Make Mine Southern!

An old farmhouse, a busy kitchen and that planter of flowers on the windowsill all

help create the homey feeling that's typical of the laid-back Southern attitude. Often called the style of the 'country' folk, this aesthetic holds comfort and that feeling of home in high regard. More than just getting praises for looking pretty, a true Southern home aims to be complimented for home comfortable and inviting it is to guests. Give your home that true country feeling with some of these simple decorating tips.

Be generous with the use of fabrics. Country style is about textures - soft, lush, smooth and comfy. This is one factor that makes a country home cozy. The presence of fabrics makes a space more inviting. Notice how curtains and quilts are country home staples.

Go slow with colors. A country style is simple without too many hues. The shades are light and soft hence, neutrals work best for a country theme because these shades are basically the groundwork for accenting or adding colors. Nonetheless, keeping neutral colors as is still upholds the simplicity and subduedness of a country decor.

Antiques are another major design element in a country home. The furniture, for one, almost always has at least one vintage piece, usually an heirloom that's been handed down for generations. Of course, there are also those pieces that come from garage sales and flea markets. Old-style kitchen tools like hand blenders and weathered chopping boards should also add to that vintage charm. Aged sepia or black and white photos of relatives usually round out the mix.

Another factor that gives coziness to country homes is the use of area rugs. You will see that area rugs are everywhere from the porch, entryway and living room to the patio, kitchen and stairway. There's no lack of area rugs in a country-styled place. These decorative pieces give warmth as well as an appealing look to the entire space.

To finally finish off the look of your Southern style home, add touches and details of life on the farm. Miniature farm animals work particularly well because it sends the message across quite quickly. Decorative farm implements like an old wooden wheel or a cowbell are quirky yet very graphic reflections of the farming lifestyle. If you must have art up on your walls, go for landscapes, farm scenes or depictions of farm animals to keep the feel consistent. Just make sure to avoid luxe details like silver or gold, and you should have an interior that even a true Southerner would call home.

by: Abbie Osborne-Wilson

POST COMMENT

England Fight Against Scotland In Rugby World Cup 2011 Leadanswer.com: Comprehensive Leads Is The Key Of Success A Simple Way To Make A Cake What You Should Know About Meta Tags Grilled Shrimp Recipe Mister Wong - A Guide For Social Bookmarking How To Begin Personal Growth Process Save Your Precious Time with Hand Blenders Maternity Must-Haves For The Office Twelve simple habits to enhance your vitality How Can I Tell If Have Bad Breath Causes of Shoulder Joint Pain The rational response to adversity