Which of the following applies to you?

A. Empty mason jars are better than full wine bottles.
B. Peeling paint is like wrinkles; it implies character, not age.
C. You’d rather give up potato chips than antiques.
D. “Distressed” is a desirable condition.
E. All of the above… and then some.

Of course we’re kidding, but if you can relate to the statements above, you’re probably “rustic”! That’s right; you’re likely a fan of the rustic style of decor. Maybe you know it by another name, “cottage”, “country” or “shabby chic”. In all honesty, rustic is a blend of many styles, but at its heart are casual beauty and an appreciation for decorating that reflects a sense of charm, history and warmth.

Here are some pointers to bring rustic beauty to your home:

1. Don’t overdo it! You don’t need to sacrifice elegant and sophisticated to achieve rustic. The trick is to go easy. Sometimes all it takes is a hall table with distressed wood or the perfect peeling paint to make a rustic statement.2. Mix and match. Salvaged, antique or natural wood pieces blend beautifully with modern upholstery and contemporary chairs.

3. White is an awesome backdrop to rustic. (See last week’s blog!). Imagine an all white room with natural dark wood beam ceilings. White and rustic are amazing complements.

4. Back to nature. When you’re choosing paint, accessories or upholstery, select colours that are warm, neutral, natural or earth tones. Brown, green, rust, understated yellow and grey-blue reflect the natural look.  

5. What about pattern? Plaids and nature themes work well… again… all in moderation. You can make a room look rustic in a flash with on-theme bedding, cushions or drapes.

6. Cool vases. Glass and plastic are easy to find, but spending the effort and extra money on vases made of wood, clay or distressed metal can reinvent a room. If you find old copper buckets you’ve hit the jackpot. This look is vintage rustic.

7. Now that you have vases… Fussy flowers just won’t work. Sunflowers and daisies are down to earth and create the atmosphere you’re looking for. Brown willow sticks are great too. It should appear effortless.

8. Signs, signs, everywhere are signs. If you have a message, rustic is the style to express yourself! If you find an antique sign, ad, newspaper page – anything that speaks to you – display it with pride. You can also make your own. I saw a piece of old, stained dark wood with LOVE written on it. The L, V and E were white, the O was a heart done in red – all the paint was distressed – it was just beautiful.

9. Industrial and rustic? You bet! A loft with a modern feeling and lots of metal is a great setting for rustic touches, especially old wood pieces. A harvest table with ultra modern chairs; a reclaimed wood coffee table with a modern leather sofa; an elaborate cast iron bed frame in a clean, simple, straight lines kind of bedroom…

10. Fireplaces and wood stoves. If ever there was style that embraced natural heating, this is it! Wood fireplaces and wood stoves are functional and fit right in. Nothing fancy here. Brick, stone, “come as you are” is the look. And you want to show the firewood, displayed for ease and simple beauty.

11. Lighting. Either extreme is perfect. Industrial fixtures work well, especially in larges spaces, as do small lamps, cozy low lights and candles in smaller spaces.

Well rustic friends, I hope this blog has given you some ideas. And remember, with rustic, imperfect is perfect. What a relief! Enjoy that thought – and maybe even carry it beyond decorating!

Tags: decor, Furniture, trends