Experts Guide to Decorating a Rural Home

When we move out of town and into the country, we might be surprised by many aspects of rural life; the quiet, the slower pace of life, and the amount of home and garden space we get for our money. But what does this mean for our approach to taking care of the décor? Many would claim that it makes no difference, but we would always stress taking a bespoke approach to every decorating job. If we do not take the character of the property into account when making these important choices, then we will never realize the full potential of the home. For this reason, we have put together this expert's guide to decorating a rural home. 

Consider the Architecture

When we talk of a rural home, there are so many varieties. We can consider the size of the property; the layout and look of a grand farmhouse will differ in style from a cute, little cottage. Some properties are not far from their original design, where others have been significantly modified and look almost modern from the inside. If we are looking to decorate in a manner that suits the style of the house, then we must consider such issues as the color of the permanent features; take the timber work, is its natural finish or painted? Much of this can be changed, but it will inform how much work will go into the project.

Look at Materials 

What kind of materials are you interested in using to transform the property? If you have DIY skills, there is much that a skilled person can do. You can use reclaimed materials such as old timber sleepers or retired metalworks from old industrial sites. We can make furniture or use the materials to enhance features in the home, such as the rails on the staircase or kitchen worktops.

Consider Real Authentic Furniture

We can find almost any furniture style on the market today; we can make the place look great with antique furniture, made new from large factories; but is replica vintage furniture a match for the genuine article? The advantage is often price when purchasing a new version of old classics, but what of the build quality and longevity? It will all depend on the build quality, and often we can get an idea of this by the price. Usually, the more you spend, the more attention to detail you find in the piece's construction, but this is not always the case; check online reviews to see if other buyers have been happy with their purchases. It is often safer and better to go for a genuine article. Buying real authentic, antique furniture can bring with it a hefty price tag, but you can be assured it is a high-quality piece when going to a reputable dealer. There is a third option; you can buy second-hand furniture that is not too valuable, it may not be a classic piece, but you can often pick up a solid build at a great price.

The Garden

One of the great things about old properties is the big and beautiful gardens that often come with them. These fantastic outdoor spaces are also downsides; the amount of upkeep can be substantial, especially if the previous occupier has neglected it. We have several options available here to sort the outdoor space. We can make the garden less of a chore by transforming it into a low-maintenance space; think paving stones, decorative chips, etc. Alternatively, you could employ a gardener to take care of it for you.

Ornaments & Accessories

What type of items would be best to adorn a rural property? This is a profoundly personal decision, and any items on display in your home should say something about your personality and you as a person. Some may wish to present the books, records, and games they enjoy, while others look to ornaments and art pieces. Consider these Celtic home decorating ideas. We can see how an individual with Celtic heritage can decorate their home personally that also fits in with the ambiance of an older property.

Paint or Wallpaper

Alongside the physical items in the home, we must consider the theme, pattern, and color of the walls. The one big question is whether to go for a paint job or to paper the walls? We would argue that painted walls give a much cleaner and more modern look to a property in most circumstances. But in this circumstance, there is also a good argument for considering wallpaper; with paper, we can quickly achieve a patterned effect, which can look very appropriate in a rural space. One thing to be aware of is that if there is already paper on the walls, we should never paint or paper over it; it is always essential to thoroughly remove the old paper before starting anew.

The Floors

There is a very similar decision to the walls to be made with the flooring; do we go with carpets, traditional wooden flooring, or something more modern, such as laminate or vinyl. If we opt for carpet, we are gaining a warmer, more comforting feel; and this can be a clear advantage in an isolated, remote property. On the flip side, hard flooring can look amazing, keep in fitting with the vibe of the house, and is also considerably easier to clean. 

Conversions & Making the Most of the Space

Sometimes we move in somewhere, and we can see how the space works and what we will do with it. We might conclude that it isn't working for us and decide to convert or extend the property on other occasions. Easy options come in the form of garage or loft conversions, as the building is already there. If those options are not available to us, then we might consider building an extension.