| If romantic decor is primarily a preference for the | | | | matte, or paint it with a tinted wash that will let the |
| woman of the house, then rustic is definitely the | | | | wood's natural grain show. Rough beams on the ceiling |
| masculine interpretation. Simply say, "log cabin," and a | | | | would be a great addition, both for texture and for |
| skeptical man will be right on board with this version of | | | | architectural detail. |
| cottage decorating. | | | | If you're lacking for wood though, don't fret. You can |
| One of the reasons that Rustic Cottage is so popular | | | | still achieve an outdoors ambience with lots of wooden |
| with men (and women too!) is its link to the great | | | | picture frames and other accessories. A basket of |
| outdoors. Log cabins have long been a symbol of | | | | pinecones brings a great touch of the forest. |
| pioneering, learning to live with the land as well as off | | | | However, floors should be wood planks if at all |
| the land. It may be rough and unfinished, but Rustic | | | | possible (and the budget will stand it). If natural wood |
| Cottage has about it a strong sense of classic, | | | | flooring is too expensive, and you're dead set against |
| time-honored style. | | | | some of the realistic-looking laminates available today, |
| Start a Rustic Cottage decorating plan by thinking | | | | then try for unpolished granite, flagstone or slate. |
| "wood," and the more unfinished, the better. Log-cabin | | | | Whether wood or stone, braided area rugs just go |
| style furniture is widely available these days, and it's big, | | | | naturally with Rustic Cottage decor. Not only are they |
| casual and comfortable, the kind of sofas and chairs | | | | bright and comfortable, they come in different shapes |
| you can imagine lumberjacks dropping down into after | | | | and their materials give an air of pioneer practicality to |
| a hard day of cutting timber. Upholster the furniture in | | | | the room. |
| sturdy fabrics such as woven burlaps, rough wools or | | | | Place a long plank table with side benches and head |
| plain linens and cottons. Use animal patterns, woodland | | | | and foot armchairs in your dining room, great room or |
| scenes, and plaids on pillows, throws and curtains to | | | | family-style kitchen. If there's a dining room as well as |
| set off the furniture. | | | | a kitchen, use an old oak table and wood chairs in the |
| "Woodsy outdoors" is the description for wood finishes | | | | kitchen. Try repeating some of the plaids or woodland |
| and paints in Rustic Cottage style. Colors must be | | | | patterns in tablecloths and napkins. |
| those found in nature: stony grays, mossy, leafy or | | | | Finally, put a couple of rocking chairs in front of the |
| grassy greens, browns like the bark of big trees or rich | | | | stone fireplace with its cedar mantelpiece. A bearskin |
| earth covered in fallen leaves. Accents should be in | | | | rug might not be possible, but a sheepskin area rug |
| autumn shades of gold, red, orange and rust. | | | | would be an excellent choice as well (and probably |
| And when it comes to textures, nothing should be | | | | lots softer on the feet!). Quilts on the beds, or quilts on |
| showroom-perfect. Wood paneling is fine, but make | | | | the walls as hangings, lamps made out wood, and |
| sure it's knotty pine or something that has a few | | | | some Adirondack chairs on the porch... what more |
| authentic imperfections. In fact, no surface should have | | | | relaxing atmosphere could you ask from your Rustic |
| a shiny finish. Keep the varnish on the woodwork | | | | Cottage home? |