interior design Archives

5 Tips for Designing a Modern Rustic Bedroom

If you want to add some modern rustic style elements to your bedroom, there are lots of options that won’t require a complete renovation. Unless you want to remodel the entire space from top to bottom, you can achieve the same rugged charm in easier but effective ways. Here are 5 trending but timeless modern rustic bedroom ideas:

Wood Accent Walls

Think beyond colorful paint for accent walls. Knotty reclaimed wood is a staple of modern rustic design and looks great against the wall in planks or paneling. For a less expensive but comparable alternative, try plywood boards. Go for any unfinished variety with visible grain, knots and variation in order to add natural charm and character to the room.

While it might seem like a large undertaking, a wood accent wall gives you a lot of freedom in terms of design. If you decide in the future to try something new, you can paint or stain the wood. This allows you to create a fresh look while still keeping the same comfortable modern rustic feel.

Barn Doors

Sliding barn doors are incredibly popular in modern rustic home design. To add one to your interior space, install a metal track above a door frame. While it’s possible to DIY, it’s always a good idea to consult a professional to make sure that the door slides perfectly with no unintended friction. You can install a barn door to be purely decorative, or as an optional barrier to close off a space. If you have a bathroom attached to the bedroom, you can use the barn door for extra privacy and insulation. No matter where you put it, it will add tons of rustic charm to the room.

Images of Nature

For an instant boost in rustic style, try adding artwork of landscapes, animals or other natural imagery. Common animals used in motif include herd animals like horses, cattle and deer, as well as more delicate subjects like birds and butterflies. Go for pieces that won’t overwhelm the senses—keeping things comfortable is key in rustic design and especially important in bedroom decor. Follow neutral color palettes and choose art with lots of calming hues like green, blue, brown and white. Finish it with antique or rough-hewn wood frames to complete the look.

Reading Lamps

Task lighting is an important element of modern rustic design and can be easily added to your bedroom decor. Matching reading lamps on either side of a bed bring modern symmetry and a focus on functionality. Try industrial-style table lamps with adjustable necks, or hang wrought iron pendant lamps to save surface space. If you use LED light bulbs, opt for varieties that produce soft, warm light. This will keep the room feeling cozy and comfortable while still being energy efficient.

Multi-Functional Benches

A bench at the foot of the bed is a common feature in bedrooms of all styles. One way to add easy modern rustic flair to your bedroom is to choose a bench that serves multiple purposes. Try a storage chest with chunky, weathered fastenings—just make sure it can safely support your weight before you sit on it. Benches with drawers or shelves built in save space and follow the modern design concept of favoring function over design. This is another great opportunity to use unfinished wood and maybe top it off with a cozy woolen throw blanket.

These are just a few ideas to get you inspired when decorating your bedroom in the modern rustic style. As long as you stick to the basic ideas of comfort, natural materials and no-fuss functionality, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own personal modern rustic sanctuary in your home.

Modern Rustic Design in 3 Easy Steps

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

Do you love the look of rustic interior design but aren’t sure how to use it in your modern home? It might seem overwhelming or impossible to introduce elements of a design style that feels completely different from what you currently have. The good news is that modern rustic style combines elements of both modern and rustic homes to create an effortlessly comfortable and trendy look. Here are some simple ways to introduce rustic design elements into your modern home.

Start With Art

One of the easiest ways to change up your interior style is with art or other purely decorative pieces. Rustic design celebrates everything in the natural world and you can see it in the art choices of popular designers and homeowners who have adopted this style. Some common subjects include landscapes, studies of trees or leaves, animals like cattle, horses, or deer and the occasional floral. Go for more traditional art styles rather than abstract—landscape photography is a great choice, too. Choose recognizable images that bring the beauty of nature into the home.

Even if you decide to keep the same artwork on the walls, simply changing the frame can also have a huge impact. For example, swap out minimalist metal frames for ones made of unfinished wood.

Emphasize Texture

Another easy way to add rustic charm to a modern space is by adding in more texture. Rustic design uses lots of natural and tactile materials both for furniture and accents. Swap out smooth and shiny finishes for more gritty and weathered surfaces like wrought iron, stone or grainy wood. You can even sand down existing or unused wooden pieces with an especially glossy surface as a DIY project. Opt for more chunky knits and heavy fabrics paired with comfortable and well-worn leather.

A large antique or traditional style rug is one way to add rustic style to a room with a single piece. However, even when keeping all the same modern furniture pieces, you can add rustic accents to transform the entire look and feel of a room.

Make Conversation

It may sound strange, but you can contribute to your new rustic style choices by simply changing the arrangement of your furniture in a room. Focusing on specific zones for “conversation” purposes will make the space more comfortable and promote togetherness, while also honoring the more traditional roots of the rustic style. Face chairs and sofas toward each other, and make sure there are enough seats all the way around the dining table.

Speaking of dining tables: if you don’t have one, this might be an excellent opportunity to get one. While they don’t work with all modern house layouts, you can usually fit a small dining area into an open floor plan and create another conversation space at the same time. Dining tables, as well as the idea of gathering together for food and drink, are a key feature in rustic design. Any place in your home where you can create a sense of comfort and ease will create harmony between the modern and rustic style.

When trying out a new interior design style, you don’t have to change everything at once. Start small by changing some pieces and you might find that you progress naturally into your chosen style without blowing your budget or creating a sense of upheaval. Even better: you may learn more about your own unique style in the process.

Decorative Accents for Every Kitchen Design

Whether you have recently renovated your kitchen or you are simply trying to give your existing kitchen a fresh look, you will find that accent pieces are a welcome addition to your decor theme. The kitchen is a room that needs to be both practical and functional as well as pleasing to the eye. While you likely aren’t going to want to clutter up your countertops with a ton of knick knacks, you should consider adding decorative accents where it is appropriate.

Accents to Consider for Any Kitchen Decor Theme

A Fruit Bowl or Bread Basket – Fruit bowls and bread baskets have been sitting on kitchen tables and counters for centuries. While these accents once served a more practical purpose, today they are there for style more than anything. Not only will a fruit bowl or bread basket look perfect on the corner of your counter, but these items also create a welcoming atmosphere in your kitchen.

A Tray – Kitchen counters are frequently used as catch-alls and it’s tempting to just throw your keys or your unread mail in a corner. In order to stay organized while keeping your kitchen looking neat, you can add a tray to your counter that can act as both storage and decor.
A Unique Light Fixture – Sometimes you have to look up in order to see the most significant accent piece in a kitchen. There is almost always a light fixture located above the kitchen table or island and this fixture can play an important role in the overall look of the room. Choose an interesting light fixture that will set the tone or style for your room and you can build the rest of your theme around it.
Glass Canisters – Canisters have long been used by people for storage, but these practical pieces can also double as decor in your kitchen. Glass canisters are versatile and can complement any theme that you select for your kitchen. Instead of storing coffee or sugar in your canisters, consider adding fresh lemons, limes or oranges for a burst of color.
A Ceramic Vase – Ceramic vases come in all shapes and sizes, making these pieces an easy option for kitchen decor. If your kitchen is already filled with patterns and textures, then you may want to consider a plain, neutral vase that can hold any type of flowers. If you are in need of more color in your kitchen, then purchase a vase with a distinct pattern design that can hold bright blooms.
A Comfortable Rug – Kitchen flooring is not often described as comfortable, largely because most people opt for hardwood or tiled floors. A large, cozy rug underneath your table will make it an appealing place for people to sit back, relax and enjoy their meal. Not to mention, the colors of the rug can tie into the rest of the kitchen design, making this piece one of the most pivotal accents in your kitchen.

These accent pieces are classic and timeless, and they will easily blend into any theme or style that you have chosen for your kitchen. It doesn’t matter if you have gone with a rustic farmhouse theme or a charming vintage motif, you will need just the right accents to complete the look of your kitchen.

Three Sources of Home Decor Inspiration for Sprucing Up Your Home

Whether you’ve just bought a home or you’re hoping to spruce up your current house, redecorating can be a great way to make a home feel new and exciting. However, when it comes to the actual decorating and design, many homeowners are at a loss.

Sure, you could hire an interior decorator to help you out, but oftentimes that expense doesn’t fit into the average homeowner’s budget, especially if you just spend thousands closing on a new home.

Fortunately, there are many free sources of inspiration available that will help you identify the right style for your home at the right price for your budget.

In today’s article, we’re going to give you some tips on where to find interior decor inspiration so you can get started on restyling your home.

Grab an app or two

Searching for redecorating tips doesn’t have to be a full-time job. You can browse ideas when you’re on the train to work, relaxing in bed at night, or waiting for an appointment at the doctor’s office just by downloading a few select apps on your phone.

Two of the most common apps for home decorating are Pinterest and Instagram. However, you’ll need to give those apps some information to make sure you’re getting the right images in your feed.

On Pinterest, add “home decor” “interior design” and “home decor ideas” to your interests so that you’ll see those images and articles first in your feed.

For Instagram, you’ll have to follow accounts that post what you’re looking for, then Instagram will recommend similar accounts.

Here are a few common interior design accounts to get started with:

Take an online course

There’s more to interior decorating than just finding some furniture you like, making sure it will fit in your living room, and buying it. Design principles of color, texture, and form all work together to create the full experience of a home’s interior.

While people study for years to develop techniques of design, you can learn the basics relatively quickly. If you’re interested in learning something new and updating the design of your home, you could take an online course in interior design.

Howcast has a great series of free videos called Interior Design Basics that will provide you with a good overview. Then, if you want to continue learning, check out one of SkillShare’s many interior design courses.

Take a trip to the library

When it comes to seeing the best examples of interior decoration or finding detailed information on design techniques, nothing can beat your local library. Most libraries also have subscriptions to common magazines like Better Homes and Gardens, Elle Decor, and HGTV Magazine.

If your library doesn’t have many options, you can often request items for free through their interlibrary loans system. They’ll send you books and magazines from surrounding towns and give you a notification when they’ve arrived.