katie.lacy@letsgetcoffee.co.uk, Author at Modish Living

10 Easy home refresh projects for a long weekend

10 easy home refresh projects for the Jubilee weekend blog

There is something about a bank holiday that drives people to try and do all of those garden, DIY, and home refresh projects that they have been putting off. Take a look at our list of 10 easy projects you may want to tackle during the Jubilee weekend.

1. Clean your kitchen cupboards

It’s one of those jobs that we put off all too often, but is greatly satisfying to undertake. So why not take some time to empty your cupboards, clean them and even make a list of things you want to use up. Check out This Girl Can Organise for some great tips.

2. Refresh your sofas

If your sofas are looking a little tired, then give them a new lease of life with some new covers for your cushions. This is a great time to try a new colour or pattern. If you are handy with a sewing machine, then you could make your own, but if you aren’t, then why not treat yourself to a shopping trip to purchase some.

3. Elevate your entrance

The entrance to your home is the first impression you give to your visitors, so give it a little bit of attention. Paint the front door, organise your hallway, and add a bench, some shoe storage, and some hooks for coats. Add a piece of rustic furniture to help break up a longer hallway, and if your hallway lacks natural light, a mirror can help to give the impression of light and space.

4. Jet wash your patio or balcony

Outside space is just as important as inside your home, especially if you are planning a get together over the Jubilee weekend. Give your patio or balcony a jet wash. Don’t forget to pay particular attention to your outdoor furniture, clean any cushions and give your outdoor dining table and chairs some love. A faux rattan garden set will need different maintenance than a wooden garden set, so check out our blog on how to make your outdoor furniture last longer for some handy tips.

5. Upcycle an old piece of furniture

If you have an older piece of furniture that is a little neglected, then consider upcycling it. With the right treatment, it could be something really special and a focal point in any room in your home. If you are looking for some inspiration, then our feature with Cornish Milk Mineral paints will give you some great tips. The reclaimed wood look is a great way of upcycling something that was previously used something else. Reclaimed wood furniture will fit well into any room in your home and complements most décor styles.

6. Re-organise your bookcase

Don’t neglect your bookshelves. Remove all of the books and give both the books and shelves a good clean to get rid of the dust. Consider getting rid of some books, particularly if your shelves are very full, as this can make them look overly cluttered. Try breaking up the items on your rustic bookcase by adding some house plants for texture and colour.

7. Clear out your wardrobe or chest of drawers

With a little careful planning, your bedroom storage can really be made to work for you. So, clear out your wooden wardrobe or chest of drawers and be ruthless. If it doesn’t fit or you haven’t worn something in over a year, then bag it up for the charity shop. Once you have removed a few items, you will find you have a lot more space, and this will make it easier to arrange everything. By putting things away, you will create a more spacious bedroom that will be more inviting and where you can relax properly.

8. Add a pop of unexpected colour

When it comes to decorating, you don’t have to paint an entire room to refresh it and create maximum impact. Consider adding a contrasting vibrant colour to one wall; this type of colour can work really well in a dining space and offset a reclaimed wood dining table very well. Remember, colour can be added in other ways; cushions or even a change of window dressing can completely change the look of a room for minimum effort.

9. Add panel to your walls

Panelling is a great way of achieving the modern rustic look and is surprisingly easy to do; it is now readily available in many of the bigger DIY stores. It is primed and ready to paint. You just need to stick it to the wall. If you want to add character to a new build, this is an easy way to do it, and when you combine it with rustic furniture, it can really change the look of a room.

Add some garden lighting

Finally, as we move into summer and hopefully those longer, warmer days and evenings, it’s great to spend as long as possible outside in the fresh air. Make the most of your garden in the evenings by adding some garden lighting; there are plenty of solar lighting options out there that are really easy to use. Don’t forget to add a garden armchair or sun lounger to create the perfect areas to relax in.

What jobs are you going to do this weekend? Check out our Ideas & Inspiration for more home trends and tips or to buy the look, visit us at Modish Living.

Best of British – get patriotic with Mayfair Reclaimed

beam industrial dining table for Best of British - get patriotic with Beam Reclaimed blog

Hip hip-hooray to an extra long royal weekend! With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee fast approaching and as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II gets ready to mark her 70-year reign, it’s certainly a moment to feel proud to be British. Whether you’re celebrating this joyous occasion by hosting afternoon tea or throwing a patriotic picnic, before you break out the bunting why not take a look at our beautiful and British made reclaimed wood furniture. Handmade by highly skilled craftsmen here in Britain, by buying Reclaimed you’ll be supporting our very own craftspeople, whilst investing back into our economy.

We don’t often like to pick favourites, but read on to see which pieces from our Reclaimed Wood collection really do take the crown.

Mayfair Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

If you’re looking for a dining table that’s bursting with natural features but also has that refined ‘London look’, look no further. Our Mayfair Reclaimed Wood Dining Table is perfect for city loft-style lovers wanting to add a little character and charm back into their space. The combination of solid black steel legs, which add an unfinished industrial edge, and the rugged wood top full of comfort and warmth, this dining table really something special. If you have an awkward shaped space or a smaller dining area, don’t fear, you’ll be happy to know all of our Beam range is made to order, so we can customise your furniture to fit your needs.

Eastwood Rustic Oak Dining Table

The design of this classic and rustic reclaimed wood dining table features a thick, chunky wood top and sturdy legs to last for years of good times and memories.

Winchester Reclaimed Wood Bed

The solid wood bed frame boasts a contemporary cool look which is great for adding a little style to traditional bedrooms. Looks aside, the design incorporates handy and essential storage with a handy underneath drawer to keep things neat and tidy. Truly fit for a king, or queen, the Buckingham bed will reign in your home for years to come.

Winchester Reclaimed Wood Large Chest of Drawers

Complete your cosy bedroom and clear the clutter with a matching chest of drawers crafted in reclaimed wood. We love how visible all the knots and markings are in the wood, giving the rustic chest of drawers a natural and authentic look.

House tour: A rustic beach cottage in Cornwall

Sarah Jane of Just a Little Build at Leat House in Cornwall

This slice of Cornish history embodies the very essence of coastal living, with original flagstone floors and thick local slate walls, the light and airy interior creates a cottage that’s picture-perfect from inside out.

Step inside

Set on a cobbled lane down to the sea in the tiny hamlet of Port Gaverne on Cornwall’s North Coast, Leat House is a wonderful 200-year-old coastal cottage and handiwork of the talented dynamo, Sarah-Jane, creator of Just a Little Build and Instagram account @justalittlebuild. With stunning uninterrupted views of the beach, sea and sheltered rugged cliffs, Sarah-Jane has turned this four-bedroom, two living room, dining room and two bathroom holiday cottage into a wonderfully welcoming space that feels fresh and modern whilst retaining the cottage’s original charm. Rustic furniture complement the painted panelled walls, original flagstone floors and neutral-toned interiors to create a space where visitors can surrender to the call of the sea and let the salty relaxed vibe get under their skin.

Living Areas

Brimming with Cornish character, Leat House has two living spaces both of which strike the perfect balance between bright coastal style and a sense of cosiness. A stylish neutral palette runs through both rooms on the walls and windows with subtle accents of pattern, texture and colour bringing warmth to the spaces. The thick original flagstone floor in the more casual of the two rooms is softened by a natural jute rug and a squid ink blue velvet sofa, whilst in the more formal reception room, Sarah-Jane opted for a light carpeted floor and muted rug. A mixture of blue velvet and light tan leather sofas allows for the delightful large bay window with views of the bay to take centre stage in this room, whilst rustic furniture such as a rustic coffee table adds natural texture.

Dining room and kitchen

Sarah-Jane continues the neutral tones with soft blue and grey accents in the kitchen and dining areas. The beautiful rustic dining table and grey painted wooden dining chairs with spindle back sit comfortably on the flagstone floor, whilst a blue wooden dresser with metal detailing gives a classic country cottage mood, not to mention handy storage. In the kitchen, the neutral colour scheme extends to the painted cupboards, we love the Aga and the small painted breakfast table with rustic stools and built-in seating in the bay window – the ideal sunny spot for a morning coffee whilst looking out to the sea. Blue furnishings and plants bring added colour and a contemporary feel to the room.

Bedrooms

The relaxed coastal vibe and muted colour scheme continue upstairs in the four bedrooms. Rustic influences include exposed wooden beams and painted wood panelling on accent walls throughout, together with furniture, such as a wooden bench at the end of the king-size bed in the master bedroom (perfect for perching to admire the magnificent views of the crashing Atlantic waves from the window), a rustic chest of drawers and painted wooden chest of drawers. All bedrooms are good sized doubles, with two benefiting from zip and link beds, making them ideal for family sharing rooms.

If you’d like to stay at Leat House, check out the website leathouse.com for more information and check prices and availability.

Loved this?

If you’ve enjoyed reading this, check out more from Our Friends to discover tips and inspiration to create a home you love, including Maxine Brady’s insta-worthy home and a house tour around a modern farmhouse retreat.

Top 1950’s interior style and design trends

Interior design trends in the 1950s

As we celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, let us take a look back at the interior design trends that were in fashion when the Queen came to the throne in 1952, and find out which of these trends we are still lusting after today.

1. Revived modernism

The style of the 50’s – often referred to as “revived modernism” – is a continuation of the modernist style that began just before the Second World War and is currently a very on-trend style today. The impact of WWII, when 1 in 3 homes in the UK was damaged and around half a million homes were completely destroyed, was hugely significant to the style. The need to mass-produce, and quickly, in order to replace everything, led to this austere, simple and mid-century modern trend in furniture design. Rebuilt housing was smaller and more utilitarian, ceilings lower and windows smaller, and the furniture needed to be simpler and smaller in order to fit.

Big design names of the time include Ercol and G-Plan. Their designs offered simple, more organic shapes with splayed feet and legs to items like their wooden sideboard, and of course their famous chairs. They also featured easy to clean surfaces and rounded ergonomic shapes.

2. Scandinavian influence

The styles of the period were heavily influenced by Scandinavian furniture; simple, and lighter woods like birch, beech and ash were used, and in order to appeal to the UK, market items were also created using darker woods. This mid-century modern furniture was designed to be completely practical, and make rooms look less cluttered. The Scandi look remains hugely popular today and whilst simplicity and minimalism is still at its heart, it has a softer edge with more of an emphasis on natural tactile materials, such as reclaimed wood.

3. Fabrics

The war was over, but shortages were still very much in place. Textiles used in the mid-50’s were inspired by the emerging Pop Art scene of the time. These were bright, optimistic designs that added huge “pops” of colour to people’s homes (and lives) through the use of designs based on organic shapes and stylised images of normal items. Bold yellows and green, mixed with greys, bright reds and pale blue were all the rage – something we are inviting back in to our home today. A brightly coloured accent armchair is a wonderful way to add warmth, personality and personal style to a room.

4. American retro influence

Towards the end of the 1950’s, future space travel and particularly American culture and the Rock and Roll world of Elvis Presley were significant influences in both fashion and interiors. This look brought chequerboard floors, kitsch touches and colours in bubble-gum hues. Whilst this may not be a look that appeals to everyone, we do still use influences from this trend with a revival of American diner-style seating, benches and wooden dining tables that are now a commonplace design feature in modern dining spaces. Towards the end of this decade we also saw an increase in mass production of items, such as furniture as the new age of consumerism emerged.

Get the look

Whether you lean towards the 1950’s style or not, there are lots of modern furniture with a mid-century vibe that emulates this look, but that also perfectly fit into other interior schemes, be that rustic, modern or traditional. Mango wood furniture has a fantastic golden tone that makes it the perfect choice for mid-century design. The Eastwood Rustic Oak and the Farnham living rooms pieces are perfect examples of furniture that would fit the look and don’t forget to check out the Mitcham Industrial Oak collection. Whether you are looking for a mid-century sideboard or a solid wood coffee table, these collections are the perfect example of mid-century design, brought in to the modern age. Will you bring this look into your home?

Check out our Ideas & Inspiration for more home trends and tips or to buy the look, visit us at Modish Living.

Platinum Jubilee garden party ideas

2022 marks a very important celebration for the British monarchy, the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. She is the first British monarch to have reached the incredible milestone of 70 years on the throne and to celebrate, many of us will have an extra-long weekend with the Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd June official bank holidays. It is anticipated that approximately 10 million Brits will get getting together with friends and neighbours, for garden and street parties in honour of her Majesty. With this in mind, if you’re planning on celebrating over the Jubilee weekend, here are some top garden party ideas to help your festivities get the royal seal of approval.

Decorating your space

In terms of a colour scheme for your decorations, it has to be red, white and blue. Bunting, streamers and union jack flags make a great starting point. If you prefer something a little different then think floral; blue delphiniums, white peonies and red roses, there are plenty of different flowers in these hues that you could opt for. Floral arrangements in small vases would look particularly attractive on a teak garden table.

Don’t forget to decorate your rattan outdoor furniture as well – cover your rattan garden set or garden armchair with throws and cushions in Jubilee colours. You can also scatter picnic blankets and floor cushions on the lawn to bring some patriotic colour to the garden, not to mention extra seating for guests.

Ideas for decorating tables

Before you can begin to decorate it is important to take a look at what you have to work with. If your outside table and chairs are not up to scratch, then there are a couple of alternatives. You can use a trestle table and cover it with a tablecloth to complement your colour scheme, alternatively why not bring your rustic dining table outside and use that instead. Add touches of colour to your table with some vibrant coloured crockery that matches your colour scheme – you don’t need everything to match, think about using white for your plates with touches of red and blue to make your table really “pop.”

Lighting and Heating

Whilst everyone will be hoping for some glorious summer weather, there is a good chance we might be in for chillier climes – we are talking about the great British weather, after all – so be prepared. If you don’t have a patio heater or a chiminea then see if you can borrow one from a friend. Make sure you also have plenty of blankets and throws to offer guests if it gets cooler, especially at night. Bring a wooden blanket box outside and fill it with blankets and jumpers to have in the garden, ready for if the temperature drops.

Solar lighting is an excellent way of illuminating your garden if you want to carry your party on into the evening or stock up on candles, lanterns and fairy lights to give your garden a magical glow at night.

Food and drink ideas

When it comes to the type of food you want to serve this will depend on they type of party you are planning. An afternoon tea get together serving quintessential cucumber sandwiches, scones and jam and a royal Victoria Sponge is a lovely way to celebrate – don’t forget to use your finest china from your dresser and a crisp white tablecloth. For a more casual gathering, a picnic, BBQ or even a buffet is fun. How more British can you get having a BBQ in the rain! With any luck, it won’t rain, but if you are catering for a crowd, it’s a good idea to pre-cook some of your meats and vegetables before and then finish them on the barbecue to get the lovely chargrilled taste. The key to successfully catering for any type of event is to plan everything well in advance and keep things simple so that you can enjoy yourself.

For drinks, Pimms and Gin and Tonic spring to mind as a typically royal tipple to serve – it is believed the Queen’s favourite drink is Dubonnet and Gin. You can also make non-alcoholic punches for children and designated drivers. Pop them on an outdoor drinks trolley and let guests help themselves.

Ideas for games

Don’t forget to organise some games for the kids, and the big kids. Sack races, pin the crown on the Queen and games like a tug of war are great outdoor activities that will work well at a garden party. You don’t need much in the way of equipment, just some sacks, a rope and plenty of willing volunteers.

Ultimately, the day is all about having fun with friends and family, so make sure there’s plenty of food, drinks and somewhere for everyone to sit, and you’re sure to have a wonderful time.

For more outdoor inspiration see our garden blogs or for furniture ideas, visit our luxury outdoor furniture collection.

What colours go best with industrial design

When you envision industrial design, what do you see? You may instantly think of old factory spaces and abandoned buildings with stripped back walls and exposed duct pipes. Well, you wouldn’t be far wrong, because that’s exactly where the interior style evolved from. Over time, the industrial design has evolved from its historical roots and old world charm to today’s more modern expression, making it the most versatile and adaptable trend for your home. Whether you prefer light and airy pastels, or earthy and nature-inspired colour schemes, you can now add a contemporary and cool feel to almost any space with some industrial furniture and our top styling tips.

Back to basics

For a more traditional and classic approach to the industrial style, sharp contrasts between black and white interiors pair well with the edginess and rawness of industrial furniture. In your home office, an industrial style desk looks fantastic with this sophisticated colour palette, where the simplicity allows the space to feel modern, but also creates a clear and calming environment for you to work in. The Standford Industrial Wood Desk will add a little style to your 9 to 5 and the sturdy design will also leave you spoilt for storage space. Hang a large black steel clock on the wall or add some metal shelves to complete your sleek study. This minimalistic style also looks great in other rooms, including bathrooms to give them a fresh and functional feel.

Dark and moody

If you are drawn to a more moody industrial vibe, a dark interior will appeal to your sense of style. Darker colour schemes such as rich dusty blues with an exposed brick wall create an on-trend canvas for you to work with. Lighting within this type of room is key as it’s important to keep the room well lit to avoid a dingy feeling. For your living room, consider a vintage-style black steel chandelier to add immediate drama or pendant style lighting for a casual feel. In the centre of your space, a nest of tables or an industrial coffee table will create an interesting focal point. Our Derby Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table boasts a trendy look with its weathered repurposed wood top and slim black steel base, which will complement your dark industrial interior effortlessly.

Back to the roots

Earthy and nature-inspired colour schemes work exceptionally well with the industrial style. Olive green, brown or deep taupe open plan kitchens pair perfectly with a reclaimed wood industrial dining table, the combination of recycled materials harmonise seamlessly with the natural interior. Pair with our Standford tan leather dining chairs to give more texture to your space and complete the raw and authentic feel of your industrial dining set. For a more subtle take on the trend, opt for hardened black metal utensil storage, reclaimed shelves or a wine cooler for an impressive and eye-catching feature.

Pretty pastels

Not all industrial design spaces need to feel unfinished, delicate and subdued pastels provide a perfect backdrop for a contemporary scheme when layered with industrial details. Pale and pretty pastels such as powder pink tiles in your kitchen or bathroom paired with black metal taps or towel rails create a softened take on the industrial style. If you want to embrace the style in your bedroom, complement industrial features with layers of soft and muted textures and tones to create the bedroom of your dreams. Loft style rustic bedroom furniture can be styled with a variety of pastel hues within your bedding to dress down the heaviness of the wood and achieve a more feminine take on the trend. Finish with grey or black metal storage baskets or duct pipe clothes rails to style the pastels of your choice.

Enjoyed this? Check-out our ideas and inspiration for more home styling advice.

Lofty living room ideas: how to get the industrial style

Industrial interior design can often be described as the type of style that chooses function over form, whilst embracing the characteristics of those materials that may well be used to create buildings. Bricks, exposed and untreated timbers, steel – these are all elements of a building that would normally be hidden away as part of a design, but with industrial design, it’s about showing these off.

Let’s take a look at how versatile the style can be to inspire you to create your own industrial scheme living room that will work with other styles to create a truly stunning room.

Keeping The Classic Industrial Style

A classic industrial look is one that uses bare bricks or concrete walls, with reclaimed wood furniture and black steel accents – this look works best in a modern warehouse conversion apartment. It’s a strong look but can easily be softened in order to make it fit in any style of living space. Consider utilising brown leather sofas and other soft textures like rugs and cushions to help break the hard lines and surfaces and soften the overlook aesthetic.

Make It Mid-Century Industrial

This style is typified by blocks, sharp angles and coated steel along with pops of colour. Industrial furniture that works well in a mid-century style industrial living room includes those with a strong presence of steel and uniform lines. The block wooden front of the Mitcham Large Oak Squared Industrial Sideboard is a great choice for incorporating this style.

Bring In Bohemian Industrial

If you favour a monochrome palette then this is the industrial style for you. The look is based around the use of mostly black and white with natural textures, including linen, rope, leather and natural wood bringing a tactile side. An industrial sideboard like the Kingsbridge Industrial Oak Reclaimed Sideboard or an industrial shelving unit such as the Standford Industrial Bookcase are great examples of natural wood, with plenty of character, and black steel detailing that would work really well.

Keep It Cosy With Rustic Industrial

Whilst it may seem unusual to see rustic and industrial matched together in this way, this style is a comforting one that offers a cosy combination of the two styles in a perfect pairing. It keeps the rustic look modern, whilst the exposed wood is a obvious element of industrial furniture. A comfortable tan leather sofa sitting alongside a Derby Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table is the perfect typification of this style. A rustic sideboard would also be a great addition to a rustic industrial living room.

Pioneer Pretty Pastel Industrial

Whilst the key components of industrial interior design include those elements such as brick and metal that may seem harsh and masculine, using a pastel palette can really help to soften the look. A tan leather sofa rather than something in a darker shade makes the perfect seating choice and opt for accessories in pastel shades to break up the look of your industrial style furniture.

Bring In The Outdoors With Natural Industrial

This final form of industrial interior design brings together two styles that may appear to be polar opposites, however the two in fact go incredibly well together. The Ironbridge Industrial Reclaimed Wood TV unit is a seamless combination of reclaimed wood with all the character of wood exposed and celebrated and cool black steel – nature and industrial in one seemingly industrial tv stand. Bring in plant life and foliage to capture the natural mood further and contrast against the metal and wood.

Hopefully, we’ve now offered some insight into the ways you can bring industrial style to your living room. Which way will you choose to go with it? Don’t forget to visit our Ideas and Inspiration for more great ways to improve your home. Or sign-up to our newsletter below and get a weekly dose of inspiration to your inbox.

5 of our best industrial dining tables and chairs

Industrial interior design, and more specifically industrial furniture, is a trend that has been growing over the years and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. While it is a very popular choice for many rooms in the home, it is the dining space where the industrial interior scheme can really come through in so many ways.

What is industrial design?

Industrial style furniture is a concept that is inspired by the robust nature of the materials and machinery that are normally associated with a warehouse or factory. The look is all about the raw materials that are used, with metals and rustic wood featuring heavily alongside neutral colours and robust features.

1. Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Whether you are looking for a fixed top or extendable dining table, the Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Table is a fantastic choice that is full of character and our bestselling industrial dining table. The distressed black steel legs make this table the perfect complement to any modern interior. This table is stunning when paired with wooden dining chairs and matching industrial dining benches.

2. Farnham Sustainable Mango Wood Dining Table

This industrial dining table is the perfect combination of richly coloured sustainable Mango wood and stunning three-point slim brass strip legs. The Farnham Sustainable Mango Wood Dining Table is an incredibly stylish table that pairs really well with fabric dining chairs like the beautiful Gillian Teal Velvet Dining Chairs.

3. Ironbridge Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining table

It isn’t difficult to see why the Ironbridge Industrial Reclaimed Wood Dining Table is a popular choice of industrial style dining table. This robust reclaimed wood dining table is not only sturdy, but features all of those characteristics of reclaimed wood that make it unique. The black steel spider legs are a clever design feature that makes this table ideal for seating larger numbers. This table pairs really well with the Cleo faux leather dining chairs, which come in both grey and tan.

4. Mitcham Industrial Oak Spider Leg Dining Table

The central black spider leg of the Mitcham Industrial Oak Spider Leg Dining Table is a really eye-catching feature that makes this table stand out. It is a great choice for those who love to entertain, allowing easy sitting with no awkward table legs to get in the way. The Standford brown leather dining chairs are modern dining chairs that pair really nicely with this contemporary industrial table.

5. Picasso Industrial Oak Dining Table

If a rustic dining table is what you are looking for then the Picasso Industrial Oak Dining Table is a perfect choice. The angled black steel legs give this table a contemporary industrial twist. Faux leather dining chairs like the Martin Faux Leather Dining Chairs which come in grey or brown make a great match.

Remember when you purchase a dining table from Modish Living, we also offer a 10% discount on dining chairs that are purchased at the same time. This is the best way to purchase a dining table and helps to ensure that the chairs you choose will be the perfect partnership.

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What are the differences between rustic and farmhouse?

Farringdon Reclaimed wood extendable trestle table

Are you confused at the difference between rustic and farmhouse interior styles? Rustic furniture and farmhouse furniture are the same, right? Well, not entirely. There are similarities between the two styles, both have a warm and welcoming feel to them, but there are distinct differences as well. We take a closer look to help you decide whether you’re wanting to create a farmhouse look or rustic style in your home.

The Rustic Style

Both the rustic and farmhouse styles were borne out of rural life, so it makes sense that both have strong natural influences. Wood was the material of choice many years ago and in plentiful supply, so it features heavily in both styles. However, if you want to achieve the rustic look, these are the key elements you need to incorporate into your design to differentiate it from farmhouse:

Rustic furniture tends to be ‘rougher’, retaining a more natural finish and letting the raw beauty of the wood shine through.
Both styles honour the grain of the wood, its pitting, splits and marks, but the rustic style makes a feature of these qualities and accentuates them further in its finish and design.

Key pieces of furniture such as a rustic dining table or rustic styled solid wood bed should be crafted from ‘knotty’ woods with curves, bends and irregularities that give it natural character.
Wood in a rustic style room or home is left very much in its original state, but can also be distressed further, ensuring that as a piece it continues to tell its story. As a result, you can expect to see a solid wood bed frame or a rustic sideboard made from reclaimed wood such as a reclaimed wood rustic dining table.

This brings us nicely onto reclaimed wood, which is a common feature in both styles, but especially rustic. The history, character and abundance of features visible in reclaimed wood furniture sits with the rustic style seamlessly.
Overall the wood used is thicker and chunkier, with solid wide cuts used to create bespoke rustic style furniture.
Finally, the joints in rustic styled pieces tend to be chunkier as well or made using natural materials, but always still finished to a high standard.

Colours for the rustic style

The colour within a rustic interior scheme tends to be a mixture of a neutral palette to allow the rustic furniture to stand out or strong and natural earthy tones – soft browns and rusty orange for example – that are grounding, organic and inherently warm.

Accessories reflect the simple yet elegant, natural yet comfortable rustic style too. Choose pieces created by local artisan crafters, with pottery and naturally woven textiles perfect for finishing the scheme.

The Farmhouse Style

The farmhouse look is equally as appealing and has a comforting and unpretentious feel to it, but if there is one obvious difference, it is the subtle rounding and polishing of the finish that features in the farmhouse style and farmhouse furniture.

Farmhouse decor relies on natural materials and more specifically, wood, but rather than leaving the wood in its natural state, it takes a different approach by adding a more refined finish.
The cut of the wood is often machine cut and not rough-swan for a smoother finish.
The finish in farmhouse furniture, such as a farmhouse dining table, is often polished, stained or in many cases, painted. The natural grain of the wood is still visible, but it has been given a more elegant aesthetic.

There is a traditional appeal to the farmhouse look, with many homes featuring painted furniture in a whitewashed or cream finish. No farmhouse kitchen is complete without a farmhouse kitchen table or small round dining table with a white painted leg, and to create a farmhouse style living room, a large white painted sideboard oozes instant farmhouse charm.

Finally, the farmhouse style has a more rounded shape to its furniture, together with a great emphasis on the detailing. For example, a typical farmhouse table may feature trestle style legs or a thick-set monastery leg for a more imposing statement. A round kitchen table in a farmhouse style home would almost definitely feature a curved pedestal leg, perfect for family suppers.

Colours for the farmhouse style

For colours, choose light, pretty tones such as light blue. sage green and neutral beige, or opt for more flower-inspired shades reflective of a cottage garden – cherry reds or sunshine yellow will brighten-up a room beautifully.

Accessories are stylish and functional, taking the best of not only local artisans, but national crafts too. Adding a hint of French style and interior design works well with the farmhouse style and appeal; the details found in French furniture work well in any room in the home, but especially in a farmhouse styled dining room.

This is our take on the differences between Rustic and Farmhouse styles, we hope it’s helped you decide what style is best for you. What style would you choose? We would love to hear from you!