homes and cottages.
The variations of the rustic style
Rustic is a decorating style that blends very well with other types of decoration and has its origins in several regions of the world. There are several variations of the style: rustic-industrial, rustic-modern, rustic-scandinavian, etc.
For example, for an Italian touch inspired by the countryside of Tuscany, you will find more stones, a tiled floor, ochre and earthy colors, solid wood furniture and leather sofas.
There is also the farm house variation, a softer and more comforting variation of the rustic style, which takes on the spirit of the farm with white painted wainscoting walls and pale hues.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the lumberjack style, which brings a more masculine touch by using elements that recall hunting and lumberjack camps, with darker colors, red and black tiles, animal heads and crossbows hanging on the walls.
