Decorating a Rustic Home

Rustic interior design is characterized by the earthy, organic lines and textures of the great outdoors. Characteristics of a rustic-style home include:

• Open floor plans with clean sight lines.

• Large windows creating a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors.

• Exposed wood, stone, and brick architectural features emphasizing the structure's authenticity.

• Other styles incorporated with the surrounding natural elements, creating a happy dissonance.

A home with a distinctive rustic style needs interior design elements that complement the architectural style. Seek out natural textures, neutral colors, simple patterns, solid wood, and illumination from natural light. Below are some tips for decorating a rustic home:

• Use exposed wooden beams as close to the natural state as possible to lend a warm, weight, and rustic appeal to any room.

• Use wide-plank wood for floors and paneling. Choose natural or neutral-colored stains or leave them unfinished. 

• Fireplaces mimic our first and fundamental form of heat and are guaranteed to create a rustic look and provide natural warmth and beauty. Use heavy, natural stone or brick for the mantel. 

• Paint walls white to brighten the natural wood features of the home. Or integrate other neutral, earth tones that don't distract from the home's feeling of being in a natural setting. Sandstone, rich browns and tans, and forest green and sage bring the serenity of nature into your home. 

• Use only natural fabrics for upholstered furniture and rugs. Linen, wool, leather, and canvas are complementary choices.

Rustic furniture celebrates the natural elements of a piece, even after it's transformed into a fully finished piece of furniture. Surfaces don't have to be smooth; they can appear weathered or distressed. Materials are often wood, especially oak, cherry, maple, or walnut – and often, a knot in the wood is cherished more than covered. The shapes are simple, sometimes even blocky, and the colors are natural, too.

One of the first artisans of rustic furniture was Reverend Ben Davis. He began his craft during the early 1900s in North Carolina, which is close—in both time and proximity—to the beginnings of Bassett Furniture.

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