How to Decorate a Country Room

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By 0sara0
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country room

A country room may seem outdated because this style was popular about fifteen years ago. Maybe you want to make your house seem warmer, or you actually live in the country. Here is how to go country without going kitschy.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Throw out the cliches. When people think of country decorating they picture roosters & maybe even deer antlers. Make your room chic by keeping things light & cheery. Go for a warm & homey feeling, instead of showcasing rusted farming tools & old milk cans. A big part of this type of style is comfort. Make sure that your sofas are soft & there's a place to put your feet up.
Step 2

Keep the walls simple. Country rooms used to be festooned with wallpaper & borders which are a pain to remove if you ever want to change your style or color palette. Instead, go for a chic look like bead board paneling or just plain painted walls.
Step 3

Use unexpected colors. Instead of peach & blue, try a white washed wood with blue or a bright yellow & taupe. A country room used to equal barn red, but now it seems to be built around bright white walls & unique painted furniture.
Step 4

Bring in collections like collages of botanical prints or family photos. Add unity by using the same frames. Just use one collection per room so things don't get out of control.
Step 5

In general, patterned sofas are out & microfiber sofas are in. This means that you can get a floral pattern, check or even denim sofa for a steal at yard sales & thrift stores. Just keep the rest of your fabrics very neutral.
Step 6

With country rooms it's easy to go overboard on with the theme. Less is more. Avoid clutter & small gestures like ivy stencils.
Step 7

Paint everything. Leave nothing untouched. This is also a great way to save money. Use the leftover paint in the garage or pick some up at local Habitat for Humanity store for just a few dollars a gallon. You can even paint wood floors if they aren't in great shape. Gather different styles of furniture from yard sales & give it all a weathered look. Sand down the furniture & try an unusual stain color like green or blue.
Step 8

Keep family heirlooms like quilts or old furniture. Go up to the attic or down to the basement before you buy accessories. You may have a fantastic pair of candlesticks or throw pillows that don't seem to match anything.

Comments

eugene2009 said

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on 1/11/2009 Love the tips! 5*

JuliaW said

on 1/11/2009 I may be oldfashioned but I love the country look! I also keep the clutter down, I just don't like too many knickknacks around. Great article.