How to Decorate Your Living Room in American Country

The American country style living room is casual and comfortable, with furnishings that invite you to touch, sit and relax. The following steps will help you achieve the look.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stencil Brushes
• Stencil Paints
• Old-style Pictures
• Stencils
• Colonial-style Exterior Shutters
• Area Rugs
• Baskets
• Candles
• Coffee Tables
• Curtains
• Dried Flowers
• End Tables
• Flowers
• Lamps
• Pewter Candleholders
• Quilts
• Rocking Chairs
• Sofas
• Throw Pillows
• Upholstered Chairs
• Wallpaper
• Wallpaper Borders
• Candles
• Stencils
• Baskets

1. Use pieces that are generous in scale and minimal in detail, such as Colonial, wicker, Shaker, early American, and turn-of-the-century pressed and turned oak furniture. Look for wood pieces that are rustic and show some wear - there will be no ornate carving, although a simple appliqué is fine.

2. Choose a comfortable sofa. The ideal upholstery may have a homespun feel to it - perhaps a nubby linen, a pillow-tick cotton or a muted, old-fashioned floral. The sofa can have curving lines and a flounced skirt. Pillows - including needlepoint, flounced and embroidered ones - suit the country look.

3. Look for upholstered seating with homespun-type fabric, or toss a pieced quilt over plain fabric or leather. An old rocker is a great addition.

4. Use end tables that are simple and possibly worn. They can be stained, distressed or painted, and peeling paint is fine. Spindled early American styles, Shaker, and other unfussy antiques are good choices.

5. Be creative with the coffee table. Use an old blanket chest, a chicken coop topped with a piece of glass, or a flat-top steamer trunk.

6. Select casual, traditional-style lamps. Bases can be ceramic, oversize turned wood, brass, tin, dull pewter or lantern looks.

7. Place a braided, rag or hooked rug on hard-surface floors or over wall-to-wall carpeting.

8. Dress the windows and walls simply. Use Colonial-style shutters and/or simple curtains such as tab tops or shirred styles of gingham, nubby linen or calico. Leave the walls plain, or add a stencil. Popular wallpaper or border motifs include hearts, baskets, bows and patchwork.

Tips & Warnings

• Accessorize with old-fashioned pictures, slim candles, baskets, pewter candleholders, wheat stalks and other dried seedpods, and casually arranged fresh flowers.

on 11/22/2005 My husband and I go to flea markets and find simple pieces that can be embellished with face frame boards and molding. We recently made a great primitive wall cupboard (using a small bookcase) by adding face frame boards to the top and sides and some large molding around the top. I painted it, sanded it, and antiqued it. We now have a great primitive wall cupboard, and the cost was $10.00!