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Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Home & Garden
Country Design Style
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Country Design Style
By Rochelle Caviness
Country style decorating is more a creation of the heart than of following strict decorating rules. Each person has their own idea of what they think is 'country'. This is because country design is a melding of the past with the present. Peoples background, the area of the country they live in, and their own personal tastes will all combine to make up what they expect from a decor so that it will induce a country feel for them. For one person, country style may mean mission style furniture and a southern feel. For another, country style may be a cluttered farmhouse feel complete with milking equipment used as decorative elements.
- When designing a country style for your own home, go with what feels right for you. After all, you are going to have to live with it.
Technical Aspects of a Country Design Style
There are two, basic country design styles. When most people think of this style, they are referring to a decorating style that tries to induce a country feel to a decor by using rustic furniture and lots of traditional arts and crafts. However, a country design style can also be one that is spare and airy. This minimalist country design is considered a contemporary manifestation of the traditional country style. In the contemporary style, the decor is uncluttered and makes use of shaker style furnishings and fresh flowers. In general, this minimalist style has a clean feel about it with most woods left in a natural state.
- In both country styles, furnishing should have a natural, handmade look, as should any decorative items used.
- These two do not make up the entire scope of possible country styles. For example, a southwestern motif is also very popular. The southwestern style often incorporates leather-upholstered furniture, dark colors, and other aspects of Mexico's Spanish Colonial heritage.
Traditional Country Design Style
- Furniture: To fit into the country design motif, furniture is normally rustic. Furniture that is distressed and 'old' looking works well.
- Decorations:
Arts and crafts items and antique looking objects should be plentiful. Quilts, stenciling, old farm implements, and dried flower arrangements fit in well.
Contemporary Country Design Style
- Furniture: Furnishings should be spare, with clean lines and should be functional over decorative. Shaker style furniture is ideal because is not only functional, but they are works of art in their own right. Furniture should be left in a natural state and not painted.
- Decorations:
The minimalist style calls for minimal decorations. Everything should serve a dual purpose, being both functional and decorative. For example a quilt, on a bed, is artistic and functional. A quilt hung on the wall is pure decoration.
Style Specific Tips
- Cottage style: the key word is quaint and cozy. Keep everything out in the open. Organized clutter rules. Keep things you use regularly out in the open by making frequent use of beribboned baskets and jars. Trim shelves with crochet lace or cut out paper strips. Use lots of floral printed fabrics.
- Traditional Country:
Scour the flea markets for odds and ends. Mismatched chairs and other furnishing meld with the traditional country style. Instead of using rugs, stencil a 'rug' onto your floor. For both the traditional and contemporary styles, the predominant colors tend to be blue and white, however earth tones are also prominent.
- Rustic Country:
Hark back to your old days at camp. Use lots of outdoorsy things indoors, such as outdoor furniture. Impressive elements include chairs made from tree branches. Wreathes made of fresh pine boughs not only give a rustic look to a decor, but also an unmistakable woodsy aroma. Kitsch collectibles fit in well with the rustic style. Decorating with a couple of old suitcases helps to give a room a 'camp' feel and provides extra storage space.
- Old World Country:
The single most important element of an Old World country feel may be the bed – a canopy or curtained bed is a must. If you don't have one, you can create the illusion of a having a canopy bed by draping fabric from the ceiling and arranging it so that it falls toward each corner of your bed. Use as much lace as possible throughout your decor. Lace curtains give windows an Old World feel.
- Mexican Country Style:
This style uses very few chairs, relying on benches for seating. Stone and other natural materials abound throughout the decor. Gourds, pottery, and traditional Mexican textiles give the room an authentic feel.
The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only.
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