Last year Mr. GGF gave me a copy of Hill House Living for Christmas. Okay, I actually gifted it to myself with his name on the tag. We weren’t ‘giving’ gifts but I hate having nothing under the tree so, here we are. He got a shirt and I got a book. Anyway, reading the book got me thinking about how diverse the term decorate with ‘country style’ is and what it means to different people. Many countries have a version of country style. But how do you decorate with country style? What are the elements you should include no matter what region you live in? Here are my thoughts.

Types of Country Style

Every country has a rural area, so every country most likely has its own version of country style. Most of us would be able to recognise English Country, French Country, Cottage, and Farmhouse decorating styles but there are more country styles than you can probably count: think Primitive, Rustic, Tuscan just to name a few. Your version of country style could be a blend of a couple of styles.

My current style is a mashup of English country with elements of Farmhouse and Cottage. Below is a list of the more dominant styles of country decorating.

• English
• Modern (Australian houses are often decorated in this style)
• French
• Vintage
• Early American
• Scandinavian
• Farmhouse
• Cottage

Classic and Traditional Furniture

Earlier in January, I posted about the decorating trends I see around me that are perfect for a country-style home. Especially if you love the traditional country or cottage style of decorating.

If you want to decorate with country style, forget the stuff you buy at the big stores. You need furniture with character. There’s no better place to find character than in old pieces. Around 90% of our home is second-hand furniture. I draw the line at things we require support for, like our bed but even that is vintage style. A country-style interior can blend old and new very successfully. It’s a style about collecting over time so a mix of pieces is how it all works. You won’t be able to go to a large store, buy the sofa and matching coffee table and expect it to look like a vintage or country home.

So, if you need to buy a new sofa and want a country look, you could choose a more traditional style, depending on the country style you love. Alternatively, you could buy a vintage sofa and have it recovered in modern material and new fill.

Soft Muted Colours and Fabrics

If you want to decorate with country style, you should steer clear of bold colours, especially for walls or furniture. Country style is soft and muted, the colours you see out the window in nature. the colours that relax you and invite you into a room. Of course, if you love bold colours, you can use them, but temper them with whites and other neutrals. Use them strategically. Modern country decorating uses a lot of white and timber, so a bold red on a wall would not work. However, a table set with a red checked cloth and white china would suit any country setting.

I’ve written many times about how floral, checked and striped patterns add visual interest and colour to a country room. Even if you are a modern country girl you can add more muted patterns and texture to create that collected country feel with layers to create a cosy look in your scheme.

Timber

Timber has always been a staple in country decorating. It might be timber floors or beams in an old cottage. The look could be painted Scandinavian furniture or a battered timber farmhouse table. If you don’t have original features such as these you can bring timber into your home in the form of breadboards, tables, small accessories and baskets. All add country charm.

Accesories

Country Style accessories are all about the lived-in and collected feel that occurs over time. I love ‘functional decor’. That is decor pieces that look beautiful but also serve a purpose. A stack of linen cloths or napkins, a bowl of fruit or a pile of plates on a counter. Handmade country accessories really add to the lived-in feel of the style. Accessories that are made of natural fibres such as cotton or linen lend a more traditional feel to your home.

So, are you ready to decorate in country style? What kind of country is your style?