We chose the country style as the topic of this article, since we consider its unobtrusive and natural character to be very valuable in times of progress. You could even say that this trend in interior design gives us the opportunity to remember where it all began and not forget about our roots.

In addition to its main advantages, the country style carries within itself an invaluable charm, which lies in the diversity of style; at the same time, it remains faithful to the best traditions of a particular people, conveying the rustic charm of each of them through simple things that are understandable from childhood.

And yet, many, one way or another, are attracted to foreign English, French, American country, which, undoubtedly, has a large number of attractive features, and we, somewhat generalizing, will tell you how to convey the flavor of this trend in the interiors of different rooms.

Characteristic features of country style

The spirit of whichever country is conveyed by the ideal country in your understanding, it always serves as a guide for us to pristine nature, comfort and a homely, slightly naive way of life, which we could observe in the villages.

Sincerity without pretentiousness

Country style is the purity of materials in the embodied interior items, its cladding and decor. Nowadays, few people can live without up-to-date household appliances, but if you are planning to embody style features in your home, it is better not to flaunt the equipment, but to hide it as much as possible (build it in, veil it, use it if necessary).

Speaking about furniture, it should be noted that items in the country style should not have an ultra-fashionable design, but, on the contrary, be somewhat primitive, even rough, although some elegant objects can be used (as in French country). The entire interior decor is associated with a country house or country estate.

For a person of our latitudes, this could be, for example, such familiar objects as enamel dishes, macrame napkins woven by my grandmother and lovingly placed on the chest of drawers, linen curtains or a wooden bench, sitting on which our parents took off the snow-covered felts. Such memorabilia carry a special message to us and charge us with the energy of kinship. This is what domestic country music means!

Natural materials

The use of plastic, lenoleum, and glossy surfaces is not accepted by the country style, since it only accepts the natural, natural nature of all materials used in home decoration.

Stone(artificial or natural) should be used for laying floors, wall cladding or fireplace area. Wooden boards and tiles are also used as flooring.

Walls they are plastered and painted, or covered with paper wallpaper with a neat floral pattern, and the ceiling is often decorated with wooden beams, which is very much in the spirit of country style.

Fabrics in the textile design of the premises, you need to select only natural ones: linen, cotton, chintz, cambric with a checkered pattern, stripes, with plant motifs, but no complex ornaments - everything is very nice and simple.

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Practicality

Country style is suitable for you if you are a supporter of a comfortable, practical interior, adapted to everyday life, where everything is very easy to clean, wash, rearrange from place to place and does not require special costs and time for care.

For example, country style allows you to use universal items, such as cesal runners, mats, baskets for storing shoes, firewood, umbrellas or newspapers.

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Country in the bedroom

Country style will make a bedroom, first of all, cozy, calm and laconic thanks to eye-pleasing colors, simple surface treatments and cute accessories in the form of table lamps with fabric lampshades, lace napkins or a patchwork bedspread.

Ceiling in the bedroom simply whitewash the country house, or, in the best traditions of the style, cover it with wood. Simply level and plaster the walls; you can cover them with wallpaper with floral or plant patterns. We do not recommend laying the floor with stone or tiles, since in this room it may be too cold for the feet, but parquet or wooden boards are best suited.

General color palette should not go beyond natural combinations of green and cream, blue and white, brown and terracotta. Furniture can be darker than the main surroundings and used in the amount of necessary items with additional decorative objects (poufs, dressing table, mirror in a simple frame).

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Country in the living room

Country style in the living room manifests itself slightly more actively than in the bedroom, but here, the emphasis is often placed on the fireplace or artificial heater area in the center of the room. This area is decorated with stone or tile masonry, pots for firewood, forged candlesticks or dishes, perhaps a landscape in a simple wooden frame.

The floors, as elsewhere in country-style interiors, are laid with tiles, stone or wooden boards, but in the living room you can diversify the decor with different types or materials of covering, depending on the area of ​​the room.

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In general, a country style for a living room can look very nice and homely, if we are talking about a small country house; in the case of a country mansion, the features of the style can appear on a larger scale: the furniture used is more solid and solid, the decor is richer, and high ceilings can be decorated wide carved and ceilings.

It is noteworthy that the order of arrangement of furniture and the symmetry of compositions are not typical for country music; furniture here is installed so that it is as convenient as possible to use it, even if it seems that it is distributed in a chaotic order.

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Country in the kitchen-dining room

The design of the kitchen also strives for naturalness: no plastic on the ceiling or glass countertops in the work area. For reasons of reliability and practicality, the floor is laid with tiles, as is the kitchen apron; windows and doorways are decorated with light textiles, held up with ribbons. In the dining area there is a group of wooden dining table and comfortable chairs with interchangeable seats.

Built-in appliances are hidden in kitchen cabinets, and walls with simple wallpaper are decorated with still lifes, plates, shelves with ceramics, and fresh flowers in clay pots.

Lighting is provided by chandeliers with forged bases, and the ceiling is decorated with permanent beams or boards.

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Country in the bathroom

It is also possible to recreate the country style in a bathroom, observing all its features, while the dimensions of the room are not decisive. In both small and spacious bathrooms, the room should be decorated as simply as possible. If the ceilings are high, they are plastered and painted, the walls are tiled or stoned, as are the floors. Furniture they install a modular, simple geometric shape, often these are used items that have received a new life, but always made of wood.

A decorative note is played by laundry baskets, forged towel holders, and a thin foot rug.

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Country music in the nursery

Country style is chosen quite rarely for a child’s room, but still, it has a place in the arsenal of possible directions in the interior.

When deciding to decorate a nursery in this way, you can choose sweet country charm and natural pastel shades, for example, for a teenage girl’s room, or fill the environment for a boy with the rich colors of a country landscape.

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In both cases, choosing a country style for a children's room will work for you and arouse in the child a craving for nature, a desire to take care of animals and be careful about the environment.

The abundant use of wood in the design of a children's room in country style is also very aesthetically pleasing, since no modern artificial material can compare with it in beauty and range of tactile sensations.

Unlike other rooms, in the nursery it is better to lay the floors with wood, but not with tiles. The latter can be cold and how much, which is especially not desirable. But the walls here can simply be painted, or covered with photo wallpapers with animal motifs or a cartoon landscape.

Among the decorative designs that look most plausible for country style in a nursery are sconces with yellowish warm light, a rocking chair, cotton curtains, bed linen with a floral pattern, and photographs of the baby surrounded by his family.

The cozy country style in the interior takes us away from the bustle of the city and street noise into a sweet, cozy home where you can relax, unwind and forget all life's difficulties. The word country itself translated from English means “village” or “country”, and the named style combines both of these concepts. On the one hand, the interior of a country-style house is the comfort and romance of village life with its uniformity and leisurely pace, but on the other hand, it is the embodiment of the cultural heritage of certain ethnic groups.

This type of room design, according to some sources, originated in America at the end of the last century. But, we can say with confidence that this style existed long before its world recognition, because carefree country life has always attracted most people with its apparent simplicity and easy ease.

Distinctive features

In general, we can say that the country style in the interior of a country house is the absolute opposite of the high-tech style. Instead of striving for everything new and perfect, country music, on the contrary, prefers everything proven and simple. In the interior of this style there is practically no technology or modern building materials. Wood, stone and other natural and environmentally friendly finishing elements - this is where all the attention of country music is directed.

The main color scheme of country style takes inspiration from nature: natural shades of yellow, green, brown and blue are reminiscent of a deciduous forest, river, flowering field, and muted terracotta and pink tones speak of romantic sunsets. As a rule, in a rustic style, the general background of the interior is made in pastel colors, and furniture and numerous accessories add brightness and color. Or, on the contrary, the decoration of the room is very lively and energetic with soft, plain furniture.

In a country style interior, a photo of which will definitely inspire anyone who was previously interested in it, the use of natural materials is highly valued. Stone and wood, as already mentioned, metal, clay, earthenware, as well as cotton, linen, chintz. Textiles play an important role in the rustic style - they cover almost everything: curtains on the windows, covers on chairs and armchairs, tablecloths on tables, multiple floorboards and rugs on the floor. A huge number of knitted napkins, embroidered towels and scarves - not a single village house can be imagined without them.

In interior decoration, the emphasis is on simplicity, softness and some negligence. The ceiling, if not wooden, is then decorated with wooden ceilings. The walls can be draped with fabric, left whitewashed, brickwork (or decorative). You can also use wallpaper with pleasant, subtle floral patterns or stripes. The flooring should be natural - stonework, large wooden parquet boards or the recently actively used ceramic marazzi country chic collection. In a rustic style interior, upholstered furniture upholstered in fabric or leather does not look impressive. Wooden furniture is made a little roughly, painted or lightly sanded, and has extraordinary shapes.

The highlight of almost any country style is the fireplace. A fireplace, or even a stove, is a place to spend quiet evenings with a cup of hot tea with family or friends. In an apartment where there are certain difficulties with installing such an object, a small decorative fireplace also helps create an atmosphere of warmth and unity.

Accessories and lighting add a special emotional mood to the rustic-style setting. The country light is located below, on the side, on the table, on the floor. An abundance of wall lamps and textile lampshades create diffused, soft lighting. Country attributes celebrate rustic motifs: paintings depicting rural life, wicker baskets, jewelry, pottery and figurines. Flowers are an integral part of country music; here they are presented in all forms: live, artificial, dried, drawings, ornaments.

Varieties of country style

Modern country interiors can be different: Russian huts, English cottages, American ranches, Spanish haciendas - all these are examples where designers draw their inspiration from when creating country interiors. This is where divisions in style emerged: country can be American, English, Swedish, Italian, Russian, etc. And yet, despite the differences in the cultural foundations and traditions of countries, the interiors of country style houses have many similarities and embody a single goal: create an atmosphere of kindness, warmth, comfort and care.

Scandinavian country

This direction of country style in the interior is characterized by unpretentious simplicity, modesty and minimalism in everything. All surfaces of the room, including furniture, are most often painted in light, cool colors. A good choice would be white walls with small splashes of blue. If desired, you can make bright accents using blue or red. The main rule: the room should be spacious, very bright, with as much open space as possible and light curtains.

Provence

The French country concept is based on an abundance of open space, light and warmth indoors, which creates an atmosphere of harmony and tranquility in the home. This country interior involves the use of a variety of plant and floral patterns, striped or checkered patterns in decoration. When decorating a house in the style of a French village, it would be appropriate to use all kinds of napkins with embroidery, homemade lace, fabric bows, ruffles and frills. In such an interior, everything is aimed at preserving the spirit of antiquity.

Cozy kitchen in Provence style

A cozy, neat kitchen is the dream of many housewives. Traditionally, for our compatriots it is not just a room for eating; for most people, the kitchen is a rest for the soul. Therefore, the arrangement of a kitchen space most often has special requirements. The Provence style will help create an atmosphere of comfort and coziness when decorating the interior. It completely recreates the spirit of an old country kitchen, comfortable and at the same time well equipped.

The Provence style in interior design is strongly associated with the south of France, the sun and plenty of air. Therefore, when creating an interior in this style, you should take care of purchasing natural materials for finishing the room. Wooden panels, natural stone countertops and painted tiles on the walls would be very appropriate here. But we should not forget that the Provence style does not tolerate bright, loud colors; pastel, soft, as if faded in the sun, shades will be more relevant here.

When selecting furniture, you should also pay attention to the materials from which it is made. A kitchen decorated in Provence style will perfectly fit furniture made of wood with bent legs, upholstered in leather or rough textiles. It is worth noting that such furniture looks very elegant and fits perfectly into the overall interior of a country-style kitchen.

It is better to decorate the walls using natural stone, brick or wood. It’s great if one wall is decorated with natural material; it’s better to paint the others white or use pale shades of yellow or green. The floor in the kitchen can be laid with stone tiles, trimmed with wood panels, or use specialized ceramic marazzi country tiles. In the interior of the kitchen, such a coating will look very organic.

A decorative beam on the ceiling will perfectly complement the overall style. This element will not only complement the design, but will also visually reduce the height of the room and make it more comfortable.

To completely recreate the Provence style, it is better to install wooden doors in light colors or artificially aged canvas. Window and door handles should also be chosen from dull metal that will fit into the overall picture and will not be conspicuous. It is worth noting that modern metal-plastic windows will also stand out from the general range, so it is better to abandon them and replace them with wooden ones.

When organizing kitchen interior lighting in French country style, you should opt for massive heavy lamps with forged elements and candelabra. It is better to place the main emphasis on one lamp, which will be organically complemented by several small sconces.

This direction involves the use of massive, often bulky furniture, richly decorated with metal elements. It is recommended to cover upholstered furniture with leather or rough fabric. The floors and walls are decorated with colorful bedspreads, skins and rugs in patchwork style. Hunting trophies are often placed on the walls: animal skins and heads, horns. The ceilings in this interior are highlighted with color and equipped with massive wooden beams.

Mediterranean country

This direction is considered the most elegant of the rustic styles. When creating this style, simple, laconic furniture with polished surfaces or light abrasions is used.

Mediterranean style living room

This style has evolved over decades, and now its main features are dictated not by the generalized image of the listed exotic countries, which over the years have created their own national values, but by the individual characteristics of two famous states - Greece and Italy.

The interior of a country living room in a Mediterranean style has absorbed all the cultural characteristics and traditions of countries located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, such as Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Spain, Italy, Morocco, etc. The Mediterranean is a sunny, warm, paradise rich in vegetation , which is the dream of any city dweller who is tired of the noise and bustle of the “concrete jungle”. Such an interior takes us to the green shores with a walking warm breeze, gentle sun, distant splash of sea waves, freshness, space and peace.

As a rule, old, shabby houses and country mansions are decorated in the Mediterranean style, because this “marine” style takes its origins from traditional country: the same simplicity and fusion with nature, the same comfort. The differences between them are the color scheme and the amount of textiles used. To create a Mediterranean atmosphere, the room should be spacious, bright, with large windows. It’s not bad if the rooms have a non-standard layout, as well as niches.

Since the described style borrowed its main features from both Greek and Italian cultures, the interiors, accordingly, are decorated according to a Greek or Italian theme.

“Greek” design provides for a cool color scheme: all blue and cyan shades, turquoise, yellow, light pink and green, and the main background is white.

The “Italian” atmosphere is more welcoming: warm natural colors of trees, olive, ocher, terracotta, red brick, etc., a cream or beige shade is chosen as the background. The marine style decoration is simple, discreet and not rich. Matte, somewhat rough-polished plaster or brickwork is left on the walls.

In the Greek interior, wall decor is kept to a minimum: wooden panels and paintings with images of nature. For an Italian interior, there are tile mosaics that smoothly descend from the walls to the floor, carvings, stucco moldings, or country chic porcelain tiles specially created for this purpose. In Mediterranean-style interiors, it is also common to lay floors with unglazed ceramics, stone or, as a more expensive solution, marble. The use of textiles plays a more functional role than a decorative one. Delicate tablecloths, openwork scarves, rustic napkins, laconic pillows, runners made from natural fabrics - linen or cotton. Carpets are not welcome; reed or seaweed mats can be used instead. Heavy fabric curtains are replaced with blinds or light muslin curtains.

Furniture typical of the Mediterranean country style should not be bulky or overly luxurious. Wood, light oak and pine, is preferably used here as a natural building material. Low wicker pieces of furniture will look very appropriate in an interior style. Many designers advise choosing upholstered furniture and tables with forged metal legs.

A special feature of the Mediterranean is handmade accessories. That is, numerous decorative elements should, if possible, be made by hand. Light, almost weightless lace on pillows and napkins, painted ceramic dishes are displayed on open kitchen shelves. In such an environment, you get the feeling that every detail was touched by a skillful human hand. Country-style kitchen interior decorations hint at the sea and sun: shells, pebbles, reed figurines, bright and positive pictures will set a positive mood. A large number of bright indoor plants will give freshness and life to the interior.

Mediterranean country style in the interior of an apartment means freedom, celebration, and fun. These are sun glare and splashes of waves. A house decorated in this style will always delight its owners and their guests, full of life and energy.

Here, designers give preference to bulky wooden pieces of furniture, expensive and massive. It would be appropriate to use antiques or a good copy of it. If you can’t get hold of antique items, you can resort to artificial aging techniques - patination or brushing. The highlight of English country is considered to be fabric. All kinds of draperies are used for upholstering furniture, decorating windows and even ceilings. With the help of these techniques, an atmosphere of good quality and English elegance is created in the house.

Russian country

When creating an interior in this style, it would be appropriate to use untreated or minimally processed wood, slightly aged logs, non-woven rugs and rough, slightly primitive pieces of furniture. If it is not possible to use natural wood, then this material can easily be replaced by textured plaster or whitewash. But the use of wallpaper here would be inappropriate. In a rustic interior, a wicker rocking chair, rough porcelain or earthenware and a real samovar would be useful. The motto of Russian country music is: simplicity for show.

Country style in the interior is intended for people who value comfort, simplicity and leisure. Modest comfort, the smells of nature, homemade cakes and a rocking chair make you yearn for your childhood and your grandmother’s house in the village.

The interior is the embodiment of a rustic spirit, in which sophistication and practicality, naturalness and simplicity are mixed. Now this style is very popular, especially in the design of country houses and cottages, because many people are now attracted to everything natural and environmentally friendly, which is characteristic of this particular style.

Interior decoration in country style: principles and features

It is believed that any home, be it a house or an apartment, has its own soul. The variety of design styles and design methods is born in the desire to emphasize one or another character, endowing the interior not only with functionality and comfort, but also filling the atmosphere with harmony.

Home comfort in country style

Country style in the interior (also known as “rustic”) will help to recreate an island of comfort with a certain amount of nostalgia and romanticism.

Country style interior is a rustic charm, an atmosphere of comfort and romance

Origins of style

The country style in the interior was born at the beginning of the twentieth century; the USA is considered its birthplace. But country music received the status of an independent style in the interior design direction only 30-40 years later, in the early 70s. This time passed under the sign of rapid technological development. As a result, residents of megacities went out of town on weekends, closer to nature, to fully indulge in relaxation and breathe fresh air.

Country style is ideal for decorating a country house

Country in interiors can be easily compared with the same trend, which originated at the same time in the 1920s in the state of Georgia. Glorification of fields and forests, endless native expanses and romantic love, folk instruments and live performance - all this is present in country music, which personifies freedom and, in general, life itself.

Country music is the most widespread type of North American folk music, equal in popularity to pop music.

The literal translation of the word country sounds like “village, country.”

Country style belongs to the family of ethno-styles of interior design, and its antipode can be called high-tech

Despite the fact that many people associate this style largely with the USA, it has long and confidently won an army of fans around the world. And due to the fact that each nation has its own traditions, it is tastefully “seasoned” with authentic details in each region. This is how English, Scandinavian, Italian, Mediterranean and even Russian country music saw the light.

Arrangement principles

Like every style in interior design, country has certain principles and accents:

• Naturalness. The style involves the use of natural materials when decorating the room. Stone, wood and textiles will help emphasize a somewhat rustic spirit, simplicity and comfort.
• Lack of elaborate decor. Country style is undoubtedly emphasized by interior accents, including accessories. They should be simple, hand-made items are welcome. But this style does not accept any monograms or gilding.
• Functionality and practicality. The main rule is convenience and comfort in everything that surrounds you. It is ideal if even the accessories carry some kind of functional load.

The main principle of country style is to avoid those cutting-edge materials Country style loves hand-made

Country style is simple and to some extent provincial, but no less colorful for that. For some it reminds them of childhood, for others it reminds them of places they loved to visit or dream of visiting in the future.

The main idea of ​​country style is the maximum comfort of home

Undoubtedly, in each particular case, country music can be emphasized by a variety of details. There are rules, but there is no framework for imagination.

Finishing materials

When choosing materials for decorating a house or apartment in a rustic country style, it is important to remember that preference is given to natural ones, which bring residents as close as possible to nature. Highly technical designs should be avoided, which are more relevant for ultra-modern styles, but not for country. Glass and chrome parts are also not helpful in creating a simple, slightly rural atmosphere.

In country style, natural materials come first

If it is metal, then parts with a touch of antiquity (bronze, patina) are suitable; forging elements fit perfectly.

The following materials can be used for wall decoration:

• paper wallpaper with a floral print, stripe or checkered pattern;
• textile wallpaper with interesting textures or ethno-patterns;
• decorative plaster;
• wood (natural wood panels or wood-containing materials);
• masonry of stone or brick.

Country style allows for a combination of different types of finishes, but you should not use all options at the same time to avoid pretentiousness and tackiness.

To create a country style you need to exercise restraint

The choice of finishing materials should be guided by the motto “freedom, simplicity, naturalness.” This is precisely the key to success in arranging a rustic design.

As a floor covering, you can give preference to parquet boards.

Parquet board looks very appropriate in a country interior

A coating of decorative stone or tiles is also appropriate.

Tiles are a very practical material, and in country style this is important

The ceiling does not require special finishing; it is enough to paint it white or pastel shades.

For decoration it is ideal to use rough wooden beams under the ceiling

Color spectrum

Country in the interior is rustic charm and naturalness. The color scheme is also chosen based on this principle.

There can be no strict boundaries in choosing a color, since this style has many faces and leaves room for imagination and personal preferences.

An Englishman, an American, a Frenchman or a Russian like tones that are different in spirit, which is due to the peculiarities of nature in these countries.

When choosing a palette, you need to rely on harmony and soulfulness

Do not use dark or gloomy colors as the main background. It is better to give preference to delicate light shades: white, cream, beige, light blue. But color accents can be rich brown “wood-like”, green, like foliage or lush grass, yellow or terracotta, reminiscent of the gentle sun.

The main thing is not to overdo it and remember that this is not the main background, but accents.

Furniture and accessories

Many people wonder how to choose the right country-style furniture and successfully complement the interior with current accessories? The first and most important thing is the environmental friendliness of materials and simplicity of form.

Buffets, tables, chests of drawers and much more are made of natural wood; all furniture must be in harmony in style and color scheme. Wicker furniture or with elements of carving, forging, and artistic painting are ideal.

Country style involves the use of furniture that represents solidity, naturalness, rustic simplicity and functionality.

Country is simplicity and comfort in everything

Accessories and interior accents help to fully emphasize the characteristic features of design, country music is no exception.

Wicker baskets, ceramic pots and figurines, coarse linen tablecloths, wicker rugs and mats, “grandmother’s chests”, patchwork blankets and items with a deliberate touch of antiquity will help “breathe life” into the interior, filling it with comfort and warmth.

Advantages of country style

You can talk endlessly about the advantages of furnishing your home in a country style, but the main ones are the following:

• Naturalness and simplicity. This style helps to achieve a feeling of maximum comfort. Coming home after a day of work or arriving at a country house for the weekend, such an environment will become a real source of vitality necessary for future work exploits.
• Economical. Yes, with the right approach to design, country design does not require unnecessary costs, since it is devoid of luxurious and expensive details. In your grandmother's old country house or at flea markets you can find everything you need to highlight it in the best possible way.
• Environmental friendliness. Country style is primarily determined by the use of natural materials, which are the connecting link between man and nature. This eliminates the negative impact on general health and has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional background. The combination of a calm color scheme, simplicity and authenticity, together with the ability to emphasize the direction of the interior with various accessory details, cannot become boring over time, maintaining a family-friendly and relaxing aura.

Relevance of style

For people who are adherents of cutting-edge technical innovations, this interior style is unlikely to suit them.

Country design is ideal for decorating a cottage or country house with a rustic flavor

You can also recreate a similar atmosphere in your apartment.

Country helps out in such cases:

• If there is not enough money for expensive and luxurious renovations.
• If the family has talented craftsmen who create original handmade items.
• If you want to create a unique island of environmental friendliness and simplicity. Even in a small apartment it is possible to easily create a country design, let alone a large country house with a lawn, a cozy gazebo and a shady garden. Increasingly, people are striving to arrange their home as functionally as possible, but at the same time, simply.

Country style is rural simplicity in the interior for lovers of undisguised romantic naturalness

Somewhat nostalgic and original, rustic country design can fill the atmosphere with a feeling of warmth and pay tribute to tradition.

Country style (translated from English as village) is a clothing style characterized by simplicity and convenience.

Country style clothing is comfortable, made from natural fabrics (cotton, linen, chintz, wool, homespun materials, as well as suede and leather). That is why clothes are usually in natural shades - brown, red, beige, white or gray. Checkered and small floral patterns are also popular.

Decorative elements include wooden or metal buttons, as well as fringe, patches, lacing, embroidery and homespun lace.

Country style means blue jeans, wide-brimmed cowboy hat and boots, checkered flannel shirts, fringed suede jackets, skirts, blouses and dresses trimmed with homespun lace, wide leather belts with buckles and much more.

History of origin

Country style appeared in the 19th century. Initially, European settlers dressed this way when they arrived in the American West in search of gold and a better life. Among the settlers there were many adventurers and fugitives from justice, for whom simplicity and comfort in clothing were paramount.

This is the 21st century, however, neither the development of technology, nor the Internet, nor the constantly emerging innovative materials have discouraged people from the desire for home comfort, a family hearth, nature, simplicity and naturalness. The embodiment of all this in the interior, without a doubt, is the so-called rustic style. However, when it comes to practical aspects, it turns out that despite the common features: an abundance of natural wood, floral patterns and a little naive, rustic decor, there are quite a lot of varieties of rustic style. We invite you to consider the most characteristic features that distinguish American and English country from Provence or Russian rustic style in order to choose the option that is best suited for you.

Ceramic dishes and vases will fit seamlessly into any rustic interior, Pottery Barn

The emergence and characteristics of rustic interior style

Any country-style interior is an attempt to recreate the cozy country house of your grandparents, the decoration of which will vary greatly depending on which country we are talking about. Interest in this kind of decor arose at the beginning of the 20th century, when, purchasing country mansions and dachas, many people around the world began to strive to recreate the comfort they knew from childhood, to become simpler and closer to nature.

A nursery in a rustic style is suitable for children of different genders and ages, Minacciolo

Most often, this style is used for the design of a country house, but it may also be appropriate in a city apartment. The main thing is to immediately decide which country’s rustic style is closest to you. All rooms are usually decorated in the same style, but the country style is especially popular in the decor of kitchens, where it seems especially homely and inviting.

Open Chest of Drawers and Rustic Dinnerware, Pottery Barn

General characteristics of country style interiors:

• simple, sometimes a little rough decoration of walls and floors
• using only natural materials: wood, stone, natural fabrics. Plastic, chrome, sparkling metal and synthetic fabrics will be completely inappropriate
• Forged furniture, aged brass and copper are acceptable in the decor
• natural color scheme without bright color spots
• furniture is usually made of solid wood, simple outlines without excessive decoration
• attention to textiles: numerous curtains, tablecloths, rugs, blankets and napkins will be appropriate in any version of the country style
• characterized by small floral patterns, checkered patterns and small polka dots
• love of handmade items, crafts and unique, non-factory accessories

English country

The most austere and restrained variety of rustic style is the English country style. The English style assumes a rich color scheme, predominantly in dark colors, with a predominance of shades of dark green, red and brown. The furniture in an English country house is massive, solid, made of natural wood in dark tones, such as cherry or mahogany. A solid leather sofa, and a Scottish check in the form of a pattern of blankets, curtains, tablecloths and small floral patterns would be appropriate here. In general, English country pays close attention to textiles, from furniture upholstery to fabric wallpaper with appropriate ornaments. At the same time, simple painted walls are not typical for this style.

Living room with fireplace in English country style, designer Suzanne Kasler

As accessories for an English country interior, you can choose lamps and dishes made of aged brass, porcelain, paintings with hunting scenes and landscapes, and a variety of antiques. This interior does not imply minimalism and ideal order, so an abundance of cute souvenirs, slightly worn leather upholstery, a lot of paintings and photographs on the walls will only give it an atmosphere of coziness, because your comfort is at the forefront here.

Kitchen with a stylized gas stove and a collection of antique metal cookware, designer Suzanne Kasler

American country

The American country-style interior is also distinguished by its solid solidity, but is devoid of any decoration or pretentiousness; it is, rather, not an elegant cottage in the outback, but a solid forest hunter’s ranch. Along with natural wood, such wood is characterized by the use of rough, textured stone in the decoration of walls and fireplaces, which are an almost obligatory element of an American country interior. Another characteristic element of such an interior is wooden ceiling beams, which can serve only a decorative role.

A fireplace clad in rough natural stone and hunting trophies will help recreate the American country style

The color scheme of the American version of country is much lighter and calmer; soft natural shades predominate. The walls are usually covered with plain paint in light colors or covered with wooden panels with a distinctly rough texture.

Traditional patchwork quilt

Textile design, in this case, is not given such close attention, although you can find animal skins as bedspreads or rugs or fabrics with traditional Indian patterns. Accessories include hammered brass, copper and bronze pieces, thick vintage glass, handcrafted items such as a patchwork quilt and American flag motifs. Open slats with hooks for dishes, towels and any other items, decorative birdcages, and hearts with the effect of artificial aging would also be appropriate.

The style of the French province was called “Provence” in honor of one of the regions in the south of France. Also being a popular variety of rustic style, it is quite different from the considered English and American options with greater grace, tenderness and femininity.

Provence is characterized by a light color scheme in pastel colors with accents of lavender, mint, and sand shades. The walls are usually decorated with decorative plaster or wallpaper with small flowers, and the floors are decorated with light parquet with a pronounced wood texture.

Painted furniture with the effect of artificial aging and scuffs is a characteristic detail of the Provence style

Russian version of rustic style

The domestic version of the country style also has its own characteristic features. Its main difference is its love for natural wood, because it recreates the atmosphere of an original Russian log hut. It, like American country, is distinguished by its massiveness and roughness, but instead of a fireplace in such an interior there will be a whitewashed or tiled stove, and patchwork and Indian ornaments will replace lace tablecloths and napkins. The ideal option for decorating the walls would be wooden panels or imitation of real logs; a simple whitewash option is possible.

As accessories, do not forget to use porcelain service, chintz curtains, a real samovar, a fluffy knitted blanket, painted Zhostovo trays and other items familiar from childhood that are associated with a cozy grandmother’s house.

What would a Russian village house be without a samovar?

Whatever version of the rustic style you choose, in any case, it will be distinguished by an atmosphere of home comfort and simplicity, allowing you to escape from the bustle of the city outside the window. One of the main advantages of such decor is also its relatively cheapness, because the furniture can be very simple and not at all new, and many decorative items can either be made with your own hands or found at the nearest flea market.