One of the best ways to create a home that is both welcoming and stylish is to add some rustic finishes to the interior decor. It can work well for any type of home, from a cosy country cottage to a chic inner city apartment. The look is also very affordable and easy to achieve in a few simple steps. Here are some top tips and suggestions!
Create a blend of textures and materials
The rustic look is all about achieving that lived in feel. This sets your home apart from the millions of bland grey interiors and puts your own individual stamp on it. The first place to start is to introduce different textures and natural materials, such as wood, brick, and metals.
A common approach is to have exposed brickwork walls, but this can be very time consuming, and you can never be quite sure what condition the brickwork is in underneath the plaster, until it is too late to do anything but have some costly repointing and sealing work carried out.
A great alternative choice is to create texture with Venetian plastering. This is not a new method of plastering by any means, having been around since the days of the Roman Empire. It involves applying fine layers of plaster made from a slaked lime base and marble dust, to create extra depth and character.
This brings a much more natural and pre-weathered feel than conventional plaster or wallpaper. Larger grains can be used to create a rougher or more burnish finish, depending on your preference. This is a fashionable option that is also known as microcement, and it is suitable for use on walls, floors, and ceilings.
Add some vintage furniture
To create a lived in vibe, source some key pieces of second hand or vintage furniture. This adds to the air of authenticity and keeps the look nicely tied together. If you are lucky enough to have a period home, look for pieces that are in keeping with the era, such as Art Deco or Victorian.
In a more contemporary home, you may want to blend the styles of two or three different eras rather than artificially recreate a particular style. It’s perfectly fine to use a mixture of modern and vintage pieces as long as you have some uniform element to tie everything together, such as an accent colour or a repeating pattern or shape.
There’s no need to pay a fortune for vintage furniture, as there are plenty of bargains to be found in flea markets and auction houses. You can always refresh a tired item of wooden furniture with a quick coat of chalk paint.
Add some softer touches
To add some cosiness to the space, layer up plenty of softer fabrics such as throws, rugs, and cushions. If you have a neutral colour scheme, use these elements to add a pop of colour. Keep ornaments and accessories in line with the natural theme, such as grasses, driftwood sculptures, and shells.
