Bringing The Outdoors To Your Home

If your heart beats to the natural rhythms of the great outdoors, you can bring that feeling inside by creating a rustic design for your home or office.

Contrary to popular belief, rustic home design has many faces. It's not just using Adirondack furniture or hanging all animal-themed wall decors.

That's right; there's more than one style of rustic decor. Nonetheless, all rustic decor centers on wood tones and pieces that convey an outdoorsy feel. You might want the cowboys-and-cattle of the Old West, the canoe-and-paddles or the Upper Midwest, or the high-mountain forests of upstate New York and New England. The point here is to choose your rustic style carefully and then stick to it because rustic styles don't mix well. A Michigan kayak would look mighty strange in a living room with a cattle ranch theme.

You don't necessarily have to use wood as material if it will cause you hassle in doing so. You can just use paint that is reminiscent of a wood paneling. Shades of tan, cream, beige, off-white and browns will work nicely. Wallpapering is an option if you do not want to paint your walls. Choose a wallpaper design with a background that depicts nature or the outdoors.

Next, continue the rustic theme with wood accents. Wrap grapevine wreaths with berries rather than flowers. In fact, avoid flowers altogether unless they're real wildflowers arranged in a pitcher or rustic vase. Instead, use wooden bowls as decor accents and fill them with aromatic pinecones or wood shavings. A wooden bowl full of apples makes a wonderful hospitality gesture.

Fabrics that are true to nature's beauty will make the design more realistic. Corduroy and denim are ideal for a rustic look. Applying a rustic design will ask for some sacrifice though. That is, getting rid of wall-to-wall carpeting. Wood is the flooring of choice. If you prefer the Western ambiance, then Southwestern-style tiles will look great.

For the floor, wood is definitely in and so are braided area rugs. Enhance the theme with Indian rugs and drapes.

Wall decors only need to be simple but reminiscent of the outdoors. It can be about nature or animals. You can stencil, paint or border the walls or hang artworks and photographs. Better yet, do both!

Vintage items and whatever outdoor souvenirs you have will also make amazing decorations.

In addition to area rugs, one item that is worthy to splurge on are quilts. These decors are must-have items for a rustic design. You can use one as a drape for chairs and sofas or as a wall hanging.

There are so many things that you can use. Base your choices on the many outdoor activities and their accessories. Fishing rods, oars, hunting paraphernalia and others might add to the rustic interior of your home. Just ascertain that your house will not be too crowded for you to move around.

Put your personality into your rustic decor, and you'll have a home that you and your guests will love for a long time.

Keep up with current Outdoor Home Decorating styles and enhance your home with indoor outdoor area rugs.