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Rustic country style living rooms


Country living room ideas: 45 rustic looks for your lounge

(Image credit: Future)

Your country living room ideas should are the heart of the home, the best place to kick back and relax, surrounded by creature comforts. One of the hallmarks of country living room ideas is that they are easy to tailor to your style – fill your space with heirloom furniture, clashing patterns and bold colours, or keep it pared back with muted shades, natural finishes and plain fabrics, and you will have an inviting, relaxed rustic space that's unique to you. 

How you plan to use your space, and whether it's your only sitting room or you have further areas for relaxing and entertaining, will help to define your living room ideas. There are more details to consider when creating this look, too – these country living room ideas and tips will help you get it just right.

Country living room ideas

When browsing country decorating ideas, ask yourself: do you want a cozy snug or an expansive area where all the family can relax together? Is your style country house formal, or do you prefer a more laid-back aesthetic? Are you a fan of color, print and pattern, or do you gravitate towards more muted tones and simple shapes?

Once you have an idea of your room's style, size and how it will be used, you can begin the fun job of honing your country living room ideas to create a characterful, relaxing space you'll love to spend time in.

1. Choose joyful color for your country living room

(Image credit: Linwood)

When you’re creating a moodboard for your country living room ideas, don’t feel that you have to balance a bold print with pared-back color. Sometimes, being bright and bold is the best option – especially with country curtain ideas for living rooms.

‘Here, it’s the joyous color – from the punchy cushions and lamp to the grounding pale pink of the upholstery – that helps highlight the beauty of the floral,’ says Ella Richards, Head of Design at Linwood . These drapes are in the company’s Albertine Classic Rose fabric.

2. Mix finishes in a country living room

(Image credit: Violante & Rochford)

‘Modern country design is where tradition meets modern-day living through distressed finishes, mixed metals, handcrafted furniture, and a simple color scheme anchored in earth tones,’ advises Amber Dunford, Style Director at Overstock . 

‘To balance the country elements, opt for prints that don’t feel overly precious and have a bit of modernity to them, such as a check or a ticking stripe. Textiles such as leather and suede paired with industrial materials like iron and brass will add just the right amount of sternness to the lightheartedness of a country aesthetic. 

‘Liveable comfort and family-centric themes are staples of this style, so a clean-lined sofa with overstuffed loose cushions should help you strike that balance between modern and country.’

3. Celebrate color and pattern

(Image credit: Penny Morrison)

‘The contemporary country look is all about achieving a balance of comfort, tradition and elegance,’ says fabric designer Penny Morrison . ‘The spaces should feel inviting and inspiring. 

‘It's important to pay attention to the traditional features of a property rather than attempting to hide or change them. Enhance them by decorating a fireplace, say, or painting joinery in a high-gloss lacquer finish.

‘When mixing patterns in a room, do so within a similar color scheme. This will bring depth and harmony to the space, keeping things vibrant and interesting without making it feel too fussy or orchestrated.  

‘I would say it is best to do the upholstery in plain colors or muted small prints, and save the larger, bolder patterns for accessories such as cushions or ottomans, or if you have a larger space, one or two chairs.’

4. Expose brick or stone walls

(Image credit: Alexander Waterworth/Soho Farm Cottage)

If your property is blessed with beautiful stonework or old brick walls, think about revealing that natural rustic beauty in your country living room ideas – even if it’s just in one focal point, such as the chimney.

‘Think back to the country farmhouses of the past; a lot of these spaces will have had brick or stone walls,’ explains Ryan Jones from Land of Rugs . 

‘Whether it is one feature wall or all the walls in the home, exposed brick can add drama to your space. It is also worth noting that exposed brick or stone works perfectly with carpet or hardwood flooring.’

5. Make country living room ideas personal

(Image credit: Richard Gadsby/Future)

‘Keep decor personal and meaningful. Country life is about welcoming people into your home, sharing stories and experiences,’ advises Marian 'Mimi' Meacham, Principal of Houston-based Marian Louise Designs . ‘Decor items that are personal to you are instant conversation starters.’

Books, collections, photographs and artworks will all bring a personal touch to your country living room ideas. ‘Display treasures and collectibles you have amassed throughout your life and travels for that warm, inviting feel,’ says Mimi.

6. Put wood on the ceiling

(Image credit: CutlerSchulze)

When you’re pulling together your country living room ideas, it’s likely your focus will be on flooring and walls. But don’t forget the ceiling above your head – it’s a vital element of any decorating scheme. 

‘Some of my favorite elements involve wood on the ceiling,’ agrees Ran-D, interior designer and co-founder of RelaxingDecor . 

‘For example, hardwood ceilings look amazing when paired with light walls and floors. Or wood beams on the ceilings look great as well. I also love wood trim around the home, such as around doorways or windows.’

7. Color-check your curtains

(Image credit: Brent Darby/Future)

Choosing country curtain ideas is an open and shut case – you really do need to consider how they frame a window when they are pulled back, and what the expanse of fabric will look like when they are closed.

‘Window treatments in natural tones such as flax, cream and beige will always work well in a country living room,’ confirms Devin Shaffer, Lead Interior Designer at Decorilla Online Interior Design.

‘I like to choose organic fabrics including cotton and linen. This will help to integrate the interior with the surrounding landscape.’

8. Choose a topical wallpaper

(Image credit: Mulberry Home)

If you want to bring a classic British look to your country living room ideas, consider opting for country wallpaper ideas associated with the English country house style, albeit updated for modern tastes. Rural motifs such as animals, birds and flowers, mixed in with stripes and checks, are a great place to start.

'Mulberry Home offers timeless, romantic fabrics and wallpapers with a sense of whimsy, drawing inspiration from a quintessentially British aesthetic,’ says Ann Grafton, the brand’s Creative and Managing Director.

'Game Birds is one of Mulberry Home's most cherished and iconic designs and has recently been reimagined with new colorways as a fabulous wallpaper.

‘To create a fabulous interior for your country living room, consider layering a bold wallpaper like Game Birds wallpaper with a plaid design and a plain to create a delicious, colorful and stylish living space".

9. Seek out calming sage

(Image credit: Polly Eltes/Future)

This gentle color should definitely be an option when you’re planning your country living room ideas as it brings a natural serenity to a scheme.

‘I love to use simple neutral colors to decorate. Sage is a softer, more subtle shade of green that has a peaceful impact in almost any room,’ says Janet Wischnia, President of American Blossom Linens .  

Living room paint ideas or soft furnishings in green creates a relaxed feel. ‘A sage blanket or throw can brighten up a chair in your living space but still leaves you with a feeling of calmness, and we all need that now,’ Wischnia says.

10. Create comfortable gathering spots

(Image credit: Decorilla)

‘Country style is a trend that we've been eyeing for the past few years and we've loved to watch it develop and go from the "modern farmhouse" aesthetic to a more refined, yet rustic, country-inspired appeal,’ says Devin Shaffer, Lead Interior Designer at Decorilla Online Interior Design .

‘Comfort is the key component of the style, so gathering spots such as country living rooms are where the design flourishes. A blend of weathered wood and antiquated finishes layered against neutral finishes in tones of white, beige and gray is the foundation of a modern country scheme.’

11. Expose rustic wood in a country living room

(Image credit: Polly Eltes/Future)

If you’re fortunate to have existing architectural features and rustic surfaces, look to incorporate them into your country living room ideas.

‘Try bringing natural elements into your home by exposing wooden beams and any worn and distressed wooden furniture,’ suggests Richard Petrie, home expert at Thomas Sanderson . 

‘Introducing natural materials such as wood into your rooms can add clean leans, a calming ambiance and will help achieve the outdoor aesthetic associated with the modern country style.’

No beams? Add a rustic wooden mantel above the fireplace, lay reclaimed wooden floors, or search for antique furniture that shows the knocks and patina of age.

12. Look to nature for color ideas

(Image credit: Linwood)

If you’re struggling to pair colors for your decorating scheme, a walk outside could provide all the inspiration you need.

‘Follow nature’s lead by combining green and yellow,’ suggests Ella Richards, Head of Design, Linwood. ‘They sit next to each other on a rainbow after all, so are the perfect pairing for this relaxed, modern country living room.’

The living room color schemes you consider should make the most of your room’s aspect and the available natural light, as well as the mood you want to create.

13. Go for ‘Grandma gingham’ 

(Image credit: Emma Lee/Future)

Chintz and even gingham are coming back – think modern grandma, as the checks are blown up in scale,’ says Mark Cutler, Co-Founder of Los Angeles-based interior design firm, CutlerSchulze . 

‘As nostalgia grows, modern country is looking cleaner, more pulled together and more decorative.'

14. Pick out characterful accessories

(Image credit: David Brittain/Future)

It's the extra details that will pull your country living room scheme together – wonderfully cozy throws and blankets, vintage vessels and jars in which to display gathered branches and blossoms, and quirky talking points such as the oversized clock in this image.

'Dressing your room is your moment to be creative and truly stamp it with your personality,' says Andrea Childs, Editor of Country Homes & Interiors magazine.

'What's exciting is that you can swap pieces in and out as the seasons change or you discover new treasures to decorate your home, so you always have a fresh new look when you want it. '

15. Create a relaxed cabin feel

(Image credit: David Brittain/Future)

Bring a happy, relaxed element to your country living room ideas by bringing in a ‘cabin escape’ element to your scheme.

‘Focus on shades that are brighter, fresher, and airier to evoke a friendly, inviting feeling in relaxing entertaining areas,’ suggests Mimi Meacham, Principal of Marian Louise Designs.

‘Mix old with new furniture for a lived-in feel. And play with pattern – a buffalo check rug or gingham throw pillows can bring some of that elevated yet approachable country look to the room.'

16. Put a twist on print 

(Image credit: CutlerSchulze)

Print and pattern is synonymous with country living room style but its form changes with the times. Sometimes bold florals lead the way, then small prints make a comeback. Graphic shapes such as stripes, checks and block prints also find their place in a country living room scheme.

'Pattern started making a comeback a year or two ago, mostly in geometrics. Now it’s  the turn of organics,’ says LA interior designer Mark Cutler. ‘Think of modern takes on traditional florals and even paisley.’

Mix different scales of pattern with plain fabrics for a chic take on country style.

17. Opt for oak in a country living room

(Image credit: Amara)

When you are dialling in your country living room ideas, the materials you choose are key. Choosing warm, unstained oak over glossy cherry or black ash, say, will immediately place your scheme in the rustic space.

‘Whether you are looking for furniture for a side table, the frame of your sofa, bookcases or drawers, oak is the way to go when you are designing in a country style,’ says Ryan Jones from Land of Rugs.

‘One of the benefits of oak, especially if it is reclaimed, is that it adds depth and character to your design. Contemporary furniture design can feel a little one dimensional. Oak adds that layer of intrigue to your design that will keep you, and your guests, interested. ’

18. Bring nature into a country living room

(Image credit: Dan Duchars/Future)

Nothing says rural style like a bouquet of garden-fresh flowers, and making a floral display an essential part of your country living room ideas will bring natural beauty to your scheme.

Seasonality is key, so even if you’re buying your blooms from the flower store, make sure they are local and haven’t been force grown.

‘Regardless of whether you live in a large home or a city apartment, bringing a touch of nature into your home will add to an authentic modern country feel,’ agrees Richard Petrie, home expert at Thomas Sanderson . ‘You can also incorporate indoor plants and bright blooms to bring character to your space.’

19. Add wow with woven wallpapers

(Image credit: Dan Duchars/Future)

The beauty of natural materials is a focus of rustic style and incorporating them into your country living room ideas will bring a real sense of warmth and authenticity.

‘We are seeing more wallpapers in country living rooms,’ confirms Mark Cutler of design firm CutlerSchulze . ‘But it’s in a fresher way, with wallpaper often printed on to grass cloth to add another layer of texture and detail.’

20. Discover your inner artist

(Image credit: Molly Mahon)

Textile designer Molly Mahon is hugely inspired by the Bloomsbury Group of artists and writers who lived and worked in Britain in the early twentieth century. Her Sussex home, close to the Charleston farmhouse associated with the group, is decorated with the Bloomsbury trademark love of pattern and decoration, with surfaces painted throughout the house.

The decoration of her rustic living room is a showcase for her passions – especially the artfully painted fire surround.

'The painting was inherited from my husband's grandmother,' says Molly. 'And the framed artwork to the left is actually a piece of original Barron & Larcher cloth that I bought online. I have always collected beautiful textiles and think they look so fabulous framed. '

21. Seek out antique shapes for furniture

(Image credit: Dan Duchars/Future)

You don't need to source authentic antiques for your country living room, but adding traditional design elements in your furniture choices will add depth and history to your rustic space.

‘We see more traditional silhouettes gaining popularity,’ comments interior designer Mark Cutler of LA-based design firm, CutlerShulze. 

‘Finding a fauteuil – an upholstered chair with a wooden frame and arms – used to be challenging, now they are even popping up on Wayfair. European country style is back and we are here for it!’

22. Light the way with crystal and bronze

(Image credit: Polly Eltes/Future)

Planning your living room lighting ideas goes hand-in-hand with coordinating the rest of your decor scheme. Not only will the fixtures themselves complement your style and color palette, but the lighting you choose will establish the ambience of your space.

‘We’re seeing the trend for brass receding and the return of bronze, bringing a beautiful layered finish with richness and depth to country living rooms,’ says LA interior designer Mark Cutler, of CutlerSchulze.  

‘I also predict the return of crystal. As a precursor, we’re seeing lots of cut glass hanging pieces in a range of colors.’

23. Choose ‘casualwear’ for your furniture

(Image credit: Zinc Textile x Martin Hulbert Design)

While we love a smartly upholstered sofa, slipcovers can bring a more relaxed look to a country living room.

‘Loose covers in deliberately creased linen never need smartening up,’ agrees Justin Marr, Design Director of Zinc Textile . ‘White sofas are always a winner and are a great base for warmer accents of cognac, ochre and tobacco.

‘The aesthetic for our collaboration with Martin Hulbert Design is relaxed, informal and with a handmade appearance, as shown in this space. A mix of non-matching but happily coexisting cushions, and unlined washed linen curtains are effortlessly relaxed. 

24. Use muted colors on country living room walls

(Image credit: The Cotswold Company)

Off-white shades or dusky pastels are the quickest way to create a calming, fresh feel in a room. And when a space feels calm, it feels welcoming. 

From a practical standpoint, a light color scheme will make a small country living room feel bigger, as well as giving you a versatile backdrop to explore a wider range of furniture and accessories options. 

25. Add country character to a plain living room

(Image credit: Marion Lichtig)

'When it came to designing this sitting room I added the beams on the ceiling and the rough beam over the fire place to create a rustic feel to this country house,' says interior designer Marion Lichtig . 'This is reflected too in the rough hewn coffee table.'

Lichtig then added a few finer items, such as beautiful antique furniture, an elegant scallop back sofa and decorative lighting. 'I like to mix objects to give a room balance, layers and plenty of interest,' she shares.

26. Create a conversation area

(Image credit: Jojo Bradley Interior Design)

To give your country living room an atmosphere of warmth and welcome, arrange seating to make conversation – not the TV – the focus.

'In this room, the armchairs and sofas face each other across an upholstered ottoman, on which a tray of drinks or afternoon tea could be placed,' says interior designer Jojo Bradley . 'The comfortable furniture is softened further with cushions that invite you to relax and settle in for a while.'

This type of furniture arrangement works really well for small or larger groups, too. The pair of armchairs with their own side table provide an area for two people to sit and talk together, while the sofas provide additional seating when crowds gather.

27. Add depth with lighting

(Image credit: Laura Ashley)

A standout light can seem the obvious solution to bring the wow factor to your living room. But bright and shiny isn't always best, especially when it comes to country-style schemes.

'A common mistake is to focus on a show-stopping piece and forgo lighting the rest of the room, leaving it lacklustre and without atmosphere,' explains Mary Buchanan, Creative Director at Laura Ashley . 'Contrast light and shade to create a dramatic finish.'

Buchanan suggests lighting a room from the ground up. 'Wall lights, table lamps and floor lamps are perfect for layering,' she says. 'You can also use these to spotlight favourite objects in the room and light up cozy corners for reading and lounging.'

28. Use expert tricks to make small rooms look larger

(Image credit: Future)

Country homes, with their beautiful oak beams and thick stone walls, are brimming with history and character. But the rustic architecture runs the risk of making rooms appear small and dark.

When you're planning out country living room ideas, copy some of the tricks used by interior designers to bring a sense of light and airiness to a space. Think Perspex or glass 'invisible' tables; large furniture pieces, such as sofas, raised on elegant feet; and coffee tables made from elegant metal, rather than heavy wood.

29. Make a large country living room look cozy

(Image credit: Jojo Bradley Interiors)

Drawing in the furniture away from the walls of the room will make a large space seem more intimate – a tip interior designers use when creating living room schemes for barn conversions, lofts and other airy country spaces.

To avoid a railroad effect, with galleys on either side of sofas, for example, use additional pieces to fill the void. 

Here, interior designer Jojo Bradley has placed a console table against the wall. It provides a handy perch for table lamps, while occupying the gap behind sofa. 

30. Paint beams white

(Image credit: Brent Darby/Future)

Older country homes featuring traditional dark oak beams and smoke-stained fireplaces can be too oppressive for contemporary tastes.

Keep the charm while updating the look by painting walls, woodwork and even bricks or stone in a bright white.

This will transform a country living room in an instant and given an uplifting spirit to your country home.

31. Make sitting by the fire an experience

(Image credit: The White Company)

Whether it's an original inglenook fireplace or a contemporary wood burner, gathering around the warmth of real flames is a quintessential country experience.

Your home may have an existing hearth and chimney that requires you to plan ideas for your living room around it. Or you may have the luxury of installing a new fire or stove in the place that suits you best. Either way, it's important to think about how you can integrate the fireside experience into your decor.

Factor in seating placed close enough to feel the warmth but not too near to be damaged by heat or sparks. Add a table or two, plus a footrest so you can warm your toes.

Finally, make your fuel, kindling and fireside tools a part of the room scheme by organising them in attractive baskets and log holders. 

(Image credit: Ercol)

When your country property is a repurposed rural building such as a barn, it can be difficult to know how to furnish the space. One answer is to take your cue from the architecture – often large, lofty and with an industrial edge – rather than the age of the building.

For your country living room inspiration, look to iconic mid century design, with its clean lines and unfussy styling.

33. Make the most of the view

(Image credit: Future)

Living room furniture tends to point towards the TV but there's a far bigger screen to enjoy – the view in your window.

Position your seating to make the most of the view, without lining it up so that it looks as if you are at the cinema. A sofa facing the glazing, with comfy armchairs at an angle at either end, will mean you enjoy the landscape in front of you and still be able to chat easily to family and friends.

(Image credit: Oliver Perrott/Future)

When you're coming up with country living room inspiration and ideas, don't play it too safe.

'A fabulous accessory, such as a statement mirror or outsized pendant light, will add a dynamic, look-at-me quality to a room that makes it an exciting place to spend time in,' says Sara Bird, Decor Editor at H&G's sister title Country Homes & Interiors , who styled this living room for the magazine.

Keep it country by choosing a design with a rustic touch, like the natural materials that decorate this mirror frame.

35. Include some florals

(Image credit: John Lewis)

Pattern – especially big, blowsy florals – is synonymous with country living room decor. And an eye-catching pattern in bold colors is a great way to add a focal point. 

Using pattern in large swathes in blinds, wallpaper or curtains will make the biggest statement and draw the eye to a specific part of the room. 

If you’ve decided that curtains are the best way to get your pattern fix, go for a full-length design to increase the cozy factor.  

36. Pick pale wood for furniture

(Image credit: Susie Watson Designs)

Light-colored woods, such as beech, whitewashed pine and ash, have a more informal feel than dark woods and better fit the ethos of a rustic country look. The choice of complementary colours for paint, soft furnishings and accessories is also much wider when you choose pale-wood furniture. 

Here, soft furnishings from Susie Watson Designs add punches of pink, mauve and mulberry, which sit nicely against the relaxed look of  bleached-effect furniture.

37. Heat the space with a woodburner

(Image credit: Carpetright)

Nothing embodies a cozy, rustic feel quite like a stove or woodburner. Whether it’s a modern, freestanding design or one that’s nestled in a brick fireplace surrounded by craggy logs, both will offer warmth – literally and figuratively – and provide your country living room with a stylish focal point. 

38. Include texture with rattan, wicker and reed

(Image credit: Dunelm)

Natural materials are a big part of nailing the country look, so incorporate them into your decor. 

A rattan chair or bench is a good place to start if space permits but if not, rattan and reed baskets or a jute rug will all create a rustic look that has all the more charm because of their non-uniform finishes. 

39. Choose laid-back seating for country living rooms

(Image credit: Neptune)

Country-style seating has rounded armrests and cushions, and either chunky, turned-wood legs (with or without castors) or a pleated skirt that skims the floor.  However, you can achieve a smarter country feel by putting the emphasis on the fabric pattern and going for more streamlined silhouettes for the furniture.

If you have a spare corner, fill it with a statement armchair and place a side table topped with a lamp next to it to create a cozy reading nook. 

40. Show off brickwork or wooden beams

(Image credit: Vanessa Arbuthnott)

If you have wooden beams or exposed brickwork in your living room, highlight them to give the country living room look bags of authenticity. 

'I don’t think you can really get the right look without using old things – rugs, paintings, antiques,' explains Vivien Greenock, interior designer and former senior director at Colefax and Fowler . 

'It’s those things that give a room a permanent look, and a depth of feeling.' 

Fabrics and trimmings, Vanessa Arbuthnott .

41. Go for distressed finishes

(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)

Whitewashed original floorboards, a timeworn finish on furniture, unglazed pottery, unfinished wood ornaments, mercurized mirrors and cable-knit cushions and throws are all very effective country living room ideas for creating a rustic, lived-in feel – but that needn't mean the room can't look smart.  

Neat silhouettes on furniture and pared-back decor will help a smaller country living room feel larger and brighter. 

'Antiques are not for everyone,' acknowledges interior designer Emma Sims Hilditch at Sims Hilditch , who uses antiques extensively in her schemes. 

'Instead, replicas can be made that have never been used before but can mimic the styles of pre-loved pieces. We work with a fantastic cabinetmaker who specializes in creating antique-style furniture that is brand-new and yet has such an old heart.'

42. Light up corners with lamps

(Image credit: Kit Kemp/Andrew Martin Interior Designer Review Vol.24)

Lighting is the most effective way to create mood, as illustrated here in the beautiful living room of interior designer Kit Kemp's house.

Supplementing a main ceiling light with plenty of table and floor lamps will lend a cozy feel at the flick of a switch. Add to the ambience with smoked- or amber-glass bulbs, rather than clear ones with bright white filaments.

43. Bring the outdoors in with flowers and houseplants

(Image credit: I-LIV)

A country living room should be simple, relaxed and natural, and nothing evokes this better than house plants and fresh flowers. Choose several different kinds of house plant and put them in unexpected places, such as on the top of a cabinet or in bookcases, for a quirky feel. 

Add to the scheme with fabrics in equally botanical prints, such as this Forever Spring collection from ILIV .

We answer three key questions so you can get your country living room decor spot-on.

44. Group furniture around a coffee table

(Image credit: Future/Polly Eltes)

Country living rooms are traditionally places that feel relaxed – so it's highly likely they will be used for informal entertainment. In this case, it is more than worth grouping seating around a coffee table. This will encourage sociability and make the room look inviting.

45. Create symmetry in a small country living room

(Image credit: Future/Polly Eltes)

If your country living room is small, using symmetry in interior design, especially built around a mirror, can make your space feel larger, neater and more curated.  

How can I decorate my living room in a country style?

Do you want a traditional country look or a more pared-back, modern feel? If your living room has lots of period features, such as beams, fireplaces or ornate plasterwork, a traditional look will enhance these features. 

You can then afford to be bolder with color and pattern, and more is definitely better, so pack plenty of furniture, soft furnishings and accessories into the space. 

Matt Deighton, managing director and Chesterfield sofa specialist at Sofas by Saxon, says: 'Consider choosing sofas and armchairs in different finishes, rather than coordinating fabrics, to maintain an eclectic feel.'

Modern country living rooms are less cluttered, favour a muted color palette and use pattern, including stripes and checks, more sparingly. The best way to add a cozy, lived-in feel here is with plenty of unfinished wood, chunky knits, sisal, wicker and other natural materials. 

To give your scheme a French country feel, painted furniture with ornate detailing is a must, while pale grays, muted blues and dusky pinks are the go-to colours.  

For a shabby-chic slant on country style, flaking paint on furniture, mercury glass and floral prints are key. Keep walls white or off-white and add colour with soft furnishings and accessories in sugary pastel shades.

How do I make my country living room feel cozy?

To make a country living room feel cozy, if you have the space, a woodburner or fireplace is a great focal point. One less obvious way is to include a bookcase – either freestanding or built into an alcove – as the old-world, familiar feel that’s created when you’re surrounded by books oozes comfort. 

Switching bright white lightbulbs for soft white or even colored glass ones offers a much more intimate feel. Go one step further by including plenty of soothing candlelight too. 

Lastly, tactile materials such as velvet, chunky wool and faux sheepskin are the coziest of choices for cushions, throws and rugs, and will help soften the hardness from any wood furniture or beams.

How should I arrange my country living room?

A country living room should look relaxed – perhaps even a little haphazard. Place armchairs and tables at 45-degree angles to walls in the corners of your room, layer sofas and chairs with cushions and throws, pile logs in baskets and arrange plants so that the leaves cascade down the sides of cabinets and tables. 

It’s also important not to leave too many bare spots in your living room – a floor lamp or trug filled with folded blankets is better than wasted space. 

Andrea has been immersed in the world of homes, interiors and lifestyle since her first job in journalism, on Ideal Home. She went from women's magazine Options to Frank. From there it was on to the launch of Red magazine, where she stayed for 10 years and became Assistant Editor. She then shifted into freelancing, and spent 14 years writing for everyone from The Telegraph to The Sunday Times, Livingetc, Stylist and Woman & Home. She was then offered the job as Editor on Country Homes & Interiors, and now combines that role with writing for sister title homesandgardens.com. 

25 Rustic Living Room Ideas

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Natural materials, layers of textures, and the right mix of warm and welcoming paint colors make for a cozy, cabin-like space.

By Jennifer Kopf

BRIAN WOODCOCK

Cozy, laid back, comfortable, welcoming—nothing says come and sit awhile more than a rustic living room. From dark and traditional to modern and chic, these stylish living rooms deliver rustic decorating ideas to help you transform any room into a rustic retreat of your own.

Whether in a cabin, a cottage, a farmhouse, or a new-build in the suburbs, creating a rustic look is easy. It starts with a mix of textures and materials such as weathered wood beams and stone fireplace surrounds, wood and metal furniture paired with leather and natural linen covered seating, and natural sisal and cozy wool rugs. The more layered the better! Then it's on to the comfort factor with a seating arrangement made of the perfect trifecta of rustic living room furniture: a comfortable sofa, a pair of cozy, curl-up-in chairs, and a coffee table that welcomes games and snacks as easily as a pretty stack of coffee table books topped with decorative bowl. Keep the room connected by choosing paint colors, fabrics, and accessories all in a relaxing neutral color palette full of warm grays, browns, and greens pulled straight from nature.

Once your living room is ready for company, keep on going with more rustic decorating ideas for your kitchen and bathrooms and give your whole house that warm and inviting rustic feel.

Paul Costello, styling by Sarah Cave

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Corrugated Metal

This Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, home is bursting at the beams with ingenious ideas for all things rustic, reclaimed, and repurposed. In the living room, a panel of salvaged corrugated metal provides the perfect backdrop for the vintage Orley woodstove, while matte gray-black paint is a sophisticated canvas for a casual mix of framed and unframed family silhouettes, oil paintings, and a vintage deer mount. Slipcovers made from drop cloths (sold at home-improvement stores) make for a durable, family- and pet-friendly furniture covering.

LAUREY W. GLENN, styling by Matthew Gleason

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Neutral Color Palette

A neutral palette comes alive when it consists of a combination of light to dark hues in mix of textures, as this rustic living room by designer Melissa Ervin exhibits. From top to bottom, natural woven-shade capped lamps sit atop metal-and-wood side tables, pillows made from vintage textiles decorate a mohair and leather sofa, and a hide rug tops the nubby sisal floor covering.

EMILY FOLLOWILL, styling by Raina Kattelson

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Warm Wood Walls

While this sophisticated living room is located in a renovated and repurposed barn (really, it is!), it delivers rustic inspiration that can be applied to any space. The walls and ceiling are planked with reclaimed pine, and the homeowners had the rustic cedar post cut at a local sawmill, requesting that the original bark and moss stay intact to remain as natural as possible. A built-in corner shelf, made of the same wood as the wall and ceiling paneling, adds a charming spot for books and collections. Adding to the rustic vibe: The chandelier is made of an antique wagon wheel, and the coffee table is an old industrial cart.

Brian Woodcock, styling by Page Mullins

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Modern Rustic Furnishings

To create a rustic living room that is full of sophistication, keep things on the straight and narrow. In this ample living space that accommodates both seating and dining areas, the warm natural materials—and charming checked fabric—are there but the furniture pieces all boast clean lines and tailored shapes—no overstuffed upholstery here.

Miki Duisterhof, styling by Karin Lidbeck-Brent

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Aged Natural Materials

Surround yourself with aged natural materials and the result is pure rustic beauty. In this cozy window-wrapped sunroom, homeowner Ellen Allen combined a reclaimed wood planked ceiling and walls, an extended stone “baseboard,” and a brick floor to set the rustic scene. An unexpected Lucite table and lots of lush indoor plants and trees keep the room from feeling too dark and heavy.

Jean Allsopp

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An Outside-In Approach

Look to nature to give a living room rustic appeal. In this wood-wrapped living room by designer Ashley Gilbreath, a neutral palette keeps the focus on the view, while leafy motifs in the throw pillows add some pattern.

Helen Norman

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Natural Stone Surround

Inspired by a room in a Ralph Lauren catalog, these Maryland homeowners added a fieldstone half-wall and fireplace surround. A reclaimed beam rescued from a log cabin serves as the mantel, which is topped with rustic accessories such as an antique iron gate, antlers, and crockery.

Annie Schlechter

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Rustic Whitewashed Brick

If you love the rustic texture of brick, but not the dark colors it brings, opt for a whitewashed look, as DIY blogger Jenna Sue did in this cabin. A mortar wash treatment (also known as a “German smear”) gives red brick an authentically aged look.

Lincoln Barbour

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Top-To-Bottom Texture

The secret to this inviting rustic living room? Top-to-bottom texture: starting from the scuffed ceiling beams (salvaged from an old warehouse) to the velvet-covered armchair to the dhurrie-topped sisal rug. Add a wood-planked coffee table, some foraged pine cones, a stack of birch logs, and a vintage tobacco basket above the mantel, and you have a rustic look that can’t be beat.

Wynn Myers, styling by Becki Griffin

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Rustic Architectural Salvage

Chippy and peel-y architectural salvage brings a living room instant age and texture. After all, you do find “rust” in “rustic.” The living room of this grain silo-turned-guest house features numerous reuses of rustic salvage, including weathered sheet metal siding, chippy wood window frames, and even an old Champagne shipping crate that homeowner Amy Kleinwachter topped with a grain sack cushion to make into a footstool.

John Gruen, styling by Raina Kattelson

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Pickled Wood Walls

Give pine-paneled walls a fresh makeover by pickling them. The result is a living room that is pure cabin chic. Keep the rest of the rooms' furniture light to continue the modern-meets-rustic look.

Helen Norman, styling by Liz Demos

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Porch-Worthy Furnishings

Channel this South Carolina screened-in porch to create the ultimate rustic living room. To get the look, start with a rusty-red painted floor and a massive stone fireplace (don’t forget a hand-hewn wood mantel!), add a mix of rattan or Old Hickory hoop chairs plus a cozy braided rug, then substitute the sofa with a charming wood bed swing. Wrought-iron light fixtures and striped pillows complete the rustic look.

TARA DONNE, styling by Olga Naiman

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Warm, Textured Materials

Rather than letting the existing red brick wall define the space, homeowners Neil Frauenglass and George Case chose to paint it a creamy white. From there, they layered a new sisal rug with leather, wicker, wood, and linen to create a stylish and personal rustic space. An old wagon wheel and a collection of vintage mounts add the finishing touches.

Victoria Pearson, styling by Heather Bullard

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Rustic Built-In Cabinet

If you want to keeps things on the lighter side and don’t want a full-out cabin look, start with just one or two rustic elements, such as a simple reclaimed beam mantel or a cabinet crafted of salvaged wood.

Helen Norman, styling by Natalie Warady

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Textured Walls

In this rustic living room, designer James Farmer combined two textures for one warm and cozy surround as a beige grasscloth wallpaper adds woven texture above horizontally-planked wainscoting. Elsewhere, windowpane plaid-covered chairs and pillows provide timeless pattern.

Mike Gartan

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View-Welcoming French Doors

Let nature provide the decoration by installing large windows or French doors to invite the outdoors in. Painting the walls and ceiling a light color lets the outdoor views shine even more.

Brian Woodcock, styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegas

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Rustic Reclaimed Materials

For a guaranteed rustic look, start with reclaimed materials. In this Mississippi home, the homeowners set the scene with salvaged heart-pine floors, then used old paving bricks to give the fireplace a been-around-forever feel. On top, horizontal planked wood doors hide the television.

BRIAN WOODCOCK, styling by Natalie Warady

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Hand-Hewn Stone

Upholstered wing chairs and a vintage leather sofa make for cozy seating in this hand-hewn stone wrapped room. When the homeowners discovered the uneven stone under the drywall, they decided to leave it exposed to showcase the home’s original beauty. The low-slung ceiling, punctuated by exposed wood rafters, adds to the room's cozy factor.

Victoria Pearson, styling by Page Mullins

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Rustic Wood Furnishings

One signature piece can set the whole rustic tone. In fashion and interior designer Jenni Kayne’s California retreat, a sculptural driftwood coffee table stands out against the all-white walls and sectional sofa.

Victoria Pearson, styling by Liz Strong

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Natural Wood Walls

Hold that paintbrush! Stain or simply seal wood shiplap walls to give a room a more rustic look and feel. In this farmhouse living room, the wood wall’s warm tones also provide a cozy backdrop to furniture and pillows in a pretty color palette of varying grays and blues.

Buff Strickland, styling by Becki Griffin

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Airy Backdrop

Rustic doesn’t have to mean dark. In her family’s Texas ranch house, designer Lisa Hilderbrand created an airy living room with a rustic twist by installing a new stucco fireplace topped with a wood mantel and layering lots of “take-a-beating” materials such as wood-plank laminate flooring, leather furniture, seagrass rugs, and a stone-and-steel coffee table.

Annie Schlechter

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Dark Paint Color

To instantly up the cozy factor, paint all walls, trim, and even the ceiling, a deep, dark color (here, Downpipe by Farrow & Ball). Pull a leather club chair up to the fire and let the nesting begin!

Gridley + Graves Photographers, styling by Elizabeth Demos

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Warm Wood Surround

Nothing sets a rustic scene more than a surround of dark and weathered wood—the more aged and rugged the better! Frame windows and horizontally planked walls with the same species and tone of wood add architectural interest without becoming a distraction. Balance the dark wood with a grouping of white or off-white upholstery.

25 Creative Ideas for Bedroom Wall Decor

Jennifer Kopf Jennifer Kopf is the Executive Editor of Country Living.

interior, furniture and wallpaper in country style

Country style - the embodiment of tranquility, comfort and naturalness in the interior. In the article I will consider its features, what mistakes are made during creation. I will provide unique design ideas. I'll tell you about the combination of colors, decor, furniture and materials that will harmoniously fit into the creation of such a living room (hall) or kitchen-living room.

Features of country style in the interior of the living room

Country has many branches with a bias towards a certain nationality. But frosted walls, a fireplace with a wood finish, a sideboard with colorful dishes on display are a clear sign of a rustic-style home. At the peak of popularity, its distinctive features were formed in the form of:

Rustic furniture made of metal is allowed, but under certain conditions. Furniture should be wrought iron, copper, iron or brass. There should be no reflective and shiny objects.

Lighting should create a relaxing atmosphere. It is necessary to exclude neon lamps, and purchase a lamp with low heat dissipation or fluorescent light bulbs. A forged brass chandelier with swirls is suitable as a central light source. If there is no fireplace, candles with candlesticks will replace it.

A fireplace is a great solution for a rustic-style room.

In the budget version, the walls in the living room are not painted, they are covered with classic checkered or striped wallpaper.

Solid or warm tones should be preferred.

Stylized stone or wood wallpaper will complement the interior with comfort. Wallpaper with a large print and 3D visualization will help hide repair defects. The room will seem lively.

Color solutions and materials for decorating the hall

Do not use bright colors, the exceptions are light green, yellow, crimson. A room with the addition of a bright hue should maintain color balance. The color palette is not used in excess, and is used when designing large rooms. Excessive presence of bright decor will smooth furniture in light colors.

It is better to give preference to light colors

Walls

No plastic panels, partitions, lining the walls of the frames. It is recommended to use natural wood. The walls initially can not be leveled and decorated with a stone finish. Wallpaper is replaced with plaster with careless application to the walls, wood paneling, you can paint the walls. Complement the walls with aged wood, lacquered shelves, landscape paintings. Advice. Contrasting wallpapers are glued to one of the walls, and bright furniture is placed in the opposite direction. This will balance the psycho-emotional state of a person.

This style is characterized by a combination of wood and stone

Floor

Excessive use of wood in the style breaks the harmony. When the ceiling and walls are already mixed with wood, the floor is covered with tiles, vinyl imitation, high pile carpets. In such a living room there are no flooded floors, linoleum or carpet.

High pile carpets fit perfectly

Ceiling

Rustic style suitable for furnishing country houses. The spacious living room is predisposed to finishing the ceiling with massive wood. The beams will fill the top of the room. The effect of a tree embedded in the walls is created, then the ceiling is excluded from the design of the room. In apartment or private houses, streams are painted in pastel colors, covered with wood slats.

Rustic living room decor

Handmade items, knitwear, furniture will complete and complement the rustic style. They will create a careless mess and comfort.

Knitted items

Furniture

Furniture upholstery must be made of natural leather and fabrics without a pattern. You can choose furniture on your own, focusing on straight lines, and the natural quality of the headset. Massive, rough and polished furniture will betray natural style. Armchairs and a sofa can be wicker. Then they are covered with decorated textiles. The headset is placed throughout the room, chairs are placed next to the window or coffee table. A sideboard with colorful dishes is placed next to the exit from the living room or between the windows, it is better to put a bookcase in the dark part of the room.

Leather furniture can be complemented with textile pillows and skins

Accessories and lighting

Knitted grandmother's plaid, handmade pillows, handmade tablecloths complete the look. Among the accessories to be preferred:

Lighting in warm colors will not irritate.

Bulbs must not be neon.

The more candles the better. Wall lamps will replace table legs, provide more space for other decor items.

Common mistakes in interior design

Inept mixing of more than 3 colors breaks the harmony of the style. Then you need to avoid mixing and the presence of bright colors. Preference should be given to warm shades of wood, stone. A palette of olive, sand, lavender colors will do.

Vibrant colors require contrast balance.

Bright decorative elements attract the eye, they are placed throughout the living room.

Space zoning should be distributed as a percentage, where most of the space is occupied by massive furniture, carpets.

The combination of many zones in the living room breaks the country style. An excess of furniture or accessories is unacceptable.

It is not necessary to combine a large number of zones in the living room

Switches and sockets are better to hide, disguise, and install at the time of the start of the repair. Windows, made in a different country style, are covered with light textiles. A frame with many windows will fit perfectly into the rustic style. Lighting with neon bulbs can be corrected with knitted shades.

It is better to use conventional low power lamps.

Sometimes, with a large space, they put a stretch ceiling, or make it multi-tiered.

In country style, there is either a ceiling, and it is made entirely of wood, or it does not exist at all, but this space is filled with massive beams.

Ideas

Realizing the idea of ​​country in the room, the owners of houses are guided by the trend of modernity, spiritual preferences, national traits, listen to the advice of the designer.

English Country Living Room:

English Country Style

French Country Reception Room:

French Provence

American Country Living Room:

American Style

Italian Country Living Room Idea:

Italian Style

Strict German Features country in the living room:

German style

Good-natured and cozy Russian country:

Russian country

Modern country idea:

Modern country

Rustic style in the living room defuses the atmosphere. The atmosphere of comfort is created with the help of upholstered furniture, warm lighting, harmoniously filled space. You can design the design yourself, but it will take more time. Then time-worn things made of wood, worn stone will complement the originality of the living room.

Rustic style living room - home design and interior design

The popularity of this style in the interior is easy to explain: it creates coziness and warmth, gives comfort and peace of mind. A rustic-style living room is the place where you can plunge into a homely, relaxed atmosphere filled with love and care of loved ones. Here, among the things dear to your soul, you can spend your leisure time, meet friends, watch TV with loved ones or just sit by the fireplace with an interesting book.

Of course, country houses, dachas, cottages, where there are spacious living rooms, high ceilings, and a lot of light, are better suited for decorating in a rustic style. But the owners of city apartments also decorate their homes in an original interior, because they want to create for themselves a kind of oasis of happiness and peace, and leave the fast-paced and laconic life of the metropolis behind the threshold.

Elegant rustic living room.

Large window openings allow plenty of sunlight into the room. The guest room is decorated in the best traditions of rustic style.

Rustic living room decorated with natural stone and raw wood.

In this article, read:

What is the rustic style like?

Do you remember when we used to like being with our grandmother in the village so much in our childhood? Wooden floors, homespun rugs, chintz curtains, flowers in pots and… incredibly delicious pies that my grandmother baked in a Russian oven. The rustic style is rooted in the life of our ancestors, in the interior of the huts of the Russian village. Although this statement applies exclusively to the Russian people. For Americans, the rustic style is inextricably linked with the furnishings of the ranch, for the Mexicans - with the hacienda, the British reproduce the features of an English rural cottage, the French - a French rural house. All these directions have a common name - country. Therefore, you first need to decide which style direction you want to reproduce in your living room, and then start acting.

Stylish guest room in modern rustic style with a large fireplace. wooden ceilings organically fit into the overall interior.

Rustic living room in a hunting lodge in northern France. Natural finishing materials allow you to feel the spirit of nature as much as possible.

Country implies environmental friendliness and naturalness, that is, only natural materials are used in decoration, furnishing and decoration: wood, stone, cotton and linen fabrics. The presence of glass should be kept to a minimum. There should not be any glossy and chrome surfaces, stretch ceilings and ceramic tiles with a modern design in a country house. And bronze, brass and aged metal are very welcome.

Unusual lighting option for a rustic living room.

Elegant rustic living room interior in the home of a young French woman.

Choosing a finish

When decorating a rustic living room, you need to take care of the appropriate finish. Rustic style is a simple, without pretentiousness, even a rough finish.

Let's start with the walls. They can be glued with wallpaper in a flower, a cage or a strip. A cheerful flower can be replaced with any floral ornament. It is better to use the simplest canvases - paper.

The second option is decorative plaster on the walls. And the third - stone or brickwork. All of the above methods of wall decoration can be combined with each other.

Another attribute of the wall design can be wooden panels or a wooden wall against which the central composition will line up.

The floor is preferably wood or parquet. Linoleum and laminate should definitely be abandoned. And laying the floor in a rustic-style living room with a decorative stone is not prohibited. A place of honor among floor coverings is occupied by woven rugs, self-woven paths and mats.

There are two ways to decorate the ceiling:

The living room will be decorated with wooden ceiling beams.

The rustic living room is decorated with red checkered cushions that blend harmoniously with the upholstery of the soft sofa and the curtains on the windows. Style is in the details.

Large windows with no curtains allow maximum natural light into the rustic guest room.

Electric fireplace with simulated flames fits perfectly into the overall concept of rustic style.

Color and light in a rural interior

The design of the living room is done in not too bright and saturated colors. She should relax and pacify. It is important to follow the rule here: with calm, neutral walls and furniture upholstery, bright decorative elements are used that harmonize in color or contrast, and vice versa.

Recommended natural, natural colors - soft shades of yellow, green, brown, soft pink and blue. Preference is given to white and light wood.

Rustic style means lots of sunshine. However, this is not always possible, especially if the living room windows face north. Therefore, it must be supplemented with artificial lighting created by a ceiling lighting fixture - a multi-track chandelier - and a variety of additional (not built-in) sources that illuminate certain areas. These can be floor lamps with fabric lampshades, antique table lamps. All of them are made in restrained colors, can be decorated with paintings and colored glass. The lighting in the country house has a warm yellowish tint.

Delicate, colorful floral prints on the curtains are a good option for decorating a rustic living room.

Rustic style living room with a natural stone fireplace.

Rustic style living room with low wooden ceilings as an example of well-chosen furniture.

Textiles, furniture and decorative elements

There should be a lot of textiles in the living room. With its help, the necessary surroundings are created. These are capes, bedspreads, blankets, curtains, tablecloths, napkins, embroideries.

Curtains and curtains are made of cotton, linen and chintz in cheerful colors. They contribute to the general atmosphere of joy and warmth. They can be decorated with flounces, ruffles, tied with ribbons, cords.

The use of handicrafts in rural styles is encouraged. For example, blankets and bedspreads made in patchwork technique. It brings warmth, originality and beauty.

Rustic furniture, simple but good quality, antique design. It can be wooden, wicker, forged. These are cabinets, chests of drawers, chairs, tables, shelves, bedside tables. Soft sofas and armchairs are complemented by embroidered pillows and covers.

An interesting furnishing option for a country-style living room - armchairs with leather upholstery.

Spacious cozy living room in a rustic style is a great place for long family gatherings by the fireplace.

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