rustic Archives - Page 5 of 45

How to create a rustic family dining space

This week we have been exploring how to make spaces at home a little more rustic, in this blog, we are looking at the dining space and easy ways to bring in some rustic warmth ready for the coming cooler months. The dining area is one of those spaces that will be used for quick midweek dinners as well as more formal occasions – so it is good to remember this when choosing how to decorate and furnish this space. Remember to take into account who will usually be dining at the table – a rustic wood dining table is a great family choice as it will already have stunning natural marks and undulations on it….which will help to disguise any additional ones made during day to day use! Being solid wood, a reclaimed dining table is also much easier to repair by furniture technicians.

The dining room

There is a huge array of rustic furniture available these days giving you plenty of scope to create a basic rustic dining room or to elevate your room to an eclectic blend of rustic and modern – a rustic dining table crafted from reclaimed wood would look great in either.

To keep it simple opt for a minimalist style table and wooden dining bench and if you want to blend rustic and modern you can pair this very same table with a plush velvet bench, velvet chairs or more modern faux leather dining chairs.

Adding a rustic sideboard allows you to bring in another element of cosy rustic to really reinforce the theme…. this also gives you ample storage opportunities for your serving dishes and table linen…. saving your room from getting cluttered and unruly!

A ‘faded look’ rug under the dining table and chairs will bring in extra rustic warmth and will anchor it in the room – it will also help to zone the area – this would also work in a combined dining and living space.

A fire place is not just for the living room – if you have a fireplace in your dining space then make the most of it – you can also add wood cladding for extra warmth and make the most of any exposed brick, stone or beams.

Dining area in the kitchen

If your dining space is within your kitchen then you just as many opportunities to bring in some cosy rustic elements. Rustic and farmhouse just belong together, so if you are lucky enough to have a farm-style house then you can go to town and bring in a butchers block instead of larger a rustic sideboard – a kitchen dresser is a classic piece of farmhouse furniture offering ample of storage and usually open shelving at the top to show off your more decorative crockery.

A breakfast bar or bar table is another feature in the kitchen that you can give a touch of rustic . The Dorset kitchen stools with backs look great at a breakfast bar – hang pendant lighting above the breakfast bar produced from a natural material like rattan or wicker.

Create a warm and cosy living room for autumn

a rustic living room full of autumn warmth

The living room is one of those places that we like to feel safe, warm and cosy – the rustic style lends itself to this perfectly. Of course, rustic furniture will help set a theme but there are many other little things you can do to bring in a warm and cosy feeling as the nights get longer and colder.

The walls and ceiling

Make the most of any features you may already have in the room. Accentuate ceiling beams with clever lighting. If you have an alcove area by a fireplace then consider a rustic bookcase for your book collection or simply use it for showing off your favourite decorative pieces. Wooden wall cladding is also an option, you can go halfway up the wall all fill the entire walls – natural wood is always a good bet to warm up the room.

The floor

Rugs are the way to go if you want to cosy up a floor! Have a go at layering rugs on a wood or stone floor – not only will this bring in extra insulation but it looks great too. Start off with a large plain floor rug – a natural jute rug is perfect for this and then add one or more smaller rugs over the top. You can also use rugs in this way to zone your room and draw the eye to any features you want to highlight.

The fireplace

A fireplace is undoubtedly one of the most warming and cosy features you can have in a living room – make it a standout feature! If you are lucky enough to have an open fireplace then dress it up – paint the chimney breast a bolder colour or clad it in stone. Stand a basket of logs near it and of course put a rug in front of it – add one or two fabric armchairs to the sides for an instant cosy feel when you enter the room. If you prefer not to have an open fire in your house then consider a wood burner with a glass door and if that doesn’t work for you maybe an electric one will – there are so many choices out there now!

The furniture

Think about rearranging the furniture in your room to make it more cosy by pulling the leather couch up closer to the fireplace. Warm up a tan leather sofa with a selection of scatter cushions and throws, use warm colours like orange, red and burgundy in heavier fabrics like corduroy, tweed, velvet, wool and faux fur. A rustic TV stand, coffee table or wooden sideboard that has been produced from reclaimed wood will bring another homely and earthy element to the room.

The finishing touches

Dim lighting is another quick trick to creating a cosy room. If you don’t have dimmer switches then bring in a floor or table lamp. Fairy lights around pictures or mirrors are soothing and flickering candlelight is also an option. As we are talking about the senses you can also consider scented candles or use a diffuser to bring in a cosy autumnal or winter scent.

What do you add to give your living room a cosy feel for autumn? Leave a comment below and share your ideas.

Everything you need to know about rustic style

Rustic style is here to stay and is the type of interior scheme that evolves with time and will never go out of fashion. It incorporates casual, natural, rugged, rough and aged elements which can be influenced by styles originating anywhere from a Tuscan farmhouse or Gothic castle to a beach house on the English coast. The beauty of the rustic style is that nothing should be new and perfect looking! Rustic style suits farmhouses and country cottages but it can also work in the newer home by adding in character and rustic features. In this blog, we look at some key elements to embrace a rustic look in your home.

Wood

Wood is the main element when it comes to creating a rustic interior. Especially reclaimed wood – it tells a story, it gives texture to your room as well as history and individuality. If you have a wood floor you can sand and stain it, or look at installing a wooden floor – there are many different types and styles to suit your home. Whether you opt for antique furniture pieces, upcycled items or reclaimed furniture, the addition of wooden pieces will bring in bundles of rustic charm. A great example of this is the Chelwood Reclaimed Wood rustic coffee table and side table below – it’s the perfect addition to a living room bringing with it style as well as some handy living room storage.

Natural elements

Accentuate any natural features you have in your home, such as exposed beams, natural brick walls, stone floors or an open fireplace. You can also bring in other natural rustic elements in the form of houseplants in wicker baskets or old metal buckets. Something as simple as a dried flower display on a farmhouse table or kitchen sideboard will help give a warm rustic vibe to your dining space.

Textured and organic textiles

You can bring in a variety of textiles when accessorising your room. Natural fabrics in neutral or muted colours work best. Mix textures, for example, a selection of scatter cushions and sofa throws in different fabrics on your sofa, a floor rug or curtains in natural cotton or linen for the windows. Leather chairs add another natural element to the space, tapestry is also a top choice when it comes to a rustic interior.

Metal

Shiny metal gives a room a touch of glamour and bling, so for a rustic look you want to be introducing burnished metals. Matt black hinges and door furniture and furniture with an industrial element add a whole bunch of rustic charm. The Standford reclaimed dining table makes the perfect centrepiece for your dining room – pair it with a wooden dining bench for a truly rustic look.

For the larger dining space, the Soho Dining Table will make a big and bold eye-catching statement pair this with sumptuous and luxurious velvet dining chairs to add contrast to your room.

Any size room can have a rustic influence, even small bedrooms. If you’re wondering How to Get a Small Rustic Bedroom Right take a look here.

Ideas to create a warm and cosy rustic bedroom

rustic bedroom with wooden bed and bedside table

Autumn is fast approaching so it’s time to start looking around our home to see where you can make small improvements to create a cosy, warm and welcoming home. Here we take a look at the bedroom to see how bringing-in a rustic mood can turn your bedroom into a cosy retreat ready for when winter rolls in.

A wooden headboard

Simply adding a wooden headboard to your bed will make a real rustic difference, especially if it is made from reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood furniture brings shade variations that create depth and different textures that adds interest too. You can bring reclaimed wood into your bedroom in other ways too – add a wooden blanket box at the foot of your bed or as a storage seat under a window, a wooden bed with storage drawers will also keep your room feeling uncluttered and relaxing, whilst providing perfect hidden storage spaces for all that spare cosy winter bedding.

Exposed brick

If you are lucky enough to have an exposed brick wall then use it to create a rustic feature in your bedroom, even just a couple of square metres over the bed or a whole wall gives that lovely natural mood. Another option is to add rustic wooden panelling for a quick and easy rustic touch.

Add reclaimed wood furniture

If you feel your room needs a complete rustic revamp then you have to consider opting for reclaimed wood furniture! It is the eco-conscious way to furnish your home – not to mention incredibly stylish too! Warm reclaimed wood will work with any colour scheme you choose and will blend with a more traditional style as well as the contemporary home giving it a shabby chic look. Think a reclaimed wood bed and a rustic chest of drawers or if you want just a few rustic accents, add bedroom side table in reclaimed wood.

Snuggle down with blankets and cushions

Go overboard with textured soft furnishings. Yes, pile scatter cushions up on your bed, layer some throws which can contrast or complement each other. See if you can add warmth to the window with some thick warm curtains. Choose sumptuous fabrics for your bedroom like velvet, corduroy, wool and tweed. A rug on the floor will also add instant warmth even if you already have a carpet.

Upcycle and re-purpose

Other quick and easy things you can do to create a rustic room is to look at what furniture you already have around the house, you can also look online or in second-hand shops to find used rustic furniture that you can use as-is, upcycle or make minor adaptations to. Choose warm shades of wood with hints of red in it to reinforce warmth.

Simple ways to reduce plastic in the home

There has been much in the news recently about the short-term climate predictions for our planet, and it’s not looking good. Of course, no one really knows what the situation will actually be come 2030 or 2040, but if millions of us make just a few changes in our household, like reducing the plastic in the home, we can collectively make a difference together. Here we look at a few easy ways you can reduce your use of single-use plastic and be kinder to our planet.

Shop local

There have been huge campaigns to support local shops over the past year or so, not just to help those who have lost out on business through the pandemic, but there is a green benefit too. If you have a farm shop nearby, go there to get lovely local fresh produce, use a local butcher and a local bakery. UK supermarkets use an astonishing amount of plastic packaging every year – an astounding 900,000 tonnes in 2019. Of course, once the fruit, meat or veg has been removed from its packaging (after the journey home in the car) it is disposed of, ready to end up in landfill or in even worse, our oceans. Without doubt, small local shops use much less packaging – and you’ll probably get a more personal service with a smile.

Shop at refill shops

This may be an option for some of you who have a refill shop near you, if not, have a look online, there could well be one in your neighbourhood. They are becoming very popular now and new ones are popping up more and more. You can also switch to natural cleaning products like lemon, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to help reduce plastic waste in your house. We are starting to see the return of the milkman – this is another top way to reduce the amount of plastic that comes into your household.

Swap to soap

This is an easy and very lovely swap to help reduce your plastic – use soap instead of shower gel and shampoo bars instead of liquid shampoo. The average person uses 11 bottles of shower gel and 10 bottles of shampoo a year – so how much does that come to across the UK? It’s hard to imagine the mountain of empty bottles that leaves behind. Swapping to paper wrapped soaps really will start to make a difference as more and more households make the switch.

Buy less and better quality

In general, we should buy less and make make a collective effort to invest in furniture that is well made and will last. This may not be the cheapest option in the short term, but in the long run it saves buying more as well as helping reduce landfill. Reclaimed wood furniture is a perfect option – solid, aged wood that is repurposed after its previous life as part of a building, ship or a railway track. A reclaimed wood table or a hand-finished solid wood chest of drawers will become a treasured piece of furniture and will last for years and years.

Buy solid wood furniture

The benefits of opting for solid wood furniture deserves more elaboration! Obviously, we should all think twice about buying furniture produced from fast grown and quickly felled new wood – especially when reclaimed wood is readily available as an alternative. Just look at the Skyline Reclaimed Wood TV Unit – it ticks all the boxes for an eco-conscious purchase – it’s handmade in a small family-run workshop here in the UK! The same can be applied to other areas of the home including your kitchen/diner or bedroom – a large industrial dining table crafted in reclaimed wood will keep its perennially cool style, whilst a solid wood bed will last a lifetime.

Why The Industrial Style Is So Popular In Home Interior Design?

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to interior design. People always gravitate more towards trending colours, materials, and overall designs. But ultimately, a good design shouldn’t just look good, but it should also be functional. Among the many interior design styles that have crossed our path, the industrial style is becoming more and more appealing for its simplicity and straightforward design features. When designing your home in the industrial style, you can incorporate other materials such as reclaimed wood furniture and industrial furniture with natural features, even comfy furniture.

With that in mind, we are going to take a look at some reasons why industrial furniture is becoming more popular:

Easy To Combine With Other Interior Styles – many home interior designs incorporate elements of other styles. If you choose industrial as the dominant style, you may combine it with many other elements, such as the rustic feel of a country home décor with a rustic dining table. Industrial style furniture also combines nicely with minimalist style and carefully calculated geometric elements. Home interior style is a long-term commitment that shouldn’t restrict you in terms of design choices.

More Light – in manufacturing spaces, workers need ample light from large windows or bring artificial lighting to use machinery better and inspect products more easily. It can be applied to home interior design projects to improve aesthetics. Homeowners have more flexibility when adding lighting elements to improve the aesthetic and functional aspects of their interior. Following the global pandemic, many people need a dedicated workspace in their home. A combination of natural light from large windows and strategically positioned artificial lighting can enhance productivity and concentration.

Easy To Accessorise – accessorising an industrial interior is easy to do. It’s a more masculine style by nature, which can be made softer with natural greenery. Rugs and paintings also work well in an industrial environment. These elements can inject a bit of organic feel and colour to the concrete/brick design. Although industrial design is forgiving and flexible, you shouldn’t over-saturate or clutter it with too many accessories.

Easy To Choose A Colour Palette – industrial design is known for its neutral colours. You can simply choose any mono-tone or neutral tone when adding industrial interior elements. Natural, muted colours of metals, bare bricks, concrete, and reclaimed wood are the basic components of industrial style. It’s hard to go wrong with colour selections, as long as you stick to neutral colour palette.

It’s More Sustainable – early industrial designs came from a time when there were no plastics, foam, or other synthetic materials. Metal, bricks, concrete, and properly treated woods are long-lasting. You can source sustainable materials to create a home with attractive industrial design.

To learn more, contact Modish Living today and shop our wide selection of stylishly designed home goods for your modern home.

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Dark or light? How to style your living room like a pro

Do you prefer a dark and atmospheric living room style or do you find yourself coveting a more light and white look? Both styles have their merits and can be difficult to pull-off successfully. Dark and cosy colours are very on-trend especially if you are creating an atmospheric living room, while a white and bright makes a room airy and accessible. In this blog we take two interior designers who have nailed each style and made it their trademark to find out how they do it.

Are you more of an Abigail Ahern or a Chrissy Rucker?

Abigail Ahern – the mistress of darkness

Abigail Ahern is well known for working with darker colours in rooms, which she mixes with glamorous finishing touches to style a room and bring it to life. Abigail creates rooms that are luxurious and glamorous but the rooms have to have a laid back feel to them….you definitely don’t want to feel uptight in your own family living room. Let’s have a look at some ideas inspired by her world-renowned style.

To get her look you need to start with dark painted walls and even ceilings. She recommends painting skirting boards and coving in the same colour as your walls for a statement look. To bring in the luxury and glamour you need to add lots of texture, house plants and dried flowers. Abigail sometimes uses floor rugs with a striking print to break up the dark and draw the eye.

To bring in the glamour opt for oversized gold-framed mirrors or striking wall art – we are looking for luxury so lighting could be in the form of an eye-catching chandelier as well as mood lighting provided by a table lamp stood on an industrial side table. An industrial sideboard like the Knightsbridge is just perfect for this look – the shiny industrial legs bring an element of glamour to the reclaimed body of the unit, a perfect surface to stand that piece of modern art right next to your favourite antique display pieces.

Chrissy Rucker – brighter than white

The White Company is famous for its luxury all-white interiors and accessories. White has been a go-to colour for years in room decor whether in a grand glamourous room or a trendy minimalist space. Here we look at how Chrissy uses a neutral scheme in the living room to perfection.

First of all, it does not have to be all pure white – you can use whites with the slightest hints of beige or grey to add interest and depth to the room – there are so many off-white paints and accessories it would be easy to settle on an overall hue.

You can also combine white with statement pieces of furniture – bring in a modern Chesterfield sofa for some contrast. The trick is to mix different whites and neutrals to give depth and interest – if you want to use reclaimed wood furniture then opt for paler reclaimed wood item, such as a rustic sideboard to keep the look soft, simple and uncluttered. Pieces from the Worcester Range, especially a white painted sideboard is the perfect piece of reclaimed wood furniture for your white, minimalist living room.

Tips to get a family friendly living room

how to get a family friendly living room

We all want a nice stylish living room but some believe that when there are children involved, be it toddlers or teens, that it will all go to pot! In this blog we look at some top tips that we have gleaned over the years to help you keep your living room spic and span and looking fabulous at all times.

Stay on top of clutter with clever storage

Nowadays there are stylish storage solutions for everything in the living room. From a large wooden sideboard for books and board games to a rustic coffee table with drawers for coasters and remotes to a reclaimed wood TV stand with shelves for DVD players, games consoles and compartments galore – nothing in your living room need ever be out of place again!

Use adaptable furniture

To add in even more extra storage opportunities you can opt for a Blanket Box that can also double as a hidden storage space perfect for scatter cushions and winter throws.

Keep the colours bright and approachable

A light and bright colour scheme will always work well in the family living room, but don’t be tempted to go for a pale colour as it will be tricky to match if you need to do any little touch-ups. Of course, you can bring in some bright and bold accent colours for the younger ones in the household – all kids love a bean bag so pick a bright one – perfect for sitting on to flick through a book, a little afternoon nap, watching a film or when extra seating is needed.

Add a photo gallery wall

All kids love seeing photos of themselves and their family around the house – ready to remind them how cute they were and how much they have grown. A family photo wall is also a great way for other people to see your favourite photos, they’re always a great way to start lovely conversations with your family and friends. What’s more, it brings an informal and personal feel to a room. We like to keep it stylish and simple and stick to more monochrome black and white prints.

Invest in a stylish TV unit

Watching a movie is a family pastime everyone enjoys, so keep everything organised and your DVD collection easily accessible with an industrial TV unit like the Ironbridge Industrial Reclaimed Wood TV Unit. There’s plenty of room for games consoles, remotes and other TV and media-related paraphernalia you want to have close at hand, yet out of sight.

Get family friendly furniture

Family friendly furniture is a must-have in your living room with leather furniture being a perfect choice. Choose a 2 seater sofa as it is easy to wipe up any spillages or, of course, there is the faux leather, vegan friendly option. When it comes to furniture go for a rustic coffee table – small wear and tear dents and scratches will barely be noticeable and will blend in with the natural undulations in the wood. Of course being reclaimed and solid wood, any more major damage can also easily be put right by a furniture technician.

Brighten a dining room with sunny yellow

yellow daffodils on a rustic dining table

Let’s face it, yellow can be a tricky colour when it comes to interior design, but we think it is a brilliant shade to work with and here we will look at some ways to bring summery yellow into the dining room whatever the season.

There are many hues of yellow you can choose, from barely a whisper of yellow to a much darker, bolder shade. Yellow works beautifully with reclaimed furniture, especially in the dining room. It might be considered a summery colour, but you can use yellow to brighten your dining space all year round. Use it as a base to bring in the oranges and reds of autumn, in the winter brighten the gloom and grey, and in the spring, it will quickly chase winter away!

Yellow and the farmhouse style

Yellow works with most interior styles you just have to vary the shade a little to get the look you are after. But when is comes to farmhouse style, yellow is definitely the go-to colour for many. You can choose a gentle buttery yellow for the walls and brighten it up with other bolder yellow pieces throughout the space. We are all familiar with the farmhouse dining table with a yellow checked cloth on it with a striking vase of fresh-cut flowers – it gives off feel-good vibes and adds a happy brightness to the entire room.

Be bold with yellow

To bring in a subtle hue of yellow then opt for a soft coloured yellow wall, a colour reminiscent of old fashioned vanilla ice cream – if it really isn’t your thing you can easily paint over a pale colour! However, if you are leaning more towards a vibrant statement yellow then go for it! You can bring in this colour by using a few key pieces in your room.

A rug – a rug in the dining room anchors the dining table – choose yellow!

An armchair – we love to use accent chairs in any room and the same goes with dining room furniture – choose a bold statement-making yellow armchair – set this in the corner of your room to really bring in a dash of sunshine.

Dining chairs – yes, why not show off your style by opting for yellow dining chairs. We love how modern accent items work absolutely beautifully when styled with a reclaimed wood dining table.

Accessorise in yellow

If you want to bring in a small ray of sunshine then opt for yellow accessories on a rustic dining table such as ornaments, vases, plant pots and dining chair cushions. Fresh cut flowers is another way to bring in just a little yellow and will lift the room.

Yellow for the body and soul

Research suggests that eating yellow food as well as orange and red is a way of getting some good sunshine into your body and if it is good for the inside it must be good on the outside too!.

Yellow is a colour associated with communication, self-esteem, and power – making it a positive colour to use in your home. It conjures up feelings of happiness, summer, positivity and optimism – so it sounds like we should all be using it a whole load more in our homes!!