There are so many different versions of what "country living" looks like. It could be Big Bear Lake rustic or grandma's vintage parlor. Let's look at some eclectic styles and discover where to look for the perfect furniture and accessories. Remember that you don't need to be in a hurry to finish your room. You will come across perfect accessories in your travels and know that they need to come home with you. It's an enjoyable quest to furnish this room in which you will spend so much time. Does this Spark an idea?
The Good Old Days
Play the game of "remember when" and see what era and types of items spark your interest. If you love Burma-Shave memorabilia or vintage Howdy Doody, start hitting the flea markets for mid-20th century icons. Look for vintage quilts and accessory piece like hobnail glass, copper tea service, even candlesticks to round out the comfortable feel of that bygone era. Shop in your granny's attic; she may have a few authentic relics in trunks that can be refurbished and displayed. Don't worry if you can't find the perfect mid-century piece, because if it looks good in the room, no one will ask for date verification.
Quest for Real Furniture
There are many different country magazines on the market that can give you furniture ideas; two are mentioned in the resources section below. They will help you define what sort of furniture you are looking for. Nothing works like a well-preserved piece from the last century, but finding one in perfect shape may be difficult. Visit antique stores, and while you might not find the sofa you were dreaming of, you could come home with a trunk full of footstools and vintage ladder-back chairs. In the end, you can go to a custom furniture maker and have them quote a price for the perfect custom-made vintage look. Garage sales can be surprising places to find vintage furniture. Just be sure to check out the framework of the piece to see if it's worth restoring.
Can You Mix the Different Eras?
Feel free to furnish your country living room with anything that you like. There are no rules in decorating. Old Greek busts look spectacular on a Victorian side table. If you like Nippon lacquerware, display it on your mantle with mid-century Swedish candlesticks. Unless you intend to create an old Williamsburg look, you need not remain faithful to a picture you see in a magazine. You can combine antique American pieces with European vintage looks and even use African accessories for an ancient tribal feel. Your goal is to satisfy your own soul when you enter your living room.
What about the Walls and Floors?
Use a coat of paint to set the color scheme of your room. If you are using shades of gold and blue with red accents, try a linen or beige color on the walls. Add some molding around the top of the walls and paint them a brighter white. Feel free to add more color to fit the feel of the room, but keep the overall look uncluttered and harmonious. Wainscoting halfway up the wall and painted white adds a comfortable feel to a country living room. Floors in country living rooms are often wood with rugs that range from rag rugs to punched rugs. Even if you have to start with wall-to-wall carpeting before you can afford pegged wooden flooring, remember that your room is ever evolving and you will always have a new project in front of you.
Bring the Outside In
Country homes always used natural elements found on or around the property. Fill canning jars, old pots or tin pails with grasses and flowers. Fill glass jars with pebbles collected on a country road. Cut slender branches off flowering trees in the spring and let them bloom indoors in a vase of water. Set a charming old birdhouse on your mantle, and add nests if you can find them. Make liberal use of autumn foliage to change the season in your living room. Look for pumpkins you can pair up with vintage farm pictures. Pile a basket with pine cones in the winter. Display a clean old honeycomb with vintage wax candles to highlight your discovery. Natural objects are free and meant to be changed often to keep a fresh quality to the room.
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