My Country Living Essentials

There’s something about leaving the city behind and driving down a country lane that evokes a sense of peace and calm. Cows grazing in the field, birds singing in the trees. It just feels so romantic. It makes you think of times past. Even on a rainy day when it’s misty and cold, a drive in the countryside is a real stress reliever. Elements such as ramshackle timber cottages by the side of the road, a traditional clothesline with freshly laundered linen, and chickens foraging in a garden are the things I think of first when I think of country style. But the list of country living essentials extends into the farmhouse too. It’s endless. And particular to anyone who dreams of a country existence.

Here are a few things that say country life to me. And when I asked my Facebook friends what they thought, their ideas included these too!

A List of Country Living Essentials Compiled by YOU

Recently, I asked my Instagram friends what came to mind when they thought about life in the country. The answers were so varied, everyone has their own ideas of country perfection. However, many of the ideas listed below could become part of your home, even if you don’t live in the country. Most of them are small touches you could introduce to your home to add country flair to your home.

I thought About My Country Living Essentials

After compiling this list, I began to think about the things that are on my list. So, below, are items I cannot live without in my country home.

A Farmhouse Table

I’m starting with the one I don’t have. . . well, not in my kitchen anyway. In this instance, I’m dreaming of a scrubbed pine top, laden with a stack of vintage china, a tray of fresh eggs and an old jug stuffed full of blooms just picked from the garden. Our kitchen has an old table made into an island, so I live my country cream with an old table on the verandah. It’s rough and seen some weather but that’s what makes it charming. And charm is what sets the true country home or cottage apart.

A Horseshoe Over the Door is a Country Living Essential

How many times have you seen an upturned horseshoe nailed over the door of a barn or leaned on the rail of a fence? It’s as if the owner found it in the dirt, brushed it off, and left it there for later. A horseshoe is meant to bring good luck, so if you see one hanging on a fence, leave it there! We found one in the mud down by the garage. It’s now nailed on the fence, a reminder of the history of our home.

Furred and Feathered Friends

One country living essential I cannot live without is our collection of animals. I love arriving home to find the ducks waiting for me. They waddle down the drive to the car and quack at my arrival. The chickens talk and Fred, our rooster is a constant presence. He’s little, so he’s not noisy. But he loves to peck around and let you know he’s there. It’s absolutely possible for you to have a pair of ducks or chickens in your small backyard. They make a great alternative to a dog or cat and have the added bonus of loving your kitchen scraps and giving you eggs in return.

Furniture Collected Over Time

Quite often a farm is inherited from a family member and that person might leave the furniture too. To me, seeing a collection of old pieces painted and rustic says I live in the country. It doesn’t matter if the dogs jump on it or feet are placed upon it. Country furniture is meant to be lived on. It’s not stuffy or pretentious. It’s loved and appreciated for what it is. The knicks and dings are part of the allure. You might add pattern on pattern. Your version of country might be more minimal and rustic. However you express the country vibe in your home, a mish mash of old, second hand or antique furniture is a must.

Sturdy Hardworking Homewares

Another of the country living essentials I require. Not only are they functional but they’re also beautiful. A set of stoneware Mason & Cash mixing bowls or a porcelain mortar and Pestle can be stacked on open shelving and double as decor. A row of glass canisters filled with dry goods and timber scoops are all you need in the country kitchen. Not to mention an array of timber breadboards that double for preparation but serving. And don’t forget a stack of vintage china. No country home is complete without it.

Wicker Baskets and Laundry on the Line

This might not be everyone’s idea of country but I love the idea of linen sheets flapping on a hastily constructed rope clothesline. (As long as you don’t strangle yourself on it, but we won’t go there). Wooden dolly pegs, a wicker basket for the wet washing, and a row of white linen sheets or towels create that mood I love. One of summer days, fresh sheets on the bed. It’s about the romance of country life (Not the drudgery of laundry). I actually like doing the laundry when I can take a day and slowly bring it in and out. What about you?