There
are few things in life that are better than sitting down with friends and
family and sharing food. If you can do this in beautiful
surroundings: so much the better. Rustic dining rooms are fabulous at any time,
but when the days are a little bit shorter and the temperature a little bit
cooler, a rustic dining room just seems to come into its own. Let us have a
closer look at some of the features that you might consider for your rustic
dining room.
1. Materials
With
any type of rustic design the emphasis is always on natural materials. That is
not to say that you can not combine traditional and contemporary looks. If, however, you are planning to give your dining room that authentic rustic quality
then you should be looking to natural materials.
The
materials you use set the feel and tone of the room. Rough wood, solid beams
and rough stone give a feeling of security; a welcoming hearth and wicker
furniture are a reminder of slower, gentler times, and colourful table linin
and natural finished furniture add a touch of homeliness and coziness.
2. Rustic Dining Table
The
dining table is going to be a central feature of any dining room and a rustic
one is no different. With rustic décor the accent is always on the furniture being
constructed, as far as it is practicable to do this, from natural materials. So
you can expect to see lots of wood and stone.
Natural
materials are very comforting and can blend well with modern designs. Rustic
tables are not difficult to acquire and are not too expensive. If you are very
creative you can have a go at making one yourself. Oak and pine are popular
woods from which rustic tables are constructed.
Just
it couple of tips if you are thinking of making your own table. You will find
lots of designs on the internet; Pinterest is a good place to look. When
looking for timber, the grain is something to pay particular attention to,
unless your intention is to paint or distress the wood.
3. Rustic Furniture
Rustic
furniture is about as natural as it gets. Sticks, logs and twigs are used in
its construction. You will find rustic furniture manufactured by artisans
throughout the country. They will take their inspiration from a wide range of
influences: some historical; some more recent.
Look
out for the two different types of construction. The first is known as bentwood.
This uses sticks that are bent into shape. The sticks will have previously been
steamed to make them pliable. You will often see rocking chairs constructed this way.
The second is known as twig work where peeled twigs are bent to form decorative
features. This type of construction was very popular in the Great Camps of The
Adirondack Mountains.
4. Fire Place
A
fire place will become the focal point of your room. The fireplace you put in
your rustic dining room can easily incorporate the same natural elements that
have been used in other parts of the room’s design. If it is possible to have a
real fire burning on a cold winter’s day, the warmth, the glow and the rustic
charm of the fireplace with fill you with joy and optimism that all is well with
the world. If you do not have a chimney, there are a wide range of artificial
fires that are available.
5. Hearth
It
is of no surprise that we link hearth and home together. There is something comforting
and secure about a beautiful stone hearth. A good tip here is to use stones of
different sizes. This will give your hearth the appearance of being constructed
by hand, just as it would have been all those years ago.
Nothing
completes the look of your fireplace and adds an extra bit of rustic charm and
coziness to your dining room than a natural wood or natural stone mantel. If
you go for wood try and get a mantel that has been hand carved, which will,
again, add to the homeliness of its appearance: just like the odd sized stones
in the hearth. To complete the look try and get a matching hand carved wooden
surround.
In
a busy world it is good to have a place to come home to that makes you feel that
life is just right. A rustic dining room will do this. The five suggestions
above should give you enough to get you started in creating a little bit of
rustic charm in your home.
Author: David
Johnson has
written extensively on interior design. He began his working life as an
apprentice carpenter. David recommends Lights and Furniture for all your home decoration
needs.