Category: kitchen

How would you describe rustic furniture?

Doset Reclaimed Wood dining table with wooden dining bench white

Whether you enjoy cosy nights in by the fire or hosting dinner parties with delicious food, rustic furniture can complement a lot of lifestyles. Rustic interior design is all about personality, giving your home that unique feel and character. Filling your home with rustic charm, whether that’s dark rustic furniture or a more lighter variety, can create a warm, welcoming space that you can’t wait to get back to after a long day.

What is rustic furniture?

At the heart of shabby chic or vintage style, is rustic furniture. The interior design industry is abundant with reclaimed wood, handmade furniture, upcycled, recycled furnishings and distressed décor. This can sometimes mean dark rustic furniture made with reclaimed wood giving an air of old age, mystery and character.

But handmade and hand finished rustic furniture doesn’t have to be dark and enigmatic to ooze character and charm. Some of the most stylish pieces and most rustic interior design trends can be finished in lighter shades of wood, paint and varnish.

Whether you opt for light or dark rustic furniture depends on your taste. Light and dark furniture both work well no matter the style of your home. Edging towards lighter shades of reclaimed wood furniture such as those in our Worcester Reclaimed Wood collection will make furnishing the rest of the room a lot easier as you can mix and match fabric and finishes more easily and create a more peaceful, tranquil feel.

Rustic Colours

Light rustic furniture finished in subtle whitewash finish, pewter and grey-green gives your space a sense of clean and fresh living, while retaining the rustic eccentricity we love so much. Country cottage style homes really thrive when filled with charming pieces of rustic furniture to create casual, relaxed beauty. The best way to fully appreciate light wood and neutral colours is to paint your space as a blank canvas; off white walls ensure that light rustic reclaimed wood and all those textures really stand out.

Combining whites and slightly darker earthy shades to complement each other really brings a sense of character and individuality to a space, and gives your home that rustic shabby chic vibe. Blending white or neutral shades with exposed reclaimed wood means you get the best of both worlds – clean and calm, yet rustic and warm.

Picking the Right Furniture for your Space

A reclaimed wood sideboard finished in off white with exposed wood tops is the perfect addition to your country kitchen. It not only provides functional storage space, but it can be home to all your favourite knick-knacks, much loved family photos, along with a great place to display special souvenirs picked up while on holiday in far-flung places – or even the local seaside town!

Choosing the right furniture for your space is very important, but it’s not the only element that gives you a home that rustic chic appearance. Complement your rustic furniture with soft textures and textiles, such as rugs and cushions, and other tactile touches. Playing around with harmonious shades and colours will not deter from the rustic charm of reclaimed wood furniture, but balance the space and enthuse your home with a sumptuous, cosy mood.

What Makes the Contemporary Furniture Style a Great Design

What Makes The Contemporary Style So Great - Modish Living

Contemporary style is more than just design; it’s a way of living. We have seen a rise in the use of contemporary interior design combining both form and function as we as a society lead busier and more stressful lives. Contemporary furniture design does away with over complicated and over the top style by stripping back on non-essentials and embracing smart technology.

Hudson Living Kielder Oak Dining Set Bench

Contemporary interior design combines architecture, décor and best furniture designs to make one seamless style, which at first glance is almost too cool for most households, or in a lot of cases too daunting to embark upon. However, contemporary style doesn’t have to be out of reach in any home. Here, we explain the main elements of contemporary style and reveal how to create your ultra modern living space without adding any extra stress to your busy life!

Clean Lines

The kitchen and bathroom in a contemporary home scream clean lines and sleek finishes. These are usually finished all in one or two colours, with a statement piece here and there to avoid feeling clinical. There are no unnecessary knick-knacks or junk – this only complicates your space and contradicts what contemporary style encompasses.

Bold Colours

Hudson Living Kielder Oak Chest of Drawers

Contemporary spaces mean you can be brave with your colour choices – think black and lime green, white and pink, even on black or dark blue wall with contrasting gold or copper light fixtures. This can help you create a statement and warmth in your home without having to deal with overcomplicated, cluttered spaces. Block colours and bold patterns as opposed to intricate, busy designs, promote a calmer, clearer environment – somewhere you’d like to be after a busy day.

Contemporary Art

Every home needs art and contemporary clutter-free spaces are no different. Think statement art on the walls or modern picture rails. Choosing the right kind of art for your taste and your home can be tricky – remember to keep things simple with bold modern pieces. If your space is neutral then don’t be afraid to explore and experiment with colourful modern pieces as long as they don’t overcomplicate the room.

Scale & Proportion

Hudson Living Kielder Oak Coffee Table

Contemporary style works best when you pick the right accessories to complement your minimalist space. The most effective way to create interest without clutter is to play about with scale and proportion of objects. Over-sized light shades on pendants, over-sized lamps on side tables and large pieces of artwork can all make a big impact. But it isn’t just large pieces that transform a room – smaller details also add variety and interest. Small lighting fixtures like single bulbs work well in contrast with a high ceiling; and low coffee tables make an interesting distinction between pieces of furniture in your living room.

Latest Materials/Materials Mix

Contemporary design also means using new materials – usually cutting edge, eco-friendly or recycled. Yes, contemporary style is all about being modern, but it is also about reinventing something and making it works for our modern lives.

Reworked Classical Furniture

Reinventing old classic furniture could mean giving your much loved armchair a complete revamp, but remember to stay clear of rustic or shabby chic, and keep things simple with neat, seamless spray paint and new, modern upholstery. Or if DIY isn’t your thing, you can add contemporary remakes of classical furniture.

If you’re looking to bring contemporary furniture style to your space, it doesn’t have to be too difficult. Simply take not of the tips above, and start with one room at a time, decluttering as you go to create a home that is completely at one with your contemporary life.