Country Decorating For The 21st Century

If the words "country decorating" conjure up unpleasant visions of floral print wallpaper, cross-stitched samplers, kerchief-wearing geese and copper hen statuettes that may have bedecked your grandmother's kitchen, you need to acquaint yourself with the twenty-first century update of this popular style.

Today's country decor is rustic, not rusty, with an emphasis on vintage charm and a spring-influenced color palette that is as refreshing as breath of country air.

Like almost every other popular decor style, today's re-imagined version of country decorating has been heavily influenced by the spare contemporary style that has come to dominate American homes.

Gone are the days of antique accouterments, tools, and utensils plastered over every square inch of wall in a country kitchen-instead, today's country decor takes a style note from contemporary design and favors a sparer aesthetic in which unique accents, accessories, and pieces of art are highlighted.

The color palette associated with today's country decor is muted, but not bland, pairing mid-value colors such as slate blue, sage green, and off-white. Distressed finishes that call to mind the look of weathered and aged surfaces are also popular, and it is not uncommon to see accent walls or pieces of furniture highlighted with crackle glaze, milk paint, or another similar technique.

The furniture in country interiors is often inspired by antique designs and silhouettes. An eclectic approach that pairs diverse pieces is favored over an excessively coordinated look, mimicking the appearance of a room put together through years of thrift store acquisitions.

Divergent prints that blend but don't match are an important part of the country look, as are straight, spare lines influenced by the Amish or Shaker aesthetic. Window treatments are typically light and playful. Unique, primitive accessories and accents that proudly announce their handmade heritage complete the country look.

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