Rustic Bedroom Furniture - How to Achieve the Look
What exactly is rustic bedroom furniture? The word 'rustic' conjures up images of country living but depending on where you are from you can still be thinking of entirely different styles.
For example, an American citizen may associate the word with wood cabins and lodges made of pine and cedar hidden on a mountainside far from civilisation.
A UK resident is more likely to associate the term with quaint country cottages, echoing a lifestyle that has moved on as the people have migrated to the cities.
It is perhaps because of this, that the term 'rustic' conjures up feelings of warmth and homeliness - it transports many of us back into an idyllic world where the aroma of freshly baked bread fills the air and the stress of modern life has taken a sideways step.
Whether you are thinking of mountain lodges or tiny cottages with thatched roofs, rustic furniture is generally typified by a natural wood.
The bedroom is a room where we like to feel warm and secure so it is only natural that many people are seeking out items of rustic bedroom furniture for their homes.
How can you achieve a rustic look for the bedroom? A starting point may be to start distressing the wooden furniture that you already own.
There are plenty of home design books to explain the techniques used.
If your furniture is not made of wood then you really have no choice but to buy some - a bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers or dressing table would be an ideal starting point to get your rustic bedroom furniture together.
Oak and pine are both excellent candidates for rustic furniture.
Look for lightly stained or totally natural pieces - these will benefit greatly from waxing or oiling several times a year.
The main difference is that oak is a hardwood with a tighter grain, due to its slower growth rate.
It is also harder to work and construct into furniture so tends to be more expensive than its pine counterpart.
Pine, on the other hand, is naturally lighter with a more open grain.
Pine trees grow quickly and the wood itself can be worked quite easily so pine furniture is a popular choice as it represents good value for money.
Whichever you choose is totally down to personal preference and budget.
A high quality oak piece would represent a good investment as well as bringing real style and character to your decor.
It is important to make sure you choose solid wood for the real rustic look.
Chipboard veneers may appear cheap at first but they will not last so well and the veneers often start detaching after some use.
The old saying, "buy cheap, buy twice" can be very true when it comes to the purchase of furniture.
Good quality furniture holds its value quite well so do not make the mistake of always going for the cheapest option.
For that rustic bedroom look choose a chunky oak or pine bed.
You can buy many items of high quality furniture in matching ranges - you may prefer to co-ordinate the bed with the wardrobe and dresser.
But you may also prefer to have items from different ranges but similar woods to represent a more organic and eclectic collection.
For example, an American citizen may associate the word with wood cabins and lodges made of pine and cedar hidden on a mountainside far from civilisation.
A UK resident is more likely to associate the term with quaint country cottages, echoing a lifestyle that has moved on as the people have migrated to the cities.
It is perhaps because of this, that the term 'rustic' conjures up feelings of warmth and homeliness - it transports many of us back into an idyllic world where the aroma of freshly baked bread fills the air and the stress of modern life has taken a sideways step.
Whether you are thinking of mountain lodges or tiny cottages with thatched roofs, rustic furniture is generally typified by a natural wood.
The bedroom is a room where we like to feel warm and secure so it is only natural that many people are seeking out items of rustic bedroom furniture for their homes.
How can you achieve a rustic look for the bedroom? A starting point may be to start distressing the wooden furniture that you already own.
There are plenty of home design books to explain the techniques used.
If your furniture is not made of wood then you really have no choice but to buy some - a bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers or dressing table would be an ideal starting point to get your rustic bedroom furniture together.
Oak and pine are both excellent candidates for rustic furniture.
Look for lightly stained or totally natural pieces - these will benefit greatly from waxing or oiling several times a year.
The main difference is that oak is a hardwood with a tighter grain, due to its slower growth rate.
It is also harder to work and construct into furniture so tends to be more expensive than its pine counterpart.
Pine, on the other hand, is naturally lighter with a more open grain.
Pine trees grow quickly and the wood itself can be worked quite easily so pine furniture is a popular choice as it represents good value for money.
Whichever you choose is totally down to personal preference and budget.
A high quality oak piece would represent a good investment as well as bringing real style and character to your decor.
It is important to make sure you choose solid wood for the real rustic look.
Chipboard veneers may appear cheap at first but they will not last so well and the veneers often start detaching after some use.
The old saying, "buy cheap, buy twice" can be very true when it comes to the purchase of furniture.
Good quality furniture holds its value quite well so do not make the mistake of always going for the cheapest option.
For that rustic bedroom look choose a chunky oak or pine bed.
You can buy many items of high quality furniture in matching ranges - you may prefer to co-ordinate the bed with the wardrobe and dresser.
But you may also prefer to have items from different ranges but similar woods to represent a more organic and eclectic collection.
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