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Modern Rustic decorating ideas & interiors

August 12, 2016

Modern Rustic decorating ideas and interiors – simple, modern country interiors

If, like us, you love Modern Rustic interiors, here’s some creative ideas on how to get the look. We love relaxed, contemporary rustic interiors and here’s how to get the look in your own home. Keep your palette restrained and stick to calm, natural colours such as whites, soft greys and natural wood. It’s all about keeping the look pared back, uncluttered and calm, whilst remaining cosy. Source accessories, furniture and linens from 100s of hand-picked makers in our directory to help you create the look.

 

get the modern rustic look

Modern Rustic decorating ideas – get the look

love this modern rustic grey and white bathroom. Click through for more ideas you'll love for creating the modern rustic look

1 Paint walls white or soft grey and white. Don’t be afraid to contrast with dark walls. Grey works well with white and wood. Paint colours to create the look:

Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball

Ammonite by Farrow & Ball

School House White by Farrow & Ball (below)

love this modern rustic panelled wall dining room painted in school house white by farrow and ball - just one of the stunning decorating ideas I've shared on the blog for creating a relaxed modern rustic country feel in your home #farrowandball #paint #schoolhouse #white #decorating #frombritainwithlove

love this modern rustic living room with old leather chair, animal skin rug, limed floor boards and dark linen curtains. Click through to get ideas you'll love for creating a modern rustic feel in your home

2 Try painting woodwork in a soft grey. Purbeck Stone by Farrow & Ball would be perfect. Drop Cloth and Cornforth White would also both work really well.

3 Painting rustic brick or bare plaster can add a contemporary rustic look – love this bedroom by The White Company. It’s the contrast of soft, faux fur with rough walls and simple linen curtains that makes it for me. That, and the calm, neutral colour scheme. Find similar bedding and accessories at The White Company

modern rustic bedroom white linen faux fur throw and rustic white painted brick walls and grey concrete with black and white contemporary prints #modern #rustic #bedroom #white #fauxfur

4 Add natural texture with animal skins, vintage leather furniture. soft pure linen, rustic and whitewashed wood, stone, burnished metal, plain rustic tiles and knitted fabrics.

love this modern rustic hallway with dark grey farrow and ball door, stripped floor boards and rustic wood bench. Click through for more modern rustic country home ideas you'll love

This vintage elm bench makes a wonderful hallway statement piece and adds a modern rustic touch. I found a larger version and used it in my own bathroom to hold our two white washbowls. I absolutely love it. Find similar accessories at The White Company. For elm benches, Etsy is a good place to look. Ineko Home sells a varying range of rustic and vintage furniture and accessories – and usually have some vintage elm benches or stools on sale. Adding heavy linen curtains to a front door not only ups your insulation game but also adds modern rustic softness to dark and moody front door.  Love the lime washed old floorboards and the natural texture added with a woven coir matt.

5 To create a similar look, try painting your woodwork dark grey – Farrow & Ball Down Pipe would be perfect and try pairing with soft grey white Ammonite on the walls.

6 Try painting reclaimed furniture with Annie Sloan paints in pale colours. We love the chalky finish and that the paint will literally go on top of anything. A simple and cost-effective way to gain new pieces of furniture. Try painting up simple solid wooden chests of drawers, traditional kitchen chairs and side tables. Great way to breathe new life into tired wooden pieces of furniture and good fun too! Also keep an eye out for rustic pieces of wooden furniture – like this great wooden bench in the hallway at our photoshoot location.

love this modern rustic bathroom with walls painted in farrow and ball railings bathroom looks contrasted with white rolltop bath and printed linens love how the dark walls of this farrow and ball railings bathroom looks contrasted with white rolltop bath and printed linens

7 Try painting walls dark colours – like this Farrow & Ball Railings colour in a bathroom. It will really allow for simple rustic textures such as wood to stand out. Love how the linen cushion by Madder Cutch & Co looks in contrast.

love these modern rustic throws and cushions by vanessa arbuthnott

8 Invest in some soft wool throws or blankets. It’s as much about the cosy feel and warmth as the look, so I’d always pay a bit more for soft, pure wool. Try Melin Tregwynt or Trefriw. The throws pictured above and cushion below are both by Vanessa Arbuthnott

love this modern rustic living room with distressed walls vintage furniture and upholstered green chair with linen cushion

9 Have fun with texture and distressed finishes. Love how this smartly upholstered chair looks contrasted with highly distressed chest and very rustic floor boards.

love this modern rustic dining room with paint on bare plaster rustic wood table and textural ceramics

this modern rustic dining room table looks fab against a bare plaster wall with uneven section of textural paint applied. Adds interest and texture to simple ceramics and wood.

love this modern rustic rusted metal chair with linen cushionlove these modern rustic distressed armchairs with pretty linen cushions by cabbages & roses

Also love the distressed texture of this rusty vintage metal chair and the contrast it makes with the pretty linen cushion by Cabbages & Roses. The distressed old armchairs look fab with pretty simple linen cushions too, don’t you think? Not sure I’d get away with this look in my house, but if the rest of the interior is minimal and tidy, I think it works…

Ellie Mae makes cushions in Cabbages & Roses fabrics available to buy on Etsy here. I think the cushions shown in the image above are made in Constance Natural Dark Red Linen – and are available to buy from Elli Mae Cushions on Etsy for £31.99 in a range of sizes.

love this modern rustic kitchen look with white creamware jug and white hyacinths

10 Bring the outside in with arrangements of natural foliage and simple flowers. If you keep your eyes open throughout the seasons, there should be something to pick in the garden or hedgerows all year.

I like to use vintage white creamware jugs as vases (like this one I photographed with simple white hyacinths and old Fortnum & Mason pudding basin I picked up for 20p from a car boot sale. Here’s an image of my own kitchen with inexpensive open shelf from Ikea with old glass mason jars filled with dry foods.

I love how my mum’s old mixing bowl looks planted up with spring daffodils. The tin had figs in syrup inside. Which were disgusting. But love how it looks with herbs from the garden… This is one of my favourite modern rustic decorating ideas.

love this modern rustic kitchen with white mixer, spring flowers in vintage mixing bowl, old tins of herbs, open shelves with glass jars and white metro tilinglove this modern rustic look with vintage enamel oil pourer planted with spring daffodils and white hyacinths in old pretty tin

Group in different sizes. Put stems in some and play until you like the look you’ve achieved. I like to group in threes with greenery in two but not the third. I love the way my vintage white jugs all have different textural designs but share a pure and simple single colour.

love this modern rustic flower idea by Sarah of Floribunda Rose

11 Mixing rustic wood with neutrals and clean white is another modern rustic decorating idea.

love this modern rustic open kitchen shelving with ceramics and wooden worktop with butler sinklove how rustic dark wood shelf works across white rolltop bath in modern rustic bathroom

12 Linen is a great source of modern rustic decorating ideas. You can’t beat it as a fabric for completing the modern rustic look. Find these beautiful fabrics at Cabbages & Roses

love this modern rustic daybed with dark grey wall and simple white and grey linenslove these modern rustic cushions in linen prints and knitted cotton in greys, soft dove grey and charcoal

I’ve found ready made cushions in Hatley Linen Black (above) and the French Toile Linen in Black (also above) by Elli Mae Cushions on Etsy

Also love this modern rustic wallpaper by them. It’s floral but given a real contemporary edge by being printed in charcoal grey on a natural background. Love it.

love this modern rustic wallpaper in grey floral on natural white by cabbages and roses

Also love how this linen tablecloth by Aerende looks on a simple, modern rustic dining table.

love this modern rustic dining table with linen cloth

Love these images styled by Hilary Lowe of Damson & Slate (listed in our directory here)

love this combination of apple green cushions by Damson & Slate and old church wooden bench. Simple rustic country styling that works. Click through for more ideas you'll lovelove this quirky rustic country entrance hallway in wales with old wooden church bench, soft blue walls, baskets, vintage prints and vintage finds and hat standlove this dark wood farmhouse chair with dark wood beams and panelling. Styled by Hilary Lowe for Foxy Pheasant. Click through for more ideas you'll lovelove this st judes yellow upholstered vintage rocking chair

Chair above is upholstered in fabric by St Jude’s and photographed by Yeshen Venema, styled by Hilary Lowe. Cushions on wooden chair are by Foxy Pheasant, also photographed by Yeshen Venema and styled by Hilary Lowe.

I also love this rustic bathroom and living room from this restoration project 

love this rustic country bathroom with roll top bath, open shelves and rustic woodlove this country rustic kitchen with open shelves, shaker cupboards and vintage enamel and wood. Click through for more rustic interiors ideas you'll lovelove this modern rustic bathroom with wood floor roll top bath and white wallslove this modern rustic country kitchen with dark grey walls, open shelves, old farmhouse table and simple rustic ceramics, old wooden chopping boards and simple glass storage jars. click through for more rustic interiors ideas you'll love

Love the two above, too from Desire to Inspire

Light Locations

Light Locations is a great place to source interesting and beautiful places to shoot. These two modern rustic kitchen/dining rooms are fresh and contemporary with a simple rusticity that I love.

love this modern rustic coastal kitchen diner dining room with white washed painted tonque and groove panelled walls and painted floor boards with open shelving, white table and chairs and vintage lighting and prints. Click through for more inspiring modern rustic decorating ideas you'll love #modernrustic #decorating #kitchen #dining #vintage #country #white #frombritainwithlove love this modern rustic coastal kitchen diner dining room with white washed painted tonque and groove panelled walls and lime washed floor boards with open shelving, rustic dark wooden dining table with vintage metal chairs and vintage mirrors vintage lighting and prints. Click through for more inspiring modern rustic decorating ideas you'll love #modernrustic #decorating #kitchen #dining #vintage #country #white #frombritainwithlove

Unique Home Stays

For inspiration check out Unique Home Stays too – always a great place to find beautiful, stylish properties to book and enjoy an inspirational holiday.

Here are a few of my favourite modern rustic decorating ideas from the properties available to book:

love this modern rustic courtyard terrace garden created using simple bifold french doors with stone floor, gravel, original btc lighting and vintage paintings with painted clapboard walls on the exterior it's just one of the beautiful properties available to book through Unique Stays love this modern rustic hallway stairs with floor length linen curtain and natural seagrass stairs carpet and vintage paintings it's just one of the beautiful properties available to book through Unique Stays modern rustic bathroom with twin slipper baths and stone grey walls and antique stone fireplace - it's just one of the beautiful properties available to book through Unique Stays #modernrustic #bathroom #twin #slipperbathAbove: Little Scarlet in Oxfordshire

modern rustic kitchen idea with dark teal walls, brass industrial taps, butler belfast sink, reclaimed wooden kitchen units, vintage glass bottles and lanternsand solid wood work top - it's just one of the beautiful properties available to book through Unique Stays #modernrustic #reclaimed #brass #kitchen

Love this confident use of colour, mixed with reclaimed wooden units, industrial brass taps and vintage finds. It’s from Juneberry in Cubert, Cornwall. It’s a reclaimed cabin for two tucked away on Cornwall’s north coast. I love how the colour palette is carried throughout the house:

modern rustic bedroom decoration idea using reclaimed wood as a bedhead, industrial lighting, dark vintage fabrics, teal velvet, textural knitted cushions and crisp white linen bedding with dark teal tongue and groove walls #modern #rustic #bedroom #reclaimed #tealmodern rustic bedroom decoration idea using reclaimed wood as a bedhead, industrial lighting, dark vintage fabrics, teal velvet, textural knitted cushions and crisp white linen bedding with dark teal tongue and groove walls #modern #rustic #bedroom #reclaimed #tealmodern rustic kitchen diner decorating idea - dark teal tongue and groove walls with reclaimed wood kitchen units, vintage dining table and industrial lighting from original btc with sliding doors bifold french opening on to dining terrace #modern #rustic #kitchen #diner #reclaimed #tealmodern rustic kitchen terrace deck with dark teal walls, reclaimed wood industrial lighting, corrugated roof, bifold french sliding doors and vintage table and chairs with open shelving and vintage finds #modern #rustic #kitchen #diner #reclaimed #terrace #deck #tealmodern rustic bathroom decorating idea combining dark teal tongue and groove wall panelling with reclaimed brass industrial taps, vintage enamel soap holder corrugated metal roof and reclaimed wood panelling on the bath #modern #rustic #bathroom #reclaimed #vintage

If you’re looking to create a beautiful home office or work space, how about these two lovely ideas: both from The Creamery, Appledore in Devon:

modern rustic home office work space studio interior decoration idea with vintage sign, industrial lighting, vintage reclaimed wooden desk, painted floorboards and antique herbier prints and vintage typewriter #home #office #workspace #modern #rustic modern rustic home office work space studio interior decoration idea with vintage sign, vintage reclaimed wooden desk and vintage find accessories #home #office #workspace #modern #rustic

Love the combination of vintage finds – antique signs, framed botanical herbiers, old type writer and reclaimed old wooden desk. The floorboards look to have been painted a matt dark grey and the walls pale grey/white. The bathroom in this property is also lovely:

modern rustic bathroom shower decor interior idea combining vintage enamel sink, brass taps, reclaimed distressed wood shower splashback #rustic #bathroom #shower #reclaimed #vintage

Other Unique Homestays properties I love:

This bathroom and outdoor terrace both at Cabin Tapio in Hampshire

modern rustic terrace deck with hot tub and fire pit cabin style #modern #rustic #cabin #firepit #hottub modern rustic bathroom interior with white walls, herringbone tile floor wet room with reclaimed wood splasback panel and white wash bowl with black frame shower panel black taps and shower

how cute is this rustic country farmhouse kitchen with open shelves, terracotta tile floor, linen cupboard curtain, wooden plate rack, farmhouse table and reclaimed wooden units? Click through for more modern rustic farmhouse interiors ideas you'll lovelove this modern rustic country farmhouse kitchen dining room with reclaimed wooden cupboards, rustic wooden table, open shelves, rustic white-washed walls and tiled floor. Click through for more modern rustic farmhouse interiors ideas you'll lovelove this modern rustic farmhouse country kitchen with upcyled and re-purpsed galvanised splashback and reclaimed wooden units with butler sink and industrial taps. Click through for more modern rustic farmhouse interiors ideas you'll lovelove this rustic country farmhouse staircase hallway with rustic wooden stairs, tiled floor and hide rugs. Click through for more modern rustic farmhouse interiors ideas you'll love

The Future Kept

The Future Kept (listed in our directory here) is a wonderful online shop run by Jeska Hearne and her photographer husband Dean. The photography is beautifully shot at their Sussex home, so there’s plenty of modern rustic inspiration. Here are a few of my favourites:

love this modern rustic rural kitchen styled by Jeska of The Future Kept with concrete walls, open rustic wood shelving and rustic wooden boards and spoons with textural ceramics. Click through for more modern rustic country interiors you'll lovelove this future kept modern rustic kitchen with open rustic wooden shelves, copper accessories and rustic ceramics. Click through for more modern rustic country interiors you'll lovelove this rustic modern country study with distressed panelled walls by Future Kept. Click through for more modern rustic country interiors you'll love

Adventures in Cooking 

Another great source of inspiration is Eva Kosmas Flores on her blog Adventures in Cooking.  As well as offering a range of inspirational photography courses and workshops, Eva also shares behind the scenes glimpses into the renovation of her beautiful home as well as wonderfully seasonal recipes.

Here’s a taste of the inspiration you’ll find there:

love this modern rustic white and natural wood and basket bedroom by Eva Kosmas Flores. Click through to find our more about Eva's beautiful world as well as other modern rustic interior inspiration you'll lovelove this modern rustic white and natural wood bedroom chest of drawers by Eva Kosmas Flores. Click through to find our more about Eva's beautiful world as well as other modern rustic interior inspiration you'll lovelove this modern rustic white and rustic wood vanity unit with mirror and baskets by Eva Kosmas Flores. Click through to find our more about Eva's beautiful world as well as other modern rustic interior inspiration you'll lovelove this modern rustic bathroom by Joraima Tromp of Bricks Studio Amsterdam, with white square sink, old brass taps, vintage gilt mirror and rustic wood top with white metro tiles. Click through for more modern rustic country interiors you'll love

It’s important to consider lighting too – I do love the contrast of overblown chandeliers and rustic interior styling. This Ashwell chandelier from The White Company is the perfect example and would make a show-stopping feature.

ashwell chandelier the white company in modern rustic interior. love the contrast between shabby chic/ rustic and grand opulence #modern #rustic #chandelier

Last idea is also from The White Company and it’s a gorgeous outdoor kitchen. Love the combination of rustic painted walls with open shelves, vintage galvanised cans and pots, with rustic baskets and trugs. Find similar accessories over on The White Company website. Specifically, I’ve found a few of the items from the photo below:

Set of 2 handled wovenseagrass baskets; Wild Mint Hand Wash and Wild Mint Hand Lotion.

I found some other ideas over on Etsy like this chicken wire vintage basket. WestBarnCountry is a good place to source vintage garden accessories like galvanised watering cans, trugs, plant pots etc.

outdoor kitchen patio terrace, modern rustic white shelves with vintage galvanised watering can, tubs and plant pots with rustic baskets, wooden trugs and vintage wire work and garden tools. #modern #rustic #outdoor #kitchen

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Vanessa Arbuthnott is listed in the From Britain with Love directory 

Damson & Slate is listed in the From Britain with Love directory 

Aerende is listed in the From Britain with Love directory 

The Future Kept is listed in the From Britain with Love directory 

Cabbages & Roses  is listed in the From Britain with Love directory 

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Modern Rustic decorating ideas - simple, fresh country - inspired interiors to inspire you to create a relaxed, contemporary feel in your own home

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7 Comments

  • Reply Sarah October 10, 2019 at 11:52 pm

    Love pics!

  • Reply Tonita December 26, 2020 at 12:19 am

    Amazing photos and such a lovely blog. Thanks for a great post.

  • Reply Hemmat September 8, 2021 at 10:20 am

    i love it , i m in countryside all my home rustic too
    enjoy it
    Regards

  • Reply Joe August 30, 2022 at 9:03 am

    Some great tips here, and some beautiful home examples, thank you for sharing! I think pairing natural wood and stone with a simple neutral backdrop is the key to combining these styles, and I love your idea of incorporating other textures like linen too.

  • Reply Mortgage Broker Inner West November 25, 2022 at 6:06 am

    Thanks for sharing this article. I love it.

    • Reply Laura Dunkley December 1, 2022 at 2:40 pm

      My pleasure – I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

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