Decorating a Country Style House

Handmade quilts are a common feature in country style homes.

Decorating your home in country style will give it a warm, welcoming feel. Country style is influenced by the simplicity of rural life, and exists in a variety of countries from England and Sweden, to southern France and throughout the United States. The right colors and accessories will give any home the comfort and homespun elegance that defines country style.

Instructions

1. Find inspiration in other cultures. French country style is prominent in the farmhouses throughout Provence. They feature aged, functional furniture like large stoves and long tables in the center of a room and splashes of color and reflection including bright shutters, copper pots, blue and white couches and scents of lavender. English country style creates an environment of cozy clutter: oversize furniture, mixed fabric patterns, stenciled flowers on walls, window seats that double as storage and claw-foot tubs.

   American country style is a hybrid of Americana decor like hand-carved spoons, custom pine furniture, wagon wheel lights and a basic farm table combined with furnishings from other cultures.

2. Decide on a color palette for your home. Country style incorporates warm, pleasant colors. Worn furniture, walls with chipped paint and accessories with a hint of rust are not out of place in a country home. If you paint wooden tables and chairs, go for light colors like a milk white or soft blue. Choose colors that remind you of sunsets, fields or your favorite porch view.

3. Paint the walls of your home a light color. Light colored walls provide balance to colorful home accessories. Soft fabrics and multiple patterns will stand out without looking too busy in a room with light walls. Pale yellows and off-whites bring out a room's natural lighting and make the space feel larger.

4. Hang hand-crafted quilts and decor accessories. Quilts are a staple for many country-style homes because they capture the spirit of craftsmanship and can make a whole room feel like its one of a kind. Barn stars, copper pots, baskets and candles are also popular home accessories that are easy to find at flea markets and craft stores.

5. Furnish rooms for comfort and simplicity. A combination of large couches and beds with old but unbroken chairs and sturdy tables will make your home feel casual and well lived in. Simple patterns or solid fabrics will complement elegant quilts and framed folk art.

Tips & Warnings

• The key to country style decorating is pulling all of the elements together in a comfortable patchwork. Start out with major furniture pieces and light wall colors and slowly hunt for country-style accessories you love. Experiment with the placement of your accessories until the scents, colors and patterns feel right.

References

• Country Living: Decorating and Home Improvement
• Home Decorating Room by Room: Country Style

Resources

• Country Living