Since the end of the last century, the rustic style has become very popular in the interior design of country houses and dachas. This is both a brutal and homely solution for arranging a living space.
It is based on rustic roughness and the aesthetics of natural materials. An eclectic combination of modern household appliances and elements taken from pristine nature create a unique atmosphere of freedom from fashion and trends.
But the style is not as simple as it seems at first glance. A couple of errors in design and all the work can be safely multiplied by zero. Let's figure out the nuances together.
What is rustic style?
Not everyone associates futuristic interior design with the concept of home comfort. To some, such interiors seem devoid of human warmth, and polished geometrically regular surfaces create feelings of coldness and alienation. As if in contrast to modern trends, Europe has turned to the origins of the design and construction of residential buildings. The basic principle of the rustic style is the emphasized absence of industrial processing of materials, maximum proximity to environmental friendliness, which means large-scale use of natural stone and wood in construction and finishing.
Philosophy of unity with nature
Now let's imagine the situation: massive beams on the ceiling, rough finishing, heavy massive furniture that is difficult to move, dusty skins and everything listed above, at a cost greater than ordinary furniture, ordinary finishing.
Why would a person create such problems and inconveniences for himself? Why build a wooden house from a wild log house with randomly protruding logs?
Massiveness, in this case, is akin to peace, tranquility, good rest. But this is exactly what many city residents lack so much that they are ready to move to such a house or, at least, build a bathhouse from a wild log house. They are looking for peace.
Another desire is to obtain psychological balance in unity with nature, bringing the rhythm of life to a normal natural pace.
And, of course, such a house will be very harmonious if you also choose a place for construction: the bank of a river, the outskirts of a forest - excellent places to unite with nature.
Style Features
The external outlines and design in the rustic style are often similar to the country and chalet styles, and therefore they can easily be confused. However, despite having similar features, these styles still have significant differences.
| Rustic style | Country style | Chalet style | |
| Materials | Untreated or intentionally rough-cut wood and stone. Intentional emphasis on defects - cracks, chips, scratches | Plastered walls and ceiling, wallpaper with floral motif, wood inserts | Mandatory presence of ceiling beams indoors, plastered plain walls |
| Interior color | Primary color – brown, gray and their derivatives | White, blue, green | Pastel colors - from milky white to subdued green and yellow shades |
| Decor | Active use of tree branches, forged metal, a minimum of plain heavy textiles | A wealth of textiles: rugs, napkins, tablecloths with Indian ornaments | Hunting trophies, pillows, blankets, skins, furs |
The chalet-style interior is the embodiment of a hunting lodge in the mountains
Rustic style in the interior is a brutal brown tone and a minimum of decor
Country style in interior design is characterized by a wealth of textiles and details
Colors
Rusticism is characterized by soft woody, earthy or sandy tones, diluted with milky or white tones. Accents in the room can be created using grassy, green, blue or muted red shades.
For rustic, choose natural colors, including a maximum of 2-3 shades. The interior of the room perfectly combines beige and terracotta, light yellow and burgundy, brown and canvas, olive and gray or brass and anthracite colors.
Basic materials
The English word Rustic means “rough”, “uncouth”, “rural”. These adjectives define the basis of style. As a basis for its implementation, take materials such as wood and stone. It was these materials that our distant ancestors used to build their homes.
At the same time, remember that products used in the rustic style are not subject to industrial processing and polishing. On the contrary, materials are used in their rawest natural form. All chips or cracks are not only not veiled, but are exposed, emphasized and are a distinctive feature of the interior.
Variety of options
The modern atmosphere implies smoothed and fuzzy corners, the use of tempered glass, and decorative brick. Good results are also achieved when using natural stone, ceramic tiles or mosaics. These materials have almost completely replaced wooden floors from use, since they are not only stronger and more practical, but also look much better. Fireplaces and isolated sections of walls are covered with stone.
Wooden doors also recede under the pressure of glass structures. They provide an elegant appearance and are completely functional at the same time. If the concept does not include wood in the decoration at all, this is the solution that turns out to be optimal for customers. Art Nouveau (another name for Art Nouveau, generally accepted in countries of Romanesque culture) is characterized by the active use of plant motifs and blurred contour lines. It is possible (and even necessary!) to deliberately break symmetry if it helps to make a certain object more unique, inimitable in appearance.
Half-timbered buildings are much older than modernism, and the appearance of buildings designed in this way leaves no one indifferent. The fabulous and romantic concept of a gingerbread house has had admirers for over 800 years. A characteristic feature is the beams protruding outward. For the first time such an idea was invented in the mountains of Bavaria, but later it was picked up in other states.
It is also worth noting such a possible option as the Alpine style, also known as the chalet style. The spirit of a ski resort and serene mountain peaks is relatively easy to transfer to a bathhouse. But it is important to take into account that its construction will be quite expensive - after all, you will need to form a high base made of natural stone.
Lighting
The philosophy of style dictates its own rules in the selection of lighting for living space.
- The basis of light in a natural rustic style is certainly live fire or its imitation. Therefore, it is difficult to imagine a more suitable light source than a fireplace. Soft flowing light from burning and crackling firewood is the basis of rustic coziness.
- In rustic style, bright light is not acceptable. Cozy large floor lamps in the corners of the living room, a pair of wall sconces by the bed in the bedroom, a massive rough chandelier with warm light in the center of the living room - what will fit most well into this style.
Advice! When selecting electric light lamps, study the proposed Kelvin scale. If the values of the device are above 3000, then the light emitted by the bulb will be cold and therefore unlikely to fit well into your style.
- Forged lamps will look perfect in combination with wood and stone. When choosing them, pay attention to the laconicism of the product; small curls and details will look out of place.
Rustic lighting is a deliberate roughness of form and simplicity of execution.
Color spectrum
Colors are chosen natural or as close to them as possible. A maximum of two or three colors are used at the same time, of which 60-65% is the main one. The most suitable combinations:
- beige with terracotta;
- brass with anthracite;
- pale yellow with burgundy;
- reddish brown with canvas;
- olive with pebble gray;
- brown-yellow with graphite;
- snow-white with iron-gray;
- camouflage brown with peach;
- quartz with chestnut;
- brick with silver-pink;
- crayola with brown-orange;
- cream with khaki;
- pale green with bluish gray;
- linen with mahogany;
- honey with umber;
- dandelion with walnut-black;
- ocher with dark purple;
- mother-of-pearl with sepia;
- gray-brown with black-purple;
- floral white with chocolate.
Bright contrasts are acceptable in small quantities - without them the interior will be boring and uninteresting.
Rustic in the interior of a country house
The exterior of a house in a rustic style uses wooden beams and natural stone, or their imitation. Remember that the appearance of the building should give the impression of a real relic. No sanded materials or polished surfaces.
Lay the path to the house in a rustic style with natural stone of chaotic masonry, through the seams of which fluffy moss has already broken through. The walls of the building can combine cladding with wood and stone. A distinctive feature of the rustic style is the finishing with not just aged, but deliberately unprocessed material.
A country house in a rustic style is the embodiment of reliability, monumentality, and therefore a feeling of protection from the bustle of the modern world
Floors and walls inside the house can be made of untreated boards. Emphasize the presence of cracks, knots, rings and natural wood patterns in the material.
When installing a ceiling, we cannot talk about tension structures. In a rustic style interior, beams, boards, and timber are used. Partial use of plaster is possible, but remember about stylized negligence in the design of such areas.
When decorating with stone, use slate or sandstone; its texture should only be matte and rough. The masonry is sloppy, as if ill-thought out.
In such an interior, plastered and painted walls are rarely decorated, and if they are present, there is always a special carelessness at this moment - brush marks, uneven painting, the presence of unevenness.
Standard plastic windows are also inappropriate here. Install massive wooden frames, wide window sills, and dark metal fittings. The same goes for interior doors. Opt for barn-style shutters.
A rustic interior does not support textiles in decoration. Dress the windows in heavy, plain drapes. Place a rug in subdued colors on a raw wood floor. Massive tables should not be covered with a tablecloth. Textiles in the bathroom or kitchen are plain.
Rustic finishing is not an abundance of thoughtful details, but rough simplicity and functionality in everyday life
Living room
The center of the style atmosphere, like the home, is the living room. In turn, a fireplace can become the basis for attracting home warmth.
Give preference to a natural fireplace design with a chimney lined with natural untreated stone.
In contrast to the massiveness and roughness of the finish, the upholstered furniture in the living room is upholstered in leather or nubuck. It is designed for long cozy evenings with friends or family.
The accent on the floor can be a carpet. When choosing it, remember that the basis of the style is simplicity, and therefore do not opt for tricky ornaments and patterns.
Instead of a coffee table, round cut or wooden drawers are quite suitable, and instead of a bookcase, raw wall shelves are suitable.
The rustic living room combines the natural style of uncouth finishes and a cozy atmosphere, thanks to comfortable furniture and subdued lighting.
Bedroom
The center of the bedroom is the bed. In the rustic style, it is of rough shape, wooden or forged. You can arrange the mattress directly on the boards, and use tree cuts or forged lattice as a headboard.
Use wooden drawers as bedside tables.
The wardrobe that is familiar to everyone will not fit into the given interior style, and therefore chests of drawers and chests are ideal instead.
A bedroom in a rustic style offers interesting original details and an atmosphere of peace in the lap of nature
Rustic kitchen
A modern kitchen cannot be imagined without technical equipment with household appliances. But their appearance is little comparable to the style in question. The way out of this situation would be to locate household appliances behind stylized facades. The kitchen apron in the work area and the countertop are made of untreated stone.
A rustic dining table is a massive piece of furniture made from a cut of wood or a stone slab. There can be no dainty table top, lace napkins or cute kitchen decor here.
Forged metal lamps are located above the table. Lamps that resemble the shape of candles or fire would be appropriate.
The rustic style in the kitchen is decorated with massive furniture facades and heavy dining furniture
Rustic style hallway
The hallway in your home is the very place that sets the tone and atmosphere for the entire space. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the effect the interior of the room produces.
Use stone floors to decorate the floor in a rustic hallway. It's very practical. Install a “warm floor” system near the front door; this, firstly, will add a touch of warmth to the brutal interior, and secondly, it will allow you to dry your shoes without additional manipulations with them.
Instead of a standard shoe shelf, install a wrought-iron rack with elements of untreated wood. The ottoman here can easily be replaced with decor in the form of a hemp. It is impossible to do without a closet in the hallway, but you can hide the functional content behind stylized facades.
Small, rough-looking lamps will look much more appropriate than built-in lighting.
An entrance hall in a rustic style can be a very small rustic one, or it can be the embodiment of a fundamental approach to shaping the style of the house
Rustic bathroom
A rustic bathroom is a real treasure trove of interesting details.
A massive countertop with cracks and chips under the sink; the place of a standard washbasin can be taken by a tin tub, aged bronze sanitary ware, a mirror in a massive wooden frame, a stone or bronze-plated bathtub.
If you have a desire to combine modern details and simply successfully fit them into a rustic style, then this is quite possible. Even white faience looks good in massive decor in the bathroom interior.
The bathroom in a rustic atmosphere is rich in interesting details and discoveries in the use of once primitive household products.
Children's
A rustic children's room is more like a fairy tale from the past than the laconic fashion of our time. To add coziness, warmth and safety, wooden floors can be decorated with a carpet of non-variegated colors.
A child will love a place to store toys like a chest, instead of banal plastic shelves and drawers. It is quite possible to replace the closet with wall shelves hidden behind a curtain.
Decorate your sleeping area with a child’s imagination: place the mattress on low beams, place a stylized lamp or a garland with warm light next to it on the wall.
A children's room in a rustic style is a rough finish smoothed out by children's imagination.
Advice! Don’t go overboard with using tree branches to decorate your nursery. At night, they can cast shadows that can frighten a child.
Furniture
When creating an interior in a rustic style, purchasing furniture will perhaps be the most difficult stage.
Demonstratively rough, rustically simple, but of good quality, made of natural wood - this is not easy to find in ordinary stores...
Although in modern rustic interiors you can often find standard options. However, it is better to order the necessary pieces of furniture according to your own design.
For the rustic style the following are relevant:
- massive dining tables;
- simple stools;
- high back chairs;
- village shops;
- open shelves;
- wicker furniture;
- armchairs and beds with frames made of logs;
- cabinets made of thick tree trunks;
- antique massive chests and chests of drawers.
Sofas and armchairs imply exclusively natural upholstery, without synthetic impurities.
Decor for style
The rustic style adheres to the minimal decor of the space. But there is no way to do without it either.
- If you are choosing pillows for a sofa or textiles, give preference to rough stitching, raw edges, and baggy material;
- Dishes with a minimum amount of painting and simple shapes;
- Carpets in this style are preferable without ornaments, simple shapes and restrained blurry colors;
- Candlesticks made of stone or forged metal;
- Napkins made of leather or plain fabric;
- Mirrors in rough wooden frame;
- Artificially aged lamp shades on beams or forged chains.
Is rustic suitable for an apartment?
Active and large-scale use of stone and wood in the design of space in a rustic style dictates certain rules due to the massiveness and significant weight, and therefore the rustic image of the interior was created primarily for country houses. However, if you like this style, it is quite possible to introduce some rustic style elements into your apartment.
- It is not necessary to lay the walls with natural stone; it is quite possible to focus on one of them using high-quality imitation;
- replace a real fireplace with a chimney with an electric one, but in the right style, or with its imitation;
- instead of natural untreated boards, lay the appropriate type of laminate on the floor;
- installing a stone bathroom in an apartment is impossible, but nothing prevents you from stylishly combining white faience with wooden elements of countertops, screens and cabinets;
- Handmade items will look great in a rustic room. Originality is synonymous with this style.
The rustic style in the apartment does not allow the use of stone and wood on a large scale, however, it is quite possible to introduce certain stylistic details
