Ideas for Decorating a Den with Rustic Decor

Are you someone who loves the outdoors? Do you dream of vacations spent in a cabin tucked in the woods? If so, rustic decor may be just your style. Rustic style is characterized by log cabin details – rough hewn wood walls and architectural details, wood burning stoves and lots of plaid. Natural materials abound: River stone, tree branches and even antlers can be integrated into a rustic design. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at rustic style and brainstorm ways you can integrate it into your own cozy and rustic den.

Colors and Textures

Rustic style is typically focused around dark colors: Red, hunter green and dark brown are frequently chosen to highlight the natural elements of rustic design. Leather and woven plaid are dominant fabrics, as well as hardy canvas and other sturdy woven fabrics. Must of rustic décor is very rough, from knobby pine boards to distressed furnishings, rustic style is based around old, well used pieces that grow more charming the more worn they become.

Themes and Motifs

Rustic style can be applied to many decorating themes. Recreating the feel of a ski lodge, a log cabin or a hunting lodge is easy using rustic elements and details. Making your den feel like a hunting lodge can be as simple as hanging a few hunting trophies, an old shotgun and photographs from your most recent hunting trip. Imitate a ski lodge with oversized leather seating, ski equipment and slope-inspired large metal art. Capture the feel of a log cabin with antique tools, vintage print fabrics and nods to forest wildlife. While these very masculine styles are often synonymous with rustic style, the more feminine cottage and shabby chic styles can also be considered rustic. While these two styles rely more on light colors and floral and garden inspired prints and patterns, the general idea of old, sturdy and well-loved pieces still applies.

Bringing it Together

Your own design should begin with some advanced planning. Lay out your space with graph paper and paper furniture templates cut to scale. Move things around on paper until you decide on the right arrangement. Begin with the background – floors and walls. Throw a fresh coat or two of paint in a rustic color in your scheme on the walls and consider tossing a large braided rug on the floor. Next, address the windows. Curtains in a heavy fabric within your color scheme (which coordinates with the wall color) will dress up plain windows in a jiffy. Next, add the largest pieces of furniture, those which you would consider anchor pieces. Large bookshelves, the sofa or a credenza can all be focal points. Add smaller accent furnishing next, then hang any wall art. Finish with lamps and decorative pieces. Finally, call the family into the finished den for a rousing game of Monopoly and cups of hot cocoa to celebrate and enjoy your new rustic inspired room.