Country style decorating

Country style decorating is one of the best ways to create a cozy and informal ambiance in your home. This is a style that is good not only for living areas; you can create a serene yet cheerful country style bedroom and bathroom quite easily with a few rustic touches.

Bringing the Country Look into Your Bedroom

Transforming your bedroom into a country style haven need not be an overly expensive project. Here are a few pointers to start you on your way.

Get rid of the ultramodern stuff.
While today’s definition of country style has become more eclectic, there are still some things that would be out of place in a rustic setting. If you have sleek chrome items in your bedroom then it is time you put them away. Curtains or throw pillows with bold contemporary designs will also have to go.

Pick a classic pastoral pattern for your fabrics.
Some fabric patterns practically scream country when you look at them. Stripes, checks, soft plaids, chintz, or calico will do a lot to make your bedroom country territory. Fabrics in these designs can also be a good place to start your color scheme or bring all the colors in the room together.

Bring in the magic of color.
Color is one of the strongest ways to make a statement in any room. Blue and white, for example, will give your bedroom a truly rustic stamp. Apart from blue and white, there are many other colors to choose from; just make sure you spread the color around consistently and keep away from modern neons.

Add a few truly country accessories.
A big bonus for creating a country style bedroom would be an old fashioned brass bed, but even without that, there are some accessories that bring a large dose of country charm. Since your bed occupies a substantial amount of space in your bedroom, a traditional quilt would be a good investment. With just this one piece, you are halfway done with creating a cozy rusticity for your sleeping space. You may want to add a plain white pitcher and use it as a vase for colorful blooms, a wicker or rattan basket for your bedside reading materials, or a braided rug.

A Bathroom with Country Ambiance

Bathrooms can come into their share of cozy rusticity with just a few ingenious touches. Here are some of the simple things you can do to create a pastoral atmosphere in yours.

Get a clawfoot tub to say it all.
Although this item can be quite expensive, nothing says “country” as clearly as a clawfoot tub. Fortunately, manufacturers are now producing lighter, smaller, (and cheaper) acrylic versions of this picturesque bath tub. If you find the clawfoot beauties at the regular hardware stores too pricey, you might want to try eBay or Amazon for a used tub and have it re-enameled.

Pick the right accessories.
A few well chosen accessories can transform an ordinary bathroom into a country retreat. On your bathroom counter you can put ceramic soap and lotion dispensers  with the usual farm motifs – flowers, birds, or animals. If your bathroom has a small window, dress it up with cotton or lace curtains. For good measure you can also add the usual wicker hamper and hang a simple cross stitch sampler to bring the country into your bathroom.

Pay attention to the fixtures.
Most bathroom faucets are sleek chrome fixtures that do well in modern bathrooms but add nothing to the country ambiance you are trying to put together. The good news is, there are a lot of country style faucets and bathroom fixtures in the market today so you can install one of those. You can also look into the possibility of using barn door hardware on your bathroom door; that will say country in an absolutely defining way.

Keep Everything Relaxed and Comfortable

There are several versions of country style decorating, and the approach of most decorators today is to allow a good deal of diversity. Depending on what you like, you can flow along the lines of cottage country style or cabin country style or even French country style. You can also do a mix of several country styles as long as you avoid cluttering your bed and bath with hard to resist knick knacks. Just remember that keeping everything relaxed and comfortable is what country style is all about.