Crafty Country Decorating Style Ideas
by Kathy Burns-Millyard
If you've ever seen Frank's decorations on TLC's Trading Spaces,
then you know all about the country style of design. From stenciled drawings to
wooden cows to ruffled curtains, country design has all the frills you might
expect from our dear friend, Frank. When I was a little girl, my grandparents
sold woodwork at the flea markets all over Tennessee and Kentucky. We had wooden
calendars with dolls or bears painted on them. We had quilt racks with hearts.
We had every crafty country decoration imaginable. Although I thought at one
time that you could just toss all these things into a room and have style, I've
learned since that there are very definite ways to create crafty country rooms
that men are still willing to enter.
Crafty country is great, but if you are not careful, your husband may be ready
to kick you out of the house. Country design tends to be frilly and a bit girly,
and your husband may not approve. One way to create a home that is comfortable
for everyone is to use wooden flea market items and ruffled curtains sparingly.
Not every room in your home needs to have a cow or duck in it. You can create a
beautiful country sitting room with a comfortable plaid couch, slightly ruffled
curtains, and a couple of stencils on the wall; the room is still definitely
country, but at the same time your wooden coffee tables may have somewhat modern
lines so that the males in your home enjoy the room too.
Another way to bring country design to the whole family is to let your husband
add his own touches to the decoration. I'm not saying you should let him put
antlers on every part of the walls, but if he hunts, you should allow him to
have at least one or two rooms (maybe in the back of the house) where he can
display his animals. If he doesn't hunt, you could simulate the more manly
country style by integrating rustic decor items such as antler chandeliers or
lamps. Another option is to bring in old farming tools or hunting traps to
display on the walls. Old items like these bring a manly air to the house, and
they are interesting pieces that will give your guests something to talk about.
They can also give the room a settled, sturdy feeling; something about the tools
makes a room seem safe and secure. Using a few of these tools or items
throughout your home can really make your crafty country them come to life.
Crafty country is a great way to design as long as you remember one word:
moderation. The frills and flowery stencils of this design are not the only
parts of it. Another part of country is simply that you are crafty and you
create your own unique items. Make a desk out of an old door; make screens out
of window shutters; use an old window with berries and holly glued on to make a
beautiful Christmas decoration. Being creative is really the most wonderful part
of the crafty country style. Your friends will marvel at your ingenuity as you
create a style that is yours and yours alone.
This article is provided courtesy of The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network
- http://www.diyhomedecorating.com
- a large and growing decorating and decor website featuring articles, tips,
advice, and popular decor shopping.