Werk Press

It’s the perfect fall day as you wake to a crisp, clear sunny morning surrounded by the golden and vibrant fall leaves. You take a look out over your surroundings through your massive living room window and smile just as the aromatic scent from your coffee mug enters your senses. What could be more perfect than waking up to a new day in your gorgeous rustic home surrounded by nature’s awe-inspiring beauty? Well… Actually, nothing.

Whether your dream log or rustic home is small, cozy and quaint, or a large home filled with a combination of modern conveniences and old-fashioned lodge style living; one thing is for sure, a rustic home is meant to reflect the environment it dwells within and take in all of its surrounding beauty through the use of colour, textures and other focal points.

Rustic decorating used to seem primitive and outdated in many ways, but now homeowners are seeking the comfort and style that rustic homes exude for everyday living or for chic mountain or lakeside getaways. Many of these homeowners are heavily involved with the design of their homes making sure all architectural rustic elements and materials are used, and that the interior design and decor also reflect their reverence to nature while also showcasing a refined attention to detail. These homes are homage to their surroundings and all the beauty that our world has to offer while including many natural elements that create a place of peace and tranquility. Rustic and log homes must be decorated to blend seamlessly with their surroundings without, at the same time, sacrificing modern sensibilities. It is important for the landscape surrounding a rustic home to be kept natural so as to perfectly integrate and not work against nature.

Colours and Themes

There are many things to consider in order to take your rustic home from the feeling of a primitive pioneer cabin to a lavish rustic retreat with an abundance of comfort. One thing to consider right at the start is an overall theme and choice of colours for your home. There are many interesting ways to decide on a theme. Perhaps your family is avid snow skiers, then select an alpine theme that takes your rustic home and transforms it into a ski chalet. Or, is your rustic or log home situated on a lake where your family loves to sail? Then, select a sailboat inspired theme that adds elements of your favourite hobby for relaxation. Of course, wildlife themes are extremely popular and often include deer, moose, bear and elk motifs. Other very popular choices include nature inspired themes that feature pine cones, pine trees and maple leaves.

Another interesting twist on a theme includes selecting a regionally inspired decorating scheme such as Western Ranch, Lodge Style, North Woods, Southwestern or Adirondack Style. All of these regions feature popular color palettes that reflect the beauty of the area and many feature traditional fabric patterns that will suddenly transport you to these special destinations.

Those fortunate enough to own a rustic or log home often choose colour schemes directly from nature to create an authentically decorated interior space. Obviously, the dominating visual is wood, so the warm wood tones will take precedence when selecting your entire colour palette. Many people select muted earth tones such as tans, greens and browns to compliment the wood’s natural colour, or they opt for a more bold choice and select brighter colours such as red, golden yellow or plum that offset the neutral colour of the wood backdrop. Either way, your selection will help your home mesh with its surroundings by spotlighting the colours that already surround your home. Using a cranberry red inside will create awe especially when the leaves surrounding your home each fall turn a similar colour. Or, your colour palette of sage green and taupe will make your home appear perfectly blended with the hundreds of flourishing trees that might happen to surround it.

Interior Finishes: From Floors to Walls

One factor that needs to be addressed right from the start is the material choices you need to make for your interior spaces. The goal of many rustic homeowners is to have a home with the feeling that the dwelling has been there for decades, has stood the test of time.

Log and rustic homes offer uncompromising beauty and charm mainly from all the textures they offer in their design. The rough-hewn timber walls, rounded log walls and ceiling beams can be stained in a variety colors or kept in their most raw and pure form. Also popular is the idea of having some walls dry walled and plastered in a heavily textured fashion or adding bead-board walls that can be painted to give some added depth to the space. If you choose to paint some spaces or stain your logs, be careful not to go too dark. And, be sure to use low-VOC paint on your interior. Keep in mind too that stains look best when they are satin or semi-gloss. Often a high gloss stain makes the wood suddenly look like plastic. Far from the “natural” look a homeowner is going for! A satin finish appears like a hand-rubbed oil finish, which is extremely attractive for maintaining an old-fashioned rustic style.

Rustic flooring options are many including bare wood, hardwood planks, slate or the choice of earth toned tile or flagstone. These flooring choices are highly durable while instantly creating the sensation of your home stretching itself into its natural surroundings in a seamless fashion. If your choice of flooring is flagstone, for example, then top it with faux skin carpets or Navajo rugs for warmth and then use the same flooring for your surrounding outdoor patio spaces perfect for the ultimate transition from indoors to outdoors.