subject: Rustic Decor Brings The Outdoors Inside [print this page] If your heart beats to the natural rhythms of the great outdoors, you can bring that feeling inside by creating a rustic design for your home or office.
There's more to creating a rustic design than merely Adirondack-style furniture. It takes a clear understanding of rustic design components and a willingness to choose a style and stick to it.
That's right; there's more than one style of rustic decor. Nonetheless, all rustic decor centers on wood tones and pieces that convey an outdoorsy feel. You might want the cowboys-and-cattle of the Old West, the canoe-and-paddles or the Upper Midwest, or the high-mountain forests of upstate New York and New England. The point here is to choose your rustic style carefully and then stick to it because rustic styles don't mix well. A Michigan kayak would look mighty strange in a living room with a cattle ranch theme.
Wood paneling is of course the best way to start your rustic home decorating. An alternative is to paint the walls in earth tones that give an appearance of wood material - beige, tans, and browns. Ivory, ebony and cream also look nice. For many rustic homes, wallpapering is no stranger. So, if you wish to have more intricate designs for your walls, use wallpaper instead.
Move next to accents, which are wood-inspired or outdoor-themed. Instead of using colorful flowers, go for the more untamed look of grapevine wreaths, tree branches, wildflowers or wood shavings.
For the furniture, cover them with rustic fabrics like duck cloth, corduroy or denim. If you don't want to overhaul your furniture, you can always pay attention to their accessories, such as throw pillows, seat cushions and drapes.
To bring together all the decorative elements and make your interiors more appealing, use suitable area rugs. Navajo and other kinds of Native American rugs are perfect.
Wall decors only need to be simple but reminiscent of the outdoors. It can be about nature or animals. You can stencil, paint or border the walls or hang artworks and photographs. Better yet, do both!
The final touches in rustic decor focus on vintage accents and collectibles.
In addition to area rugs, one item that is worthy to splurge on are quilts. These decors are must-have items for a rustic design. You can use one as a drape for chairs and sofas or as a wall hanging.
Take your cue in decorating from the things you use in your outdoor activities. Highlight a specific idea, say cattle and ranch lifestyle and use objects that depict it. Mixing and matching is also okay as long as you don't transform your home into a warehouse-like place. Decorate moderately.
Finally, don't forget to express your personality in your decors.
