Decorating Tips to Turn Any Home into a Country Dream

Trista - March 26, 2019

Photo: Credit: Decoratorist

DIY wooden curtain rods.

Let’s be real. The eye is not always drawn to the curtain rods. They exist relatively high above eye-level. However, with the right materials, you could effectively draw people’s eyes up to your newest attraction without making it obvious. This attraction being none other than wooden rods that you created yourself. It’s not a very difficult task either, but it does require you to measure things properly. So be sure to have a ruler or measuring tape and a pencil first before getting the materials to start this project.

Too long, and it may look like your curtain rod is much too big for your window; too short, and your curtains won’t effectively cover the windows at all. It doesn’t hurt to start longer and then gradually shorten the rod to see what suits your windows best. Once you decide where to place them properly, you will also need to decide whether or not you want to paint them or leave them the way they are before nailing them up. You could make them blend in with your walls and curtains or have them stand out and make a statement.

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Install a wooden wall sconce.

This item will require wood again instead of mason jars. That should come as no surprise, considering that rustic and wood are ultimately inseparable. To make the perfect farmhouse wall sconce, take some wood and give it a coat of whitewashed paint. You can bend a nice metal container to fit the wood so that the surfaces are flush with each other. You should be able to find the wood on the side of the road or go to your local hardware store and ask for scraps of wood they may have.

Then just add a few sprigs of eucalyptus to add some green to your home, as well as a lovely fragrance. Home decor can smell nice as well as look nice, so don’t be afraid to try out new and different ideas to keep your home unique. If you’re not a fan of eucalyptus, you can add any other type of plant or flower that you would like to add some color and some refreshing fragrance to your home.

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Leave the dining room table barren.

People mostly resort to covering their dining room table with a tablecloth to cover up any imperfection that may have occurred over the years, but rustic is the time to show them off. A single table runner down the middle is nice enough, exposing all of that rich wood for everyone to see. Sometimes tablecloths just add too much to the table when you’re trying to keep it simple. Not including one also helps to save money too.

Add some nice and simple placemats to keep any stains off. Now you have the perfect setting for your next meal. Moreover, if you’re concerned about protecting the wood of your expensive table, consider putting a glass top on it to save it from all those spills. Knicks in the wood can tell a story and give it an older and more rustic look. Be sure to keep centerpieces down to a bare minimum to make the table look too crowded and cluttered.

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Hang pendulum lights.

If you have a high enough ceiling, having pendulum lights can add some nice rustic flair. Go with metal and glass to keep with the aesthetic and make sure that you know how to set them up properly. The last thing you need is hanging lights that don’t work because they’re not wired correctly. Be sure to have an electrician put the lights in so that you don’t hurt yourself not knowing how to install them properly.

Line then up over the middle of your dining room or kitchen table for a well-lit meal and atmosphere. This illumination idea will have you wondering why you never tried it before. These lights will add style and a story in any sort of room. Remember, you don’t have to keep it strictly for just a dining room or kitchen either. Maybe you’re feeling unique and creative and want one in your den or even in your bedroom! Go for it if that’s what you want!

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Consider adding a daybed.

A day bed in your living room can provide a lot of much-needed comfort after a hard day of work. You can use it as a couch to rest your feet, or you could even resort to a scandalous nap in the middle of the afternoon. Dressing up your day bed accordingly will also add a nice rustic element to the room. Add some fluffy pillows for some extra comfort and style, along with a fleece blanket for some extra warmth when you’re snuggled in.

Go with neutral sheets with some gold accents on the cushions or pillows. The lower to the ground the day bed is, the better. A bright, colorful throw will finish off the look. Add a small table to put next to your day bed, and you have the perfect setting to snuggle up in with a good book and an ice-cold drink or even a hot steaming cup of hot cocoa on a cold evening. You won’t regret adding this into your living room or den.

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Love being home thanks to a rustic powder room.

Even the bathroom can be dressed up to look like it belongs in a cabin. A stone sink sets the room apart from the rest of your home, and the simple wooden cupboards are a great place to store extra toilet paper and other toiletries as well. If you have things sitting on top of your countertop, add some cute wooden or wicker baskets to store stuff in, or even mason jars for items such as toothbrushes, makeup brushes, cotton balls, or q-tips.

Add neutral tone colored accessories like soap and tissue dispensers so that the rest of the room can shine—the more simple, the better. Furthermore, don’t forget the faucet and taps as well; bare black metal will finish off the look nicely. Add a small wicker basket to place next to the toilet for trash. Also, try a couple of small rugs to place in front of the sink and tub. It is an easy way to add finishing touches and tie your bathroom together.

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Fill up a wall with books.

Nothing is more attractive than a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. It’s even more impressive if you have high ceilings. If you are handy with tools, you can always incorporate one into one wall of your home, giving your books a new place to live instead of in boxes in the basement, collecting dust and being ignored. Plus, it also gives you the chance to show off your collection of books as well. Put a small succulent plant between books here and there to add a little freshness and nature to the look.

White wood works best, and you can play around with different-sized shelves to keep your bookshelf looking interesting, too. Not interested in books, in any case? You can fill those cubby holes with whatever knick-knack collections you may have so that you can show them off to your guests. Add photos you may have taken of family and friends, or even nature or pets. Trophies and certificates can be neatly placed next to small plants and framed smiles, too.

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Bon Appetit with a pizza oven paddle.

Even if you don’t have a pizza oven in your home, you can still dress it up with a nice pizza oven paddle. The distressed wood adds to your kitchen’s aesthetic, though you may get some questions about having fresh pizza for dinner. All you need is a pizza oven paddle and enough wall space to hang it on. You may be able to find one at your local thrift store or even at an old pizza place that may be going out of business.

You can even leave it propped up in the corner, hang it up above your stovetop, or prop it up on an empty counter for everyone to see. Whether it’s made of metal or wood doesn’t matter either; they will both go well with the rustic aesthetic. If it’s wood, you can even paint it if you wish to add it to your home decor with a word, making it a sign in your kitchen. Moreover, a unique-looking sign it would be.

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Don’t be afraid of fake fur.

Animal pelts may not be your thing, but they still add a nice rustic element to any living room or dining room. Go for the fake fur instead and lay down a nice rug in the middle of the floor. Some are made to look like real fur, so you may not even be able to tell the difference. You don’t have to stick with just one room when deciding where to place a fur rug either; you can put them throughout your home.

Fur rugs go best with bare wood floors, but they can make for a nice accent rug on a carpeted floor in your bedroom. Consider different fur color options to see what fits best with the decor in your home. There are many options for fur rugs, ranging from shaggy to more smooth, and some are striped while others are spotted or solid colors. They can be made to match any type of decor as well. The options are truly endless.

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Focus on nature.

The main rustic element is using things that look natural, so don’t be afraid to pull something from your yard to use inside. Bare branches, rusted metal, and plain wood finishes can be used to help decorate the inside of your home, bringing in that rustic aesthetic look without breaking the bank. Just be sure that there aren’t any insects on anything you bring in from your yard first. Nothing like setting up something pretty in your living room only to find out it’s crawling with bugs a few minutes later.

Have a collection of bird feathers you found in your backyard? Why not string them up and attach them to a bare branch? Then you can hang that up in your bedroom to add both color and texture to the walls. If you’re into art projects, you could make your very own dream catcher to hang up above your bed, using feathers you find outside in your yard. Furthermore, instead of filling your house with knick-knacks, replace some of those things with small indoor plants.

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Stack up some suitcases.

If you have any hardtop suitcases you’re not using at the moment, why not stack them up together? That is a unique way to create a side table in your coffee room, den, or on your patio. Add a potted plant to the mix, and you have a wonderful addition to any room. You could even add a simple little picture frame with a photo taken from a trip you may have been on recently to finish up the look.

To make it extra special, leave on all those travel stickers too. It will let your guests know that you’re well-traveled and give your suitcases that weathered, “found on the side of the road” look. Those suitcases will have many stories to tell. Your guests will be asking about your travels, which may help if you’re not good at making small talk. And how convenient, in a hurry and need a suitcase? Just grab part of your end table and start packing!

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Include deer antlers on the wall.

Maybe you’re fortunate to live somewhere where a lot of deer traverse the area. When the seasons change, the bucks shed or lose their antlers in a fight, and you may be lucky enough to find a few lying around your yard. Clean them thoroughly first with soap and water, and consider adding them to your home. If you cannot find any lying around, you may be able to purchase some from a hunting or fishing shop near your home if one is available.

You can leave them resting on top of a storage dresser or hang them up on your wall with a nice brass hook and use it for a coat. The natural look of antlers is a suitable replacement for wood since there are more textures to it. Furthermore, because no antlers ever look the same, you’ll have a unique shape to use just for your home. Moreover, there is no need to polish, stain or paint them before putting them up on display.

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