How to Decorate in the Casual Country Style
- 1). Decide on a color palette. For a lighter, beach-house effect, choose pale shades of blue and creamy yellows with sea green for an accent color. For a more rustic appeal, choose dark tones of red or green with earthy browns and creamy whites for contrast.
- 2). Avoid furniture suites; casual country works best if your furniture is mismatched. Choose fabrics that keep with your color palette, though, to give your rooms a cohesive look. Choose upholstered furniture styles such as overstuffed wing chairs and padded rockers.
- 3). Choose fabric patterns that reflect country life. Oversized florals, plaids and chintz are part of the casual country style. Brushed cottons, flannel, wool and distressed leather do well with a rustic scheme. For the beach-house feel, choose linen, cotton and woven wool.
- 4). Select tables and other case goods that are weighty. The end tables in your rooms should have broad legs and thick tops. For your dining room, a long solid wood table with a planked top and block legs works well in the casual country style.
Keep your wood tones for your trim and your case goods in the same tonal range: light, medium or dark. This will promote cohesion within the design scheme. - 5). Use lots of accessories to create a personalized effect. Stack hardback books in a corner. Place wood bowls and antique wood trenchers along shelves and display them in your kitchen. Put fresh flowers in a silver coffee urn that shows a bit of tarnish.
- 6). Opt for artwork that reflects country landscapes and country life. Choose large canvases and frame them in wide wood frames. Stay away from edgy or abstract art pieces.
- 7). Keep your window treatments simple. Wood or faux wood blinds with 2½-inch slats work well in casual country design schemes. Lightweight cotton curtains and roller shades with scalloped and decorative edgings also compliment the overall casual tone of this style.
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