Country Home Furnishings

Anglesey Abbey is a country house in the village of Lode, northeast of Cambridge, England – Photo Courtesy: Karen Roe

Choosing the furnishings for every room in your country home is, perhaps, the highlight of your home decorating process. Rather than hard physical labor, you must use all your mental energy to decide what sofas to have, or where the new rug should go.

It’s a delight to pick complimentary country home furnishings, and really pick pieces that show off your style personality.

You may combine different pieces of furniture for a really eclectic look in your country home: for example, a vintage mirror, contemporary armchair and a plastic art deco lampshade. Room elegance is all in the way you put different items together, and create a strong visual effect.

Classic Furnishings

Classic pieces in classic colors, like a wooden table or a upholstered striped armchair, will never date. Things that are made of solid wood will never go out of fashion, and can be passed down from generation to generation. Handcrafted items are also timeless furnishings that will continue to be stylish many decades into the future.

Pick things like wardrobes, dressers and display units; classic furnishings that are always useful to any home. That way no matter what house you move to, your furniture and fittings will always look stylish and complimentary.

Eco-Friendly Furnishings

Reuse and recycle old vintage or thrift furnishings. This is a great way of living a more Eco-friendly life, and can help your budget too.

Head to your nearest antique dealers or garage sale for some fascinating pieces of furniture, that you won’t be able to find in department stores.

Also, be aware of Eco-friendly materials: wood is a renewable source whereas plastic will only clog up waste deposits once you are finished with them. Other great materials to use are: organic cotton and wool, cork, glass and ceramics.

There are also new and exciting Eco-friendly technologies that can furnish your home and make it function better and save you money. Find up-to-date Eco-aware products for your home online or in decorating magazines.

Curtains & Blinds

Getting properly fitting curtains and blinds is a great way to make your home look more polished and professional. Blinds are brilliant for smaller homes as they don’t take up much room and have smooth lines whereas curtains take up space, but look more luxurious and expensive (that’s because they are!).

Pick a timeless print like stripes, gingham or floral, in colors that won’t fade out of fashion, like blue, red or white. Or for a really safe option, pick a one-color, no-pattern curtain or blind.

Steer clear of curtains or blinds that are ‘on-trend’ as these tend to date very fast – instead opt for a vintage fabric from a thrift store, which has stood the test of time.

The right choice of country home furnishings is what lends these homes their rustic charm and character.