How to do rustic

How to do rustic

October 26, 2017
By Riyad
How to do rustic
 So you’re thinking rustic style. Maybe you just bought a barn and you’re wondering how to decorate it.

Or maybe your house in the countryside needs an update.

Or maybe you’re moving somewhere more rural.

But the fact is, rustic can mean so many different styles. I’ve been asked to decorate a seaside house in one of hottest parts of the Mediterranean, a retreat in the green of the English countryside and a wooden chalet in the Alps - with all the clients requesting a ‘country’ style look.

So here are four types of rustic to be thinking about and tips on how to get the look.

You can go for Scandinavian rustic - which at its most basic is neutral palettes of grey and white, plenty of linen, patterns of gingham and stripes. Painted wooden flooring. Rugs, sheepskins and furs draped over armchairs and sofas. And plenty of candles for the dark Nordic nights.

Scandinavian rustic look book

  • White chandeliers

  • Neutral interiors in greys and whites

  • Colour pops for cushions, tablecloths, rugs and lampshades

  • Minimal ornaments

  • A column-style wood burning stove

  • Blinds not curtains

  • No fitted carpets anywhere

  • Wooden cladding on walls

  • Triple glazing

  • Large floor lamps for task lighting

Or then there is French country style. Which means large dark armoires. Colours in yellows, golds, cornflower blues and forest greens. Beamed ceilings, carved wood and stone floors. Tiles are a feature, particularly in the kitchen and on the floors. Provencal patterns. Patterned china. Sunflower motifs.

French rustic look book

  • Stone fireplace or woodburning stove

  • Shutters instead of curtains

  • A large wooden kitchen table with rush-seated chairs in ladderback style

  • Copper saucepans on display in the kitchen

  • Vines and creepers grown around the windows with tendrils peeking through

  • Toile de Jouy wallpaper in a bedroom

  • Sleigh beds

  • Open shelves displaying china

  • Antique table linen on the dining table

  • Freestanding wrought iron baths

Closer to home there is the classic English country style. This is a real blend. Mixing up rugs from Turkey with reclaimed oak flooring. A few antiques dotted about. A mix of old and new. Big comfortable squashy sofas. Plenty of contrasting cushions. Substantial curtains to keep out draughts.

English rustic look book

  • Ceiling to floor shelves stacked with books

  • Chesterfield sofas upholstered in velvets and tartan

  • Mixing up patterns - paisley, checks and florals BUT with an underlying colour theme

  • Patterned wallpaper in hallways and downstairs loo

  • Window seats and floor to ceiling curtains

  • Table lamps

  • Washable loose covers on sitting room furniture

  • AGA in the kitchen or a range cooker

  • China bowls or jugs of scented cottage garden flowers; sweetpeas, roses, peonies

  • Persian rugs on floor

Finally, we have Mediterranean rustic style, which reflects the soaring summer temperatures and draws its inspiration from outside - with bright colours reflecting vivid flowers and azure blue skies. Floors are generally tiled to be cool underfoot. Window treatments are simple - blinds and shutters to keep out the blazing sun. Furniture is simpler, less structured. Think fewer, but larger pieces.   Walls are generally whitewashed so they absorb heat less.

Mediterranean rustic look book

  • Terracotta floor tiles

  • Blue and white colour schemes

  • Textured walls

  • Warm earthy palettes

  • Windows placed to allow breezes to move freely

  • Large cream or white linen sofas

  • Natural wooden doors

  • Bronze, copper and wrought iron details

  • Large L-shaped sofas for lounging

  • Rugs to break up expanses of floor

  • An open fire or wood burning stove for winter warmth.

+44 (0)20 3667 7796
Ward & Co. Interiors
12 Soho Square,
London W1D 3QF
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