Three Rustic Redecorating Tips for a More Modern Home

Rustic décor is taking over: just walk into any modern restaurant or craft bar and you’ll see the elements of decorating which bring us closer to nature. The booming popularity of a more rustic approach to decorating has many homeowners asking how they can hop on the bandwagon and give their homes a cozier vibe.

The principles of the rustic lifestyle and decorating are relatively simple as they embrace nature yet don’t have any “hard’ rules. In other words, you have plenty of freedom when it comes to how you decorate and redesign your home.

While some might find such freedom inviting, others may find it daunting. You want that classic, rustic aesthetic to your living space; however, where do you start? If you’re looking for rustic redecorating ideas, consider the following three tips to get yourself started.

Wood and Wooden Accents

Perhaps the most obvious aspect of rustic decorating is the emphasis on wooden materials. While not everything in your house needs to be made of wood, consider some starting points such as:

• Wooden bedroom furniture, including beds, dressers, mirrors and nightstands
• Hardwood floor, which has the potential to transform the feel of your home and is much easier to keep clean versus carpet
• Wooden accents and decorations, such as picture frames or knick-knacks

While many items branded as rustic wood are often distressed or faded, focus less on labels and choose pieces that fit best with your personal preference and style of home. Regardless, wooden pieces should be the cornerstone of your redecorating efforts.

Metal Decorations

Contrasting with the aforementioned wooden pieces, metal decorations are common both inside and outside of the home. Rustic metal decorations can take many shapes and forms, such as:

• Clocks, lamps and ceiling fans
• Wall-art, including written messages and greetings
• Stools and end-tables

The combination of natural wood versus metal creates a truly unique vibe for any home. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of such decorations available both online and in specialty stores for those who want to make their current living space feel more like a farmhouse.

Plants

Rustic living is about more than simply aesthetics, but also truly embracing nature. Consider how household plants can tie together your furniture and decorating and bring new life to your home, quite literally.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing plants for your home, especially considering that some plants are much more difficult to keep up than others. For example, you’ll want to keep in mind:

• How often the plant needs to be watered and whether or not it needs constant exposure to sunlight
• Whether or not the plant has a calming odor: on the flip side, perhaps the plant is odorless or has an unpleasant odor
• The price of the plant and whether or not you’ll have to spend a fortune in case it dies

For example, there are a number of common household plants that won’t die on you such as aloe, ficus and pothos which are attractive yet don’t require too much upkeep.

Finding All The Elements

To make your home redecorating project easier, do it a little at a time.  Use a variety of sources.  And, don’t overlook the local garage sales or swap meets.   You never know where you might find that perfect piece you’ve been looking for to complete a room.

Also, as you envision how you want a room to look, let your vision be fluid. By letting the room evolve, it not only becomes a unique creation, but it’s an adventure along the way.

One Step At A Time To A Perfect Decor

You don’t need to buy an entirely new home in order to achieve a rustic vibe or embrace a lifestyle closer to nature. By integrating new accents, colors and materials into your home, piece by piece, you can create a cozy living space and do so affordably.

Images:  Rustic Bedroom Rustic Living Room