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DESIGN 101
An In-Depth Guide To Rustic Decor and Furniture
Embrace the beauty of the outdoors by designing a rustic style home. This style incorporates plenty of natural elements for a cozy and laid-back atmosphere.
For instance, rustic homes often include distressed woods, vibrant houseplants, and cozy wool rugs. No matter where you live, these organic materials will make you feel like you’re spending your days in a historic farmhouse or a cozy cottage in the woods.
Designing a rustic home lets you deepen your connection with nature and experiment with different textures. Here are our top rustic home decor ideas for creating the perfect country-inspired retreat.
What Is Rustic Style Interior Design?
The rustic style is inspired by natural colors, materials, and textures. It allows designers to bring a taste of the outdoors into homes to create unique and inviting spaces. This style features metal, stone, wood, and other organic elements.
Nature is filled with beautiful imperfections, and so are rustic homes. They often have aged decor and vintage furniture. Older items add charm and a sense of history, as though you’ve stepped back into the past.
Many rustic homes also feature handcrafted decor, such as hand-knitted throws and carved wooden signs. These materials make spaces feel more authentic and relaxed.
People often confuse the rustic and farmhouse styles, but they have a few key differences. The rustic style is typically raw and unfinished, while farmhouse decor is fresher and slightly more refined. Rustic decor also includes simple wood furniture with dark finishes, while farmhouse furniture has lighter finishes and more polished designs.
Origins of Rustic Style
Although the rustic style may seem like a modern trend, it has a long history in the United States.
This style emerged around the nineteenth century when Americans used natural materials out of necessity. They designed ramshackle rustic outdoor furniture and decorations from sticks, stones, and other elements. These items were easy to create using simple tools like an ax or saw and didn’t require much skill.
In 1876, entrepreneur William West Durant visited Raquette Lake in New York. He founded Camp Pine Knot as an outdoor playground for the wealthy. The camp included many elements that would become hallmarks of the rustic style, including:
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Exposed woodwork
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Stone fireplaces
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Wicker furniture
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Earthy decor
The rustic style became more mainstream in the mid-twentieth century. Many cabins and mountain lodges used traditional rustic decor to create relaxing spaces for guests. Later, this style spread to urban homes as people searched for ways to reconnect with nature.
Elements of Rustic Home Decor and Furnishings
A rustic home interior typically includes these elements:
Distressed finishes
The rustic style is all about embracing the unique imperfections of natural materials. Rustic wood furniture often has a weathered appearance and raw edges that expose the natural grain and textures. Rustic homes may also feature distressed metal decor, such as galvanized metal artwork and antique metal light fixtures.
Earthy tones
Rustic homes have a nature-inspired color palette. They often include warm green and brown hues that evoke the colors of a dreamy forest. Designers can also add warmth with burnt orange, mustard yellow, terracotta red, and other earthy hues
Natural lighting
Rustic architecture includes plenty of windows to let in sunlight, creating an airy and warm space.
Organic fabrics
Cozy natural fabrics add texture to rustic interiors. The most popular rustic textiles include cotton, linen, plaid, and wool. Many homes also include jute or sisal rugs.
Woods
Rustic style furniture typically uses dense, weathered woods. Many items are made from reclaimed or recycled wood, adding authenticity and uniqueness.
Characteristics of Rustic Home Decor and Furnishings
The rustic style offers plenty of flexibility to design a space that reflects your needs and tastes. Here are a few key characteristics of rustic homes and furniture to guide your design choices.
Rustic style homes
The rustic style is more than an interior design choice; it’s also a style of architecture. Rustic style homes often have these traits:
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Wood and stone interiors
Rustic homes often have durable stone or wood floors that add texture and color. They may also have exposed wooden beams and stone foundations that showcase the builders’ craftsmanship.
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Brick or stone fireplaces
A cozy fireplace fills the home with warmth and the nostalgic smell of burning food.
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Large windows
A rustic home has oversized windows you can throw open on warm days to let in sunlight and the fresh smell of grass.
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Lush landscaping
Rustic homes are often surrounded by beautiful gardens and lawns filled with native flowers, trees, and other plants. Organic materials like gravel paths and stone walls enrich the natural beauty of these outdoor spaces.
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Natural exterior
Decorate the exterior of your home with brick, stone, or wood.
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Open floor plans
Wide open spaces let air and light flow through them, creating a spacious and inviting atmosphere.
Rustic style furniture
You don’t need to remodel your home to embrace the rustic style. Adding a few rustic style furniture pieces can help you create your ideal space.
Look for furniture made from heavy, reclaimed wood. A distressed wooden dresser and nightstands can add storage space to a rustic bedroom. Meanwhile, a thick wooden table with benches and chairs can serve as the centerpiece for a rustic kitchen or dining room.
How To Incorporate Rustic Home Decor and Furniture Into Your Space
Designing a rustic interior doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Follow these tips to transform your home into your ideal getaway.
Add a sprinkle of eclectic grandpa
"Eclectic Grandpa" is a microtrend style that embraces retro designs and vintage furniture. There are many ways to incorporate this trendy style into your rustic decor. For example, you can use rustic wooden bookshelves to display your collection of curiosities. Showcase your personality with your favorite books, family photos, plants, and other items.
The Eclectic Grandpa style also incorporates high-quality vintage items. Browse thrift stores to find weathered rattan or wooden furniture for your rustic space. You can also incorporate a cozy leather armchair with a warm wool blanket.
Choose rustic wall decor
Get the most out of your vertical space by decorating your walls with rustic artwork, such as:
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Canvas art featuring animals and the environment
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Floating wooden shelves
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Hanging metal vases filled with flowers
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Wooden signs with inspirational phrases
Bring in the outdoors with houseplants
Brighten your rustic space by including live houseplants in decorative ceramic, metal, or wooden pots. If you don’t have a green thumb, consider these low-maintenance options:
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Chinese evergreen
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Jade
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Philodendron
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Pothos
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Snake plant
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Spider plant
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ZZ plant
Pick plaid patterns
Plaid is an iconic rustic pattern often found in farmhouses and mountain cabins. Incorporate this cozy yet stylish pattern into your home with plaid upholstered furniture, blankets, or throw pillows.
Enliven Your Space With Rustic Decor
The rustic style has endured for centuries, and it’s not going away any time soon. This timeless style will help you feel more grounded and in tune with nature. It's also relaxed, making it perfect for busy families who want a carefree, retreat-like atmosphere at home.