My childhood was spent stomping around an old Victorian farmhouse. I grew up with stained glass windows, ornate handcrafted woodwork, and a huge front porch with a swing. Of course, nothing in life is quite as rosy as it seems. I also grew up with ants in the kitchen, constant repairs, and winter drafts that could chill a child to the bone. This was home.
You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.
Below are 7 tips for making your new house feel rustic.
Fast forward twenty years...
I live in a small flat with my family. Ha. Ok, ok, that's me getting all Fancy Nancy on you. We live in a fairly new, maintenance-free apartment. Here's the catch... for the first five-years we lived here, I always thought we were going to move [read why]. I had never taken the time and effort to make our apartment my own. I enlisted my feng shui friend Sarah for remake and a weekend makeover.
For me, the words "new apartment" and "home" conflict. So the quest for rustic began...
1. Design your own plank wall for less than $50! I love the colors this family has selected. The DIY genius over on Lovely etc explains, "Once everything was painted, it was time to install the wall. Let me say right now, I do not have a nail gun. You can totally install a plank wall using an old fashioned hammer and nails. My husband, Mitch, and I worked together and we were able to get the whole thing installed in just a couple of hours." Check out their photo tutorial.
2. Don't underestimate the power of resales shops and rummage sales. Antique stores offer great finds, but at often high prices. I found this old tool chest for $35 at a resale shop. It adds a lovely dash of color and a lot of ambiance to our home.
3. Mix it up. Check out this gorgeous barn door track tutorial. The home owner writes, "We fell in love with barn-style track systems that are hanging gorgeous doors in and on all the design magazines and websites right now. What we couldn’t stomach was the $400+ price tag." So her husband spent weeks designing a game plan and created a DIY version for a total of less than $120 (not including tools). See the step-by-step instructions.
4. Build a rustic bookshelf. THIS my friends, is on my summer to-do list. What I love about this simple tutorial is that I can make this pipe bookshelf without tools or help from husband. I also love that it easily attaches to the wall, making it a little more kid-friendly. Are you going to make it, too? Pin it for later!
5. Be cautious of too much FAUX. Distressed furniture continues to be a fun design trend. If you fall in love with a "new faux distressed" piece, mix it in! Keep the ratio low or your home will start to feel...
It is hard to truly replicate the visual story an old rustic piece carries...
Bonus Tip: Keep your eyes open for unique pieces online.
I am enamored with the limited supply of rustic frames being offered at Minted.com:
• 
Handcrafted in the US from wood reclaimed from old barns.
• Each frame reflects the imperfections and weathering of time and years of use, making each frame unique and valuable in its own right.
I ordered six square prints to create a rustic gallery in our family room. Click here to see the full collection of art available with handcrafted barn wood frames.
6. Shop your own garage or basement. I recommend doing this with a friend. A new set of eyes can breath creativity into something you've written off as junk. There are so many cool ways to upcycle your home.
When my friend Sarah saw our mish-mash of a nature table, she suggested I grab some vases and bowls from the basement to create a visual display of our treasures.
Pop over to Melissa & Doug's Playtime Press to read
6 Simple Tips for Keeping Everyday Living Spaces Under Control and see photos of the nature display in our living room.
The entire time the girls and I put the collection together, I thought of this quote...
Check out this great video and post from Playful Learning for beautiful ways to create a nature table. Find additional inspiration here on Imagination Tree and Tinker Lab.
7. Follow these three Pinterest boards for future inspiration:
- Upcycle Your Home: This is a tutorial board I co-host with the site Modge Podge Rocks. You'll find a lovely collection of ideas and non-stop inspiration.
- Home Design: Creative "make your house a home" ideas pinned from our lovely sponsor Minted.com.
- Distinct Decor: Family-friendly shopping inspiration for your home.
This is an ongoing quest for me. I'd love it if you'd share your favorite rustic home decor boards or pins on Facebook or in the comments below!
Laura Ingalls Wilder once wrote...
“Home is the nicest word there is.”
I couldn't agree more...
P.S. Enjoy 10% Off Mother's Day Gifts. Offer includes notebooks, personalized stationery, limited edition art prints, photo art, and family tree custom art. This offer does not apply to shipping and tax. This promotion may not be combined with any other offer.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
