Guest post- How To Create A Rustic Dining Room!

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.