The Modern Country Home – Nine Ways to Give a Property a Country Feel
Is designing a modern country home as challenging as it seems?
Using the right elements might just give you a winning blueprint to follow.
Tiffany Skilling Interiors
Who says that a country style home only fits a rural setting? More people seem to appreciate the calm rustic vibe that can make any interior cosier – whether you're living in a flat or townhouse.
Modern furniture and decorations can go either way. Some are too bland, while others can go to the extreme range of the spectrum. A country-style brings a sense of familiarity. Its kitschy look offers plenty of room for personalization and can make a home more inviting.
Even opting for laid-back, simple country décor can brighten up any room. With more people spending more time at home, whether engaging in family activities or working, a return to the country might be just what homes need to make everyone feel comfortable.
What's even better – homeowners don't have to go out of their way to find an idyllic countryside cottage that may not be in their price range. A renovation or redecoration project can be an inexpensive alternative to achieving a relaxing rural vibe and compensating for the tiring urban setting.
How to Get the Country Feel
1. Pastel Colours
Changing the light bulbs to something warmer can do a lot to alter the vibe of a room. However, many other details around the house need some adjustments to create a country feel. You'll find that many countryside living rooms often use various shades of red to create a rustic lighting effect.
It helps when accompanied by dim switches that further soften the lighting. It's important to go for a warm glow instead of the white lighting that many modern homes feature.
That said, a country-style home can also be brighter. For example, off-white paint on the bedroom walls can offer a satisfying rural-type look – when combined with appropriate fabrics and pastel colors.
Furthermore, consider sticking to dark wooden flooring or natural textures in general. That goes for everything from the flooring to the furniture. Of course, the amount of redecorating needed should take the budget into account.
Remember that the main colors tend to be warm shades of white, brown, and beige to ensure you're not straying too far away from the country motif. Commonly used accent colors worth knowing are muted variations of tans, red, yellow, and grey.
2. Classic/Retro Fittings
Retro fittings are must-haves in a country style home. Classic yet straightforward designs alter the appeal of bathrooms and kitchens entirely.
Even a roll-top bathtub might be a good idea if you're interested in doing a more serious renovation. Simple bathroom schemes always help capture the country feel.
As for kitchens, consider adding some brickwork for a more traditional look. A single-handle faucet can also add a rustic detail, as do rounded knobs on doors and cabinets.
Tiffany Skilling Interiors
3. Wooden Wall Panelling
You don't see many wooden wall panels in modern townhouses or flats. Yet it's a very rustic feature that can completely transform, say, a bathroom. Instead of tile, opt for tongue-and-groove panelling.
Go with a shade of grey for an instant hit. Alternatively, a white option can bring a bit of freshness and brightness to the place. If you mix this with the aforementioned retro fittings and some country-style accessories – it's even better.
4. Retro Appliances
You might want to think about a return to the classics even when looking at replacing appliances. A modern toaster oven might be useful, but it can take away from the country vibe you're chasing.
Luckily, these days you can easily find high-quality kitchen appliances that feature traditional designs. Even retro kettles and fridges can often be enough to keep your redecorating to a minimum while changing the atmosphere in a kitchen.
You could even consider fitting a wooden stove oven. It's practical and has a similar effect to that of a fireplace by warming up the area and providing a rustic touch to the décor.
5. Adding Warmth to the Home
One of the defining features of a country style home is warmth. It's part of what makes this décor more inviting and cosy. Thus, you can use a couple of additions to bring more warmth into the home if you're going for the country vibe.
For starters, an authentic fireplace provides actual warmth and a comforting glow. It's also a staple of countryside living and a great feature, especially on cold winter days.
Additionally, ditching modern blinds for thick curtains helps trap the heat and transform the overall lighting. Using more rugs in favor of bland carpets or tile flooring is another way to add warmth to the home while keeping in line with the country style.
Kelly Quinn Design
6. Country-Style Furniture
Picking the right furniture may be one of the most challenging aspects of creating a country style home. However, furniture probably makes the biggest difference between modern, contemporary, and rustic decor.
You can't use any glossy furniture with metallic or plastic features. The rural look almost always comes from wood and leather. Worn wood can look great, and it isn't too difficult to find, as more people try to get that traditional, cosy, and laid-back feel into their homes.
A wooden dining table and chairs are must-haves for a country-style property. Worn wood or natural textures for kitchen cabinets also make sense, as they do in bookcases. You might want to include a bookcase in the new layout to add another robust, rustic note.
Using a sturdy wooden bed frame and bringing out its features can further enhance the cottage vibe in a bedroom or guest room. But you don't have to stop there. A traditional cushioned armchair, while bulky, can offer a nice touch to a living room or den area.
Accent chairs and side tables placed in the right spot can further enhance the traditional look of a room. The same goes for large wooden chests or log furniture pieces, which are practical and emphasize nature.
7. Accessories
Some interior designers can underestimate accessories and ultimately fail in creating the warm and inviting traditional look of a country home. Flowers are an essential part of the rustic motif, whether the homeowner has a garden or not.
You can mix things up by having a combination of vases, planters, and flower baskets scattered throughout different rooms. That way, the fresh floral scent is everywhere, and there's always a splash of color to admire.
In case you haven't noticed, many accessories tend to have bold floral patterns. Consider these options for vases, bowls, jugs, or even dining set patterns.
Window planters and a couple of vases with flowers are just some of the minor elements that make up the country vibe. Other things that can contribute towards the same stylistic goal are woven carpets, wool throw blankets, and even sheepskin rugs.
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, a country style can range anywhere from simple to kitschy. So, you have enough wiggle room when picking decorations. But generally, things like pillows and throws or animal hides always fit the traditional look.
8. Imperfect Aesthetics
Even if you're going for a kitschy look, you don't have to overthink things. A rustic style home is supposed to look imperfect. It doesn't need symmetric shapes and lines. It really screams of more ruggedness than anything else.
Yet, it's that somewhat chaotic and imperfect design that makes a home feel warmer and more inviting.
9. Handmade Pieces
If you think about imperfect aesthetics, handmade furniture and accessories come to mind. They tend to stand out primarily due to their imperfect shapes and rough lines. It also helps when you can find something unique, something you’re unlikely to find in another home layout.
You can use handmade lamps, wooden clocks, maybe even antler sculptures, along with rugs and blankets to add more natural color to a home.
Bridget Zemar
10. Country Vibes in Modern Backgrounds are Possible
Designing the interior of a townhouse or flat in a busy urban area with a rustic theme in mind often provides an escape for homeowners. Granted, they may still experience the noise and bustle outside their windows.
But stepping over the doorstep can quickly transport families and guests into a completely different setting. The warmth and cosy atmosphere of a traditional country or cottage-style home are making a comeback for a good reason. Minimalist décor can easily make a home feel empty and uninviting.
Even with limited space to plan, there are ways to introduce the rustic motif and create something that keeps people comfortable and safe.
If you're looking for more ideas on designing rustic style interiors in modern flats and townhouses, feel free to book a strategy call with us by clicking this link.
