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Have you embraced rustic interior design in your home?
The trend for rustic interiors is hugely popular, and it’s not hard to see why. The rustic look is all about using natural materials, embracing earthy colours, and dialling up the comfort factor to create a warm, welcoming home. And you don’t have to live in an old property to make it work; modern twists on the trend have brought a freshness and light touch to rustic styling that makes it really adaptable to all types of property.
If you’d like to introduce rustic style into your home, these interior design tips will help you nail the look.
Rustic interior design tips
Take inspiration from nature
Natural materials are a key element of the rustic look. We’re talking unfinished wood, stone, wrought iron, natural fabrics, leather, suede and animal hide (or their faux equivalents), and repurposed objects.
By their very nature, furniture and accessories made from natural materials have a more organic form than their manufactured equivalents. This is a key factor in creating that rustic feel. Hand-woven baskets, chunky wooden shelves, and furniture that combines natural elements with sleeker materials such as metal are all great options.
The great thing about rustic style is you can use as much or as little as you want. If you’d like subtle rustic accents, limit the amount of natural materials you use. To really emphasise the rustic vibe, extend the natural materials to furniture, flooring and structural elements such as faux beams. Wood-panelled walls are another great way to create a natural backdrop.
Choose a rustic colour palette
When it comes to colour schemes, don’t assume that rustic has to equal brown! A warm palette is key to the rustic look, but this can be achieved through the natural warmth of wood and stone. Rustic interior design is all about creating a calm, comforting space, so choose colours that will complement rather than clash, and go for a muted shade as opposed to a really strong accent. Warm tones of yellow, orange and red all work well.
White walls also work brilliantly in a rustic interior. They provide a blank canvas to showcase other rustic elements, and will bring a freshness to the finished look that’s a million miles away from country cottage style. White walls are also fantastic for bouncing light around – perfect for rooms with limited natural light or low ceilings.
Not keen on the full-blown rustic look? Go for rustic accessories
If you’re keen to avoid an all-out rustic interior design, accessories are a great way to give a little rustic nod to a space. You could introduce some rough wood picture frames, hand-made storage baskets, or wrought iron curtain poles; Made By The Forge has a lovely range. Consider also using plants and dried flowers to add texture and natural shapes to the space.
Use soft furnishings for comfort factor
Soft furnishings are ideal for creating a cosy feel in a room, and you can use natural materials really effectively here to dial up the rustic vibe. It’s also easy to change your soft furnishings when you want to give a room a quick, low-cost update, so if you’re just dipping a toe into the rustic look this is a great place to start.
Faux fur is an obvious choice for a luxurious rustic look; use it on cushions, throws and rugs. You can also use luxurious fabrics to soften the clean lines and bring a rustic touch to a modern room style.
Rustic lighting
As with any interior lighting, aim for a layered approach to enhance your rustic style. Start with your ambient lighting, which is usually a ceiling light, then add in task lighting for things like reading, working or preparing food. You may also want to include accent lighting to highlight a particular feature such as exposed beams or wall art.
When choosing your light fittings and shades, stick to the rustic brief with natural materials such as wood, iron, weathered metal, woven bamboo or rattan, or repurposed objects.
A fireplace focal point
A fireplace is a key element of a rustic styled room, and serves to really enhance the cosy, inviting mood. If you’re going for the full rustic look, chunky wooden mantels, stone surrounds and wrought iron fire tools are ideal.
If you’d like to keep a modern element to your rustic design, there are some fabulous hole-in-the-wall gas fires that combine a real fire effect with sleek lines and minimalist design. This is also a great option if you’re limited on space, but still want to create a focal point. You won’t be able to toast marshmallows, but you can still cosy up and enjoy the rustic vibe!
How have you used rustic style in your home?
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