“Nature never did betray the heart that loved her."
This adage is very real, especially when it comes to building a home that looks and feels one with nature. This décor style most commonly goes by the name rustic. But what is a rustic interior in reality?
Is it just a log-cabin-like home, or is there a scope to be more liberal?
You bet there is! A rustic home is any home that characteristically emphasises the natural. This means a lot of wooden, stone-made as well as handcrafted materials in a natural setting.
While this may not sound as easy as it seems (especially when it comes to a compact 3BHK house in a city like Mumbai), one can definitely find ways to create a mutual living ecosystem by incorporating nature into their homes. So here we give some tips to create a completely rustic-chic home.
What Gives Off Those Rustic Vibes Really?
Two main aspects must be first considered before proceeding ahead to achieve a rustic look—Colour palette and furniture.
Colour Palette
The foundation for achieving a rustic-chic look is to choose a proper colour palette. Earthy colours like browns, warm greys, and soft greens help pull in mother nature and set the correct tone for a rustic.
Furniture
The second aspect that takes centre stage is the use of sturdy and well-crafted furniture. Antique furniture pieces are great for achieving a rustic look. In case antique pieces are not your cup of tea, one can opt for modern furniture with a distressed look.
Once these two concepts fall in place, the other aspects can be matched per the furniture.
Let’s Build An Aesthetic & Serene Rustic 3BHK Home, Shall We?
So let’s enter our 3BHK rustic-chic home:
The Rustic Living Room
Cosy and comfy, nothing is more inviting for a laidback relaxation than a rustic living space. The furniture takes centre stage here. Furniture’s of the '50s and 70 looks trendier and add to the retro trend. The shape of the legs predominantly adds to the rustic charm. Incorporate some traditional cabriole, spiral, reeded, or baroque leg styles for the furniture. It pays well here to retain your grandma's furniture, doesn't it?
Next, maintain connectivity with the rustic furniture by choosing paint colours and other accessories and fabrics in neutral shades like soft browns, greens, and greys. You can move gradually from light to dark hues. Opt for leafy motifs in throw pillows to add more natural patterns.
For those who want a modern rustic room to give a more sophisticated look, try to keep things straight with warm natural furnishings and furniture pieces with minimalistic clean lines. Do not overstuff the upholstery. This will help you to achieve the modern-with-rustic look.
Another aspect is that one need not go entirely rustic in order to get a cosy living space. A whole-retro type living space might be too much to deal with at times, and hence, one can opt for a contemporary-rustic look, which is actually trending now. Opt for a combination of old and new pieces of furniture cum accessories, as this combination will help to avoid the museum type look. For instance, combine a classic mid-century side table and accent chairs with a modern carpet or a lamp. Add modern cushions to traditional furniture, and you are ready to go.
Try adding a brick accent wall. If you like the rustic texture of brick but dislike its dark colour, you can opt for a whitewashed look or paint it in any natural colour. Add some vintage mounts beside the wall.
As for the drapes, try incorporating a bamboo curtain. This will be apt, especially if your living space is blessed with natural light.
Finally, add a wood-planked coffee centre table with some foraged pine cones on top, and you achieve that instant rustic look that no one can beat.
The Rustic Kitchen
The kitchen, though modular and modern, can also take hints from the by-gone era to incorporate the charm of ancient times. Use subway tiles beside the countertop and opt for sturdy and strong handles for modular shelves to add to the rustic charm. Place a small kitchen chair in natural tone in a corner for that quick cup of chai!
The kitchen and living space can be integrated with a wooden dining table with trendy transparent chairs. This helps in continuing a long and relaxed conversation from anywhere in the room.
How about adding a lovely ornate swing here?
The Rustic Bedrooms:
Warm wooden patterned flooring will set the tone for a cosy rustic interior and add to the much-needed serenity of your bedroom. For instance, one can opt for a walnut flooring or a mild brown herringbone design that carries the wooden trend. Wood can also be incorporated in the form of wooden floor to ceiling wardrobes and matched with traditional batik or ikat designs on the doors for a homely feel. Ensure you keep the ceiling light to reflect light better.
The Rustic Bathrooms
As for the bathrooms, one can also incorporate some rustic chic elements here. For instance, a log can be placed as a base for the washbasin instead of granite. One can even dream big in bathrooms with reclaimed wood accent walls and galvanised metal or heavy wrought-iron form of hardware. Rough stones can also be used wherever possible. All these elements are natural and less polished and hence can immediately lend character to any bathroom.
Lastly, how about a small garden ladder as a towel or aromatic candle rack to complete the picture? With these entire subtle elements, one can definitely make a big rustic impact.
Another important point while designing the bathroom with rustic elements is that these elements do not tend to bounce off the light, and hence one must opt for lighter accessories. For instance, use a light coloured washbasin or other such accessories. One can also use mason jars lighting fixtures for a more rustic lighting experience. Top it up with some small house plants or cactus, and your bathroom with a rustic charm is good to go.
Thus with subtle elements, one can incorporate rustic charm in any room of the house. Finally, do not forget to add a rustic look to your doorway with an ornate metal handle at the entrance!
We have shown you a glimpse as to how a home can be modern as well as rustic at the same time when things are appropriately placed. One can ensure a rustic charm by merging modern and vintage elements in a balanced fashion. To perfect this art of balancing, reach out to us today.