When decorating in the country style, we emphasize three words that should be your visitor’s first impression of your home: simple, comfy, and warm. While it seems well-defined by these three words, country style can actually refer to three distinct styles: American country style, English country style, and French or Provence country style.
The cottage chic, rustic style of American country is probably the one we are most familiar with. Dominant color palettes you can consider for wall paint, area rugs and furniture are blues, greens, yellows, and rose (pink with grayish tint). Fabrics and upholstery with plaids and floral patterns are also popular but within the restrictions of the color palette above. Finished and unfinished pine works well in this country-style since it is light and airy while other pieces should look distressed or antique-like. Meanwhile, wooden décor, milk cans, and glass oil lamps accessorize the room and bring to life simpler times.
English country style replicates the simple English countryside life. It involves a lot of fine details that might seem busy. English country style put to use a lot of patterns. However, these patterns still need to mingle harmoniously. If you love knick-knacks then this is the style for you since it encourages showing off collections on tables, mantles, and other nooks and crannies in your home, including built-in bookcases.
Whitewashed or plaster walls are commonplace along with deep colored stonework touches here and there. For example, the stone fireplace, the heart of the English country home can feature a mantle full of framed photographs and souvenirs from your travels.
French Provence country style, on the other hand, recalls the Southern region of the French countryside, using blues, greens, and yellows alongside splashes of red. Terracotta floors add drama to plain plaster or stone walls and can be customized with tiles in a variety of colors.
Meanwhile, straw or grass-made furnishings can be used along with dark, reddish woods like painted walnut and cherry.
Of course, the heart of the French country style is the kitchen. Here, you can show off your copper pots and pans while a window nook for herbs contributes to the provincial atmosphere.
When choosing which county style fits you, you should consider the rest of your environment, especially the architecture of your home and what style fits.
Hickory Furniture Mart is home to manufacturers covering all country styles. Now that we’ve detailed different styles of country decorating, which one suits your home? What feelings do you want to evoke by using the country style in your decorating?