I understand, I understand, after all your bedroom is currently approximately as thrilling as watching paint dry. You read through Pinterest and see those beautiful rustic bedrooms which could easily just fit right into a quaint cabin somewhere and think to yourself: How in the world can I get my own space to look like that without having to rob the bank?
So, this is your coffee (or wine, no judgment here :)) moment and I will tell you all about how to turn that dreary bedroom of yours to a rustic paradise you will never want to leave. I myself have gone down this rabbit hole, made a lot of mistakes, tried what actually works and what only looks good on paper.
1. Start with Raw Wood Elements – Your Foundation for Rustic Magic
The MVP of rustic decor is basically raw wood. I mean things that don t have their natural grain rubbed out of it, certainly no polish rubbed over it, and perhaps a bit of a knot or two. The thing is that you can go all lumberjack on your project, but you can also use real wood as a material at least, to change the atmosphere at once.
Here’s what I’ve learned works best:
Reclaimed wood headboards, barn wood floating shelves, wooden picture frames, or cedar chests, or wooden storage boxes.
The secret is to combine various wood tones rather than attempting to color match things. Believe me, that, oh-so-coordinated appearance is more furniture store than cozy cabin.
| Wood Type | Best Use | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Reclaimed Barn Wood | Headboards, Accent Walls | $3-8 per sq ft |
| Cedar | Storage Boxes, Shelving | $2-5 per sq ft |
2. Layer Your Textiles Like a Pro (AKA The Cozy Factor)
Have you ever wondered why there are bedrooms that you feel like you would like to sleep and sleep in it and never come out? It is the game of textile layers. I once wondered to myself that just a single comforter and some few pillows would suffice; boy was I mistaken.
It really is just difference in texture and pattern but without giving the impression that you went to a thrift store and picked blindly. And here is my old standby formula:
Use a neutral foundation, i.e. cream, beige or light gray bed linen. Then throw in: • a berry knit throw blanket (go a step further and have that made by hand) • fur accents or sheepskin pillows • plaid or gingham patterns in neutral tones • linen-looking fabric curtains that have the look of being worn a bit • linen aside (just like precious babies, linen is supposed to look a tad worn)
Pro tip: Do not be scared of mixing patterns but these should stay in the same color spectrum. I had this experience firsthand and combined bright red plaid with navy stripes which was a patriotic nightmare.
3. Embrace Vintage Lighting That Actually Works
Your rustic feeling can be done with or without lighting and that is not the fake rustic lights that you see in the big boxes stores. Not least because such items yell out I tried too hard a mile away.like a national nightmare.
Instead, go treasure hunting on real vintage items or authentic reproductions. This is what has worked out for me:
Mason jar pendant lights – Yes, they are a thing, but they are a thing because they are nice🤷 storik Margherita neon sign – Admittedly, most people don’t have or know about them, but the ones who tell you that an item has to be well-known, popular, and famous do not see what is being said
The secret is to layer light. You desire ambient lighting to give the overall mood, task lighting to read and feature lighting to bring out what is your favorite piece about rustic. We can not use just one overhead fixture.
4. Bring Nature Indoors (But Make It Stylish)
That is what is absolutely rustic about being able to use real material nature provides. However, this is where most folks fail to understand, since rustic can fool some of them into believing that it refers to a cluttered or messy place. It is natural elements edited.
The natural elements that I use as my everyday add-ons: • Terracotta potted plants or plants in woven baskets such as; snake plants and pothos, almost impossible to kill • Dried flowers in vintage bottles are less maintenance, as opposed to fresh flowers • River rocks, or pine cones in clear glass jars, often found for little to nothing making it cost effective • Pieces of driftwood are easy to find along the shore and make inexpensive wall art.
The secret is in the selection of the pieces which should not dominate your space. I had a pinecone overload on one occasion, and my room resembled a crafting store after a bomb had gone off in it, and that is not the feeling that we want to achieve.
5. Master the Art of Vintage Finds and Thrift Store Treasures
Real rustic dcor is something you cannot purchase in mint condition at Target and that is a fact. The truly interesting ones are on the thrift stores, estate sales, and the antique store which you always drive, but never enter.
My pretty awesome thrift store success plan: • Take a targeted list with you – Without this you will bring home a bunch of stuff that you never thought you needed • Be selective of material of the piece – Solid wood, real metal and real leather • Save the pieces that have foundational value – You can always refinish and or re-purpose • Do not fear a little invincible experience – Character and dents will add interest
Some of my most successful hunts: • An antique wooden ladder that I turned into a blanket display • Some old vintage suitcases that I have used as storage and night stands • A vintage weathered mirror that has become my main decoration • Mason jars that I have turned into planters (why not?)
The chase is 50-percent of the game and as it truly is, the history behind your pieces is so much more valuable than anything that you could get off the internet.
6. Create Cozy Nooks That Beg You to Stay
Any large rustic bedroom should incorporate somewhere that you feel like curling up with a good book. I am referring to those reading nooks that appear on Instagram with an air of casualness (but have been planned).
These are the keys to making your own cozy corner: • Made up with comfortable chair – Vintage leather or a nice cozy armchair can do the trick • A small side table – Tree stumps or old crates make a perfect fit here • Layer in soft lighting – Table lamp or maybe string lights are what may serve • Add some storage space books – Floating shelves give the right look or a small bookcase would work well too • Comfort aspect is not lost – A soft throw and perhaps a footstool are a must here
I was able to turn the corner by my window into a reading nook with a vintage rocking chair, which I bought at a garage sale, and a tree stump my neighbor was disposing. Actually cost me around 15 dollars in total and it has now become my favorite place in the entire house.
7. Wall Treatments That Don’t Require a Contractor
Your walls are essentially a white slate crying out to have some rustic character on it. However, before you start to freak over complete rehauls, I must share with you this information- some of the most beautiful rustic wall magic is actually extraordinarily easy and tidy up friendly!
Here’s what I’ve tried (and what actually worked):
Peel-and-stick planks of wood – Yes, you are talking about non-real wood but the quality ones are good enough • Removable wallpaper with wood grain patterns or stone-like patterns – Just what you need to cover the accent wall • Gallery walls with vintage frames, combine family photographs with nature prints • Acrylic floating shelves to display rustic items – Way too simple than built-ins
Personally I like? I made an illusion shiplap accent wall by thin strips of wood and simple tools. It was around 60 dollars and one weekend. People believe that I employed people but the truth is; had I done it; anyone can as well.
Pro tip: Do not go wild with four walls. Begin with one. You are not looking to be rustic as much as rustic.
8. Storage Solutions That Actually Look Good
To face facts, it is in storage where most of the bedroom makeovers fail. So you go, and make everything pretty, and you find out that you have no place to store your stuff. I already did it, and had to find that out the hard side.
The country bedroom benefit? Storage may come into the decor:
Antique trunks at the ends of the bed- Place off-season clothes and blankets there • Woven baskets under the night tables- A stylish place to stash your random junk there • Ladder shelves- Displays books, plants, and decorative items there • Antique dressers- Have much more character than IKEA furniture
At an estate sale I bought an antique cedar chest of drawers for 45 dollars. It keeps my winter bedding and can be used as a bench. There are multiple examples when a simple solution is the most effective one.
| Storage Type | Best For | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage Trunk | Bedding, Seasonal Items | $50-150 |
| Woven Baskets | Small Items, Clutter | $15-40 each |
9. Color Schemes That Won’t Make You Sick of Rustic
This is where people fall wrong with rustic decor, in their line of thought, they believe that everything must be brown and beige. Yes, earth tones are significant, but there should be a contrast to be exciting.
My all time rustic color scheme: • Warm whites and creams as your base • Deep forest green on your accents • Dusty blue to soothe the senses • Charcoal gray to make it earthy • Wood tones to complement everywhere
The key in that is applying the 60-30-10 rule: 60 percent of neutral plain or low-suggestion colors, 30 percent of whatever color is your main accent, and 10 percent of something unexpected, a pop of color. I also incorporated a small amount of dusty rose to my green and cream scheme, which sounds weird, but looks good.
FYI, do not get too matchy-matchy. Authentic rustic interiors developed and were elaborated with the course of time, which is why your stationery decor must look like it was collected rather than planned.
10. Incorporate Metal Accents (But Do It Right)
Metals will give you that intrinsic farmhouse feel, however, it must be the proper finishes. And gaudy brass and gleamy chrome? Nope. You want metals that appear like they have history in them.
Most rustic metal: • Wrought iron – works best on bed frames and light fixtures • Aged brass- Ideal with hardware and smaller accessories • Galvanized steel- Vintage buckets and planters, etc. • Copper- It gives a rustic warmth and patinates beautifully
At a salvage place I discovered some old wrought iron hardware, and made them up into curtain rods. They cost me 20 bucks and they look like they were out of a posh catalog. Some of the nicest rustic details happen to be those in which you do them yourself.
11. Layer Your Rugs Like a Design Pro
The rugs are unsung heroes of country bedroom decoration. They shape their space, bring texture and can give coherence to your entire color residue. Also, they are much more convenient to change than the furniture, when you want to change your appearance.
And my layering plan will look like this: • A big neutral rug of jute or sisal first, underneath that is anchoring the space • A smaller vintage or patterned rug shall be on top of the big neutral rug- This creates visual interest • A sheepskin or a faux fur throw rug will be ideal besides the bed as the feet can have bare legs
The trick is a combination of textures and levels. I stacked a old Persian carpet in my natural jute rug, and my bedroom instantly looked like it was filled with high end designer stuff. The greatest thing is? Both of the rugs purchased in thrift stores.
There is no shame in letting the rugs go under the furniture, it even helps expand the room and make it more well-organized.
12. Finish with Personal Touches That Tell Your Story
And this is where your country bedroom will be made individualized by yourself. The entire wood furnishing and antiques of the world will not help you until the space helps in portraying your personality.
The personal touches that are effective in rustic spaces are: • Photos of the family in rusted frames:Combine some new images with older ones • Books that you use:Put them on the shelves and nightstands • Handcraft products:Quilts, things made on the pottery wheel, or homemade craft products made by the local artisans • Travel souvenirs:That piece of driftwood you brought home after the beach vacation • Plants in heartfelt vessels:Vintage vessels make effective planters
I have my grandmothers old quilts along with some pottery I did at a weekend class. Such articles start some talk and create an impression that the place is lived-in but rather than staged.
The idea is to have a room which seems to have stories to share. What you need in such they should be rustic bedroom which is a reflection of life and not a copy of some one else pin on Pinterest.
Wrapping It All Up
You do not have to spend so much money or turn everything upside down to make a rustic bedroom that you can even call genuine. It is all about piling natural elements, combining textures and selecting pieces with a character more than perfection.
Begin with a single or couple items which you are enthusiastic about, perhaps a reclaimed wood headboard or some antique chandeliers. Start with that and do not press it too much. The finest rustic interiors are homes that were not redesigned during a shopping weekend, but whose effect has been achieved over time.
Bear in mind that, rustic does not translate as rough around the edges, but rather in a positive way. It implies the openness to imperfection, using natural materials, and owned pieces with stories. Your bedroom must be a relaxing place where you can actually relax there, but not a museum where objects are too scary to touch.
There you have it, now go out there and decorate that rustic dreamy bedroom you been pinning on Pinterest. And your future self (and your sleeping schedule) will be grateful! 🙂