Homes + Decor

How to Decorate with Country Style

Here, 10 easy ways to achieve rustic perfection in your home away from home

May 25, 2016

Whether you reside in a busy city or the suburbs of one, there’s something undeniably appealing about country living. After all, it was Laura Ingalls Wilder who said, “Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.” Both warm and inviting, the relaxed interiors that are often found in rural locales combine ease and comfort—achieved, in part, with an effortlessly curated mix of informal fabrics and traditional furniture styles—with a healthy dose of nostalgia (think antique accessories, worn wood pieces, and patinated finishes) thrown in for good measure. Love the look? Here are ten design ideas that show up in every country home. Try them all at once or start with just a few in your house, then sit back and relax in your classic country cottage.

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Choose a muted palette. Subdued blues, yellows, and greens inspired by nature make a soft statement that encourages relaxation in country homes.
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Go with classic furnishings. Forget midcentury modern and opt instead for traditional styles with rounded edges and plush upholstery.

© Condé Nast
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Make it cozy. Comfortable fabrics and materials create a warm, inviting atmosphere that’s sure to make you—and guests—feel right at home. Case in point: Upholstered cushions and furniture pieces in a breezy cotton gingham or ticking stripe instantly convey no-fuss country chic.
Photo: Pieter Estersohn
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Add patina. Worn finishes on everything from metal fittings and painted wood furniture to enamel and pewter tableware impart a sense of age and lend a more approachable vibe.

Photo: Björn Wallander
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Bring on the florals. Most country homes seem to burst into bloom—in the coverings on the walls, in the china on the dinner table, in the upholstery on the furnishings. Romantic patterns and motifs work best with the traditionally muted palette.
Photo: Billy Cunningham
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Build a mudroom. Keep outside dirt at bay while increasing functionality with a multipurpose space that uses hooks and cubbies to store coats, shoes, and other accessories at arm’s reach.

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Incorporate natural details. Rustic wood benches, exposed beams, and wicker baskets are hallmarks of country style that add texture for an easygoing aesthetic.
Photo: Oberto Gili
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Ditch the duvet. The only appropriate bed covering for master suite and guest room alike? A perfectly stitched quilt layered with piles of fluffy pillows.

Photo: Pieter Estersohn
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Decorate with antiques. Avoid items that look too shiny and new. Visit flea markets and country stores to find farmhouse-appropriate items, such as metal-plate signage, vintage furnishings, and antique artwork.
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Be a landscape architect. Potted plants and topiaries bring the outdoors in, whether they’re perched on a windowsill, beautifying a mudroom, or flanking a fireplace.
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