The term rustic can be quite broad, and many different design styles can fall into this category. Roughly, you can find old-world, Tuscan, and Scandinavian elements in rustic interior design. Basically, rustic ascribes to aesthetics that are rough, aged, natural, and casual. Lodges, cabins, cottages, barns all make us think rustic, but there’s more to it than just the shape and form of a house.
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What is Rustic Design?
Historically, some people derive rustic interior design from 19th-century settlers in the United States who built their homes away from the cities. Many of these pioneers brought little to no furniture because furniture would be heavy, and their new homes had limited space. These settlers quickly built their homes using locally sourced materials.
One key characteristic of a rustic home is natural materials such as wood, stone, and textured fabrics like burlap and canvas. Integrate these natural elements into the solid forms of the house (ceilings, floors, and doors) and your furniture, and you have the rustic design. Rustic design is simple, natural, and earthy. Forget about glossy burl wood; instead, use reclaimed and unfinished woods and stones.
Achieving the Rustic Look for Your House
Aside from polished wood and stone finishes, you’ll find none of the modern or flashy furnishings and lighting considered as modern materials: metal, plastic, or synthetic fibers. These have no place in a rustic home.
The colors of rustic design lean heavily on the neutrals. There is headway for a little bold color, as long as you stick to earthy tones. Greens, browns, and grays are common additions to a rustic scene, and it adds warmth. To add a feminine touch to your rustic interiors, you can add a few elements of French country décor, such as quilted or hand-stitched area rugs in pale pastel color. These will likewise add pops of color to the dark base of rustic design.
The charm of rustic furniture and fabrics comes from their subtle roughness. Because rustic design utilizes plenty of raw woods and stones, there is somewhat of an “unfinished” pull to all of it, if put together nicely. The natural materials’ uncomplicated blend of shapes, textures, and colors speaks of uniqueness, function, and simplicity.
Dive in flea markets for vintage finds. Vintage electric fans in bronze color and metallic finishes are just lovely. Current manufacturers even have “new old” designs for their appliances.
Introduce your visitors to the old-world charm that’s in store for them even before they enter your home. Custom doors made from woods like distressed mahogany or knotty alder can be accentuated with grilles, clavos, or even a working speakeasy.
DIY Rustic Furniture
Most rustic furniture is handcrafted. Furniture pieces are typically simple in design and shape, allowing for the materials to stand out instead. Rustic furniture is usually oversized, crafted to feel cozy, comfortable, and uncomplicated. Heavy wood furniture made from logs, bare wooden boards, and unpolished stone is typical in a rustic home.
You’ll want to achieve the look that your furniture was made with materials that the elements have roughened up over the years. And this is why you should get your hands on as much reclaimed wood or driftwood as you can. As for your fabrics, stick to those with a raw character such as jute, burlap, or animal hide.
DIY-ing your rustic furniture is not simply about saving money, but it is, in fact, ideal. Bring out that toolbox and coveralls and start hammering out some tables, racks, coat hangers, consoles, and nightstands. All you need to do is to give it shape and stain. Below are some ideas and hacks to make different rustic pieces to complete the look of your rustic dream house:
- You can use wooden wine boxes as nightstands or side tables. Think crates or barrels. The older, the better.
- Reclaimed wood will make nice side tables or consoles.
- You can make log halves into shelves. You can use wrought iron to brace them onto the walls.
- Coat hangers can be handmade using wooden twigs nailed to a sturdy wooden board. You can use wrought-iron hooks painted in matte black too.
- Wood stumps as tables and chairs.
Rustic spaces are warm, cozy, and comfortable. Fill your dream home with raw and natural elements and warm colors and texturize with woven baskets, rugs, and natural fabrics. A great centerpiece to your rustic living room can be an oversized fireplace. Then you can truly say there is no place like home.