The Basics of Country Style

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You could almost say that for every place with country living, there is a country style to go with it, from American and English to French and more. Whatever the style, they all have elements that reflect the area surrounding them. Be it today's country or that of the past, they all spell cozy, comfort, home baking, and line-dried sheets. The fun thing about these styles is that most anything goes – plaids, stripes, florals, even clashing patterns. There really aren't any hard, fast rules to follow as in most design styles, but I do suggest the following basics:

First, tie your décor together in a theme. For instance, choose a color theme like red, white, and blue. And second, create a focal point for each room. This can consist of part of your home's architecture or a piece of antique furniture. For instance, check out your high-beam ceilings, fireplace, hardwood floors, or maybe even a four-post bed. Work your theme around that part of the room.

Many accent pieces for your décor can be bought in a department store, but finding them is really where the fun begins. Hit those antique stores, secondhand stores, and garage sales for items like an old tea pot for a planter, a well preserved braided rug on the hardwood floor, or a simple wood frame to put some of those 10-cent doilies you found under glass.

Mix and match with quilts or something similar. I have a mother-in-law who quilts, so quilts are everywhere in my home. This is an element you can use as a focal point in a color scheme or mix and match to go everywhere as bed coverings, wall hangings, or lap throws. I think using a quilt design would make a great theme.

Well, I could go on and on with ideas, but you get the picture. The possibilities are endless with country style decorating and the possibilities increase even more as you brainstorm the many types of country style.

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