Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Rustic country decor can be defined as coarse, charmingly simple, unfussy, unfinished and yet with endearing qualities. Rustic country decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Cottage style homes are comfortable, modest, quaint homes that can be made of thick stone or log wood.

Floors in rustic country decor and cottage style homes are made with stone or wood materials. Wooden floors were traditionally constructed with boards that were bare and simply waxed and hand-polished (high-gloss varnishes did not exist). Sometimes the boards were painted with light colors. If you like floor coverings, use oriental rugs and throws for visual warmth and color. Rustic country decor is about handcrafted objects, simplicity, furnishings that you enjoy and connecting back to nature.

Baskets can be used to store wood, pine cones, flowers, plants and needlework. Brass candle holders, oil or kerosene lamps, sconces, hurricane lamps, tin lanterns, recessed ceiling fixtures or a vintage wrought-iron or metal chandelier provide successful lighting for rustic country decor and cottage style homes. Colors used in rustic country decor or cottage style homes are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and greens.

For rustic country decor in the kitchen, use open shelves, hutches, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Often, country kitchen storage is crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron — cookware tends to be large and plain. Use open shelving in the rustic country kitchen to display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections. Natural woods, light colors and bright fabrics work great for window treatments. Adding a rustic butcher block island creates a wonderful visual effect as well as provides useful functionality.

A rustic country decor bathroom has neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting, and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity. Knowing how to decorate cottage style homes and bathrooms can result in creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country cabinets provide the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to spend time there. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower.

For shoppers looking for country decorating options, Timeless Country Decor should be your one and only destination. Their online store offers an enormous selection of primitive decor items perfectly suited for all your country home needs. Choose from roosters, hearts, stars and more at TimeLessCountryDecor.com to fully outfit your cottage.

Understanding how to decorate cottage style homes means including items like quilts, antique furniture or reproductions, flea-market pieces, trunks, chests, armoires, stenciling, wallpaper, adirondack chairs, flower wreaths and bistro chairs. These types of elements give cottage style homes the kind of rustic country decor that is simpler, very personal and warmly inviting.

Country art is one of styles of home decoration. The aim of country art is to make difference with many other styles of decoration. In most styles, art plays the part of accents, for instance. Country decor, however, is a style of simplicity. Art does not sit on the sidelines to the same degree as it does in most other styles. This is, of course, not to say that country decor lacks art. Quite to the contrary, in fact, there is a great abundance of country art. However, the art in country decor tends to be combined with other elements, it’s better than standing on its own.

This gives the entire style a kind of coherence that adds a lot to the feeling it gives to people. For instance, when one sees a room decorated in a modern style, it is often a bit difficult to put your finger on exactly what style it is. Country decor, however, is recognizable at a glance. This is due in part to the fact that nearly everyone knows how to recognize the country art that is almost universally imbedded in the style. The common threads of the art are as simple as the style as a whole is. Much of the art takes inspiration from nature, even as it uses almost universally natural media.

For instance, the most popular forms of country art are wood crafts. Wood carvings are an art form that has been around since man picked up his first tools, and it has certainly stood up well to its age. Much of the wood carving used in country decor is as a part of a larger piece. For instance, a chair might have an intricate design carved out of the wood. Similarly, other wooden items are often embellished by the use of carvings. When wood carvings are used on their own, they are often actually simpler than when they are part of a larger unit. The artistic style usually used in the depiction of a given subject (most often an animal of some variety) is generally quite simple. Simplicity, however, gives it a sense of elegance and raw connection with nature.

Another medium often used in country art (specifically in the subset of rustic art) is metal work. This is most often done in aluminum or tin, and is almost always part of a functional unit. This sort of work is often done on lanterns and lighting fixtures. The complexity of the work varies greatly, from simple patterns to more complex things, such as wildlife scenes depicted in silhouette against the glow of the lighting fixtures.

Similarly functional is the most widely known style of country art, namely quilts. Quilts are, obviously, quite useful on a cold night to take off the chill, but a good country quilt is also the best thing to liven up a room. Even when not in use, the patterns and colors of a quilt can work wonders for a room’s decor, particularly when other elements of country art and décor are arranged to coordinate with the elements of the quilt.

Nowadays, people more and more are lending their homes a country touch by adding sizeable pieces such as rustic furniture or smaller touches such as rustic bedding to their rooms. You can stop that and refer some sites on internet to receive many free rustic design tips.