Rustic Home Decor Makes a Comeback

For the last few decades, there's been a distinct split between high-end upscale home decorating and comfortable down-home affordable décor. The high-style magazines featured glossy photos of modern contemporary homes, replete with stone, glass and steel. The colors were stark – black and white with a few slashes of brilliant tones to emphasize the contrasts and smooth lines. Meanwhile, the magazines aimed at Mrs. America around the U.S.A. offered the warm, cozy sensibility of country kitsch and homespun fabrics. Cows and chickens, hearts and patchwork quilts, rag rugs and solid wood furniture filled rooms that invited guests to sit down, take your shoes off and set a spell.

The gap has closed, and one of today's hottest new decorating styles blends the two into a stylish, classic blend of rustic charm and high-bred functionality. This new style – call it rustic modern - features natural materials – wood and stone, wool, cotton, linen and silk – and floor plans that flow and move into each other without overcrowding. The best examples of rustic décor have the feeling of a country lodge on an estate – open, relaxing and friendly.

Want to bring a bit of rustic warmth to your decorating scheme? Here are some suggestions from top designers.

Go for the country cabin look. Wood wall paneling is back in style – but with a twist. Rustic paneling features wide planks and a rough-hewn look, with a warm, honey tone.

Country crafts can warm your whole room. Try a classic patchwork quilt on a metal frame bed, or throw it over the back of a homespun sofa. Patchwork and appliquéd pillows with a country theme can bring a hint of rustic charm to your living and sitting rooms.

Think hunting lodge. Functionality meets creativity in some of the most charming and whimsical accents. Chainsaw carved bears sit by fireplaces, deer antlers hang on walls to hold hats and wrought iron is everywhere.

The right floor can transform your entire room. Bare wood is beautiful, and fits the style perfectly, but it's not your only choice. Stone floors softened with woven and braided area rugs, or a classic sheepskin from Australia or New Zealand can be the perfect backdrop for rustic furniture and collections.

Go Navajo. Or Hudson Bay. Woven wool throws in Southwestern designs or a classic Hudson Bay wool blanket are a subtle touch of bygone rustic charm with a masculine feel that's perfect for this style.

Keep it subtle. Opt for an open floor plan with plenty of seating space and choose your colors and materials to accent a few special pieces.

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

 
 
About the Author
If you are interested in learning more about country home decor then you will definitely want to drop by Rustic Adornments.com, a resource that offers tips and advice pertaining to owning and decorating your very own rustic home.

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/22161.html
 

If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/22161.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.

Some other articles by Jared Winston

Country Art in Home Decor The role of art in country decor is somewhat different than its role in many other styles of decoration. In most styles, art plays the part of accents, ... Country Bedding and Bedrooms There are few places in the home where country decor can shine better than in the bedroom. All the warmth, welcome, and simplicity that characterize country decor is simply the most effective in ... Teeth Whitening and Sensitive Teeth Tooth whitening to achieve that "perfect" smile has recently become extremely popular. However, there is a price to be paid for that beautiful ... Easy and Cheap Kitchen Designs Whether you are just moving in to a new place or you are trying to update your home decor, you may find yourself faced with a kitchen that needs ... A New Look at Country Style Home Decor Country style home decor has been a fixture in American culture for centuries. At times, it has been the popular, current look of the American home, which is where the style ... Kitchen Islands: The Right Choice for You? Many peoples' lives are far more affected by the layout of their kitchen than they might expect. Even with the dramatic rise in instant foods that people consume ...