Our Favorite Rustic Living Room Design Ideas

It’s called the living room for a reason. The kitchen may be where everyone gathers, but when you are home with just your family, the living room is where it’s at. That’s why you want it to be warm, inviting and comfortable. Living room design can feel challenging at times. There are so many pieces that need to fit together in harmony and often people find the whole task a bit overwhelming. Today we are going to talk about how to manifest a comfortable, rustic living room space. If you’re nervous, don’t be! We make it easy, because no matter what your tastes are, or which pieces you specifically need, the exceptionally high quality of wooden living room furniture from AmishOutletStore.com is an investment in the future of your home.

What is Rustic Style?

When you hear the term “Rustic Style” what comes to mind? For most people, it’s your typical rustic lodge theme, however that’s a bit of a misnomer. Rustic style actually covers a wide variety of design styles, including farmhouse, coastal, Tuscan and yes, even lodge style. What it really means is to aim for a casual, cozy, feel with an unpretentious look. Typical ways to incorporate a rustic style into a room include natural elements like wide plank floors, non-painted wood and natural fabrics in solid colors. So, as you start to investigate living room design ideas, keep an open mind as you poke around. You may wind up somewhere you weren’t planning to be!

First Things First – Choose a Key Piece

Whether you are setting up a brand-new room or giving a facelift to your current one, you always want to start the same place – focal points. As the saying goes, if you don’t know where you are, then how do you know where you’re going? The first thing to do is decide what will be the focal points of the room. Maybe you have a great setup for watching movies, or the perfect stereo for listening to music. If so, you may choose to make your entertainment center the star of the show. If you lean more toward reading, relaxing or entertaining friends, the couch may be the way to go. You can also have more than one focal point in a room. For example, during the day you may prefer reading but, in the evening, you find yourself watching TV. If that’s the case, you can arrange the couch and entertainment console to both be center stage.

Don’t forget to also pay attention to any architectural focal points. Do you have a bay window with a fantastic view? If so, you’ll want to highlight that when choosing your furniture. Other architectural accents that might dominate a room are a fireplace, built-in bookshelves or a grand piano. Whatever you decide your focal points are, be sure to pick furniture that speaks to you.

Add Character with Complimentary Items

Once you identify your focal points, you can move on to accent pieces. These include items such as bookcases, end tables, coffee tables, and chairs. Imagine all the different things you will be doing in your living room. Watching TV, reading books, and entertaining friends all influence how you set up your room. Can you really arrange a space to accommodate all these activities? Absolutely! You just have to think a little outside the box. Maybe you set up a reading chair with a diminutive floor lamp and a small bookcase in a corner of the room. You can place the couch in the perfect place to watch TV but surround it with some great accent chairs (or even a rocking chair!) to create a conversation area for when you have friends over. Add a coffee table with matching end tables and you’re good to go! Don’t be afraid to move things around and try different arrangements. Too often people just throw things up against opposite walls and call it a day. But with a little imagination and a willingness to try things out, you will find the perfect setup for your particular room.

Incorporate Reclaimed Wood

If you really want to shake things up, look for key pieces made from reclaimed wood. Our reclaimed barnwood furniture is made from timeworn, hand-cut pieces of hardwood harvested from barns that used to dot the American landscape. The wood is cleaned and dried, removing old nails when necessary. Reclaimed wood has a history. It’s been weathered by nature, shaped over time from rain, sun and wind. Imagine the life it had before, how past generations relied on it to protect assets vital to their livelihood. The charm of reclaimed wood lies not only in its history, but the unique look as well. There is a variety of shades and colors within a single piece, and evidence of old nail holes and saw marks remain. Reclaimed wood is not only beautiful, it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring a bit of history into your home.

Small Decorative Changes That Make a Difference

Now comes the fun part. Once you have chosen the focal point and accent pieces, show them off using accessories such as pillows, curtains, throws and other decorations. A cozy throw draped over a couch, handwoven and made from natural fibers, invites you to nestle in and relax. Make sure the pattern isn’t too busy and that it picks up the color of the room. Accent pillows will show off the fabric on the sofa while adding comfort and support while sitting. When deciding on pillows, don’t go overboard. Two patterned and two solid color pillows will be plenty. Be sure to arrange them so the largest pillows are on the outside. Floor to ceiling curtains in a warm neutral color will tie everything together and give the room a feeling of completeness. To really bring home that rustic look, keep all your color choices to neutral earth tones.

Now add some other types of rustic decorations to the mix. Metal accents are a great way to bring in that down-to-earth vibe. Wall sculptures, old keys, even antique tractor parts can bring that extra touch you’re looking for. Consider putting an old map inside a distressed wood frame. Take this opportunity to search your mind and let your imagination take over.

The energy created when outfitting your living room in a rustic style is like no other. It’s a way to escape from the hustle and bustle of life outside the safe haven of your home. Investing in a few solid wood pieces of furniture will guarantee enjoyment for years to come. All our furniture is hand-built in Ohio by Amish master craftsmen using the best hardwood and traditional woodworking techniques. And solid wood furniture is not only high quality, it’s the perfect way to bring that rustic, farmhouse look to your living room. Whether you are starting from scratch or just looking for a couple of pieces to update your room, we have plenty of rustic living room furniture here at AmishOutletStore.com.