country style house; photo courtesy of colonialplankfloors
If you love rustic decor and the feel of cozy atmosphere, you can create a stunning interior with country-inspired farmhouse style. With a little imagination and some good design ideas, you can turn your home into a comfortable, cozy place for your family and friends.
Farmhouse style is a mixture of form and function. With natural materials, streamlined shapes, aged finishes, and beautiful textiles, farmhouse style presents a lived-in, comfortable ambiance. By combining the right design elements, you can get country-inspired farmhouse style without breaking your bank account. Here are some design tips on things to look for:
Wood Flooring
In a country-inspired farmhouse interior, wood floors are a must. Whether the flooring is genuine wood or laminated, look for farmhouse hardwood floors with large planks and a distressed finish that give the appearance of age. Beautiful plank flooring in pine, maple, or oak will create warmth and cozy atmosphere in any room.
Natural Materials
If you look back at original farmhouses, natural materials are abundant throughout the interior. You’ll see ceilings and large overhead beams in natural wood, large fireplaces in rustic stones, farmhouse hardwood floors in warm tones, kitchen counter tops in natural butcher-block, old brick ovens, and re-claimed materials used for a variety of purposes. These natural materials emphasize cozy atmosphere and rustic design appeal.
Comfortable Fabrics
Look for furniture and fabrics that are comfortable and easy to maintain. Leather sofas and chairs with ottomans are comfortable and inviting in living rooms and family rooms with big, cozy fireplaces. Warm, soft fabrics like chenille and velvet create bedrooms that make you want to curl up at bedtime. Linen and cotton slipcovers, throws, and decorative pillows add a touch of elegance with simple style.
Vintage Accessories
To keep your country-inspired farmhouse style looking authentic, forget about the latest trends in modern accessories and look for accessories with vintage appeal. Old chandeliers and table lamps in wood or metal, large wall mirrors in heavy, simple frames, soft antique throw rugs, large glass jars and candelabras, and beautiful candles with natural scents will top off your country-inspired farmhouse style.