Country Style in Interior Design with Photos

To create a cozy atmosphere, it's important to know several basic facts about the country style. We'll tell you more!

History of the Style

Design: Phoebe Lovejoy Russell

The term emerged nearly 100 years ago, in the 1920s. At that time, this word was used to describe a "countryside" home setting. During that period, it was trendy to decorate cottages and apartments in the style of a "grandmother's house": starched bed linens, lots of wood, large beds and plenty of light.

By the 1960s, this direction gained significant popularity. Europeans and Americans loved naturalness and comfort, and began decorating not only country homes but also small apartments in this style.

Naturally, each country added its own elements, which is why the style today has many directions, unique color schemes and interesting features. We'll discuss national differences later.

Design: Maria Piliipenko and Ekaterina Fedorova

Characteristics of the Style

By the beginning of the 2000s, the style had fully formed and acquired its own distinctive features that can be described.

• Natural color palette. Any soft, non-bright colors are suitable. The style does not favor contrast.

• Modesty. Natural materials highlight the "countryside" style, but they should not be ornate or ultra-modern.

• Tableware. A variety of tableware is one of the main room accessories. It should be simple but made from natural materials (ceramics, clay, even wood).

• Natural materials. Plastic and synthetic materials are not for country interiors. However, wood, cotton, linen, and stone can be safely chosen for room decoration.

• Abundance of textiles. It is characteristic for rooms to have an abundance of textile decorations and coverings.

• Simplicity in furniture. Wooden furniture with texture is best. Upholstery can feature a minimalist pattern or ornate details.

• Handmade accessories. Country style in interior design is distinguished by a large number of handmade items. Those who love to make things by hand can significantly save on decorative purchases.

Design: Maria Piliipenko and Ekaterina Fedorova

Decorating Rooms in Country Style

• Bathroom

A bathroom in this style will be cozy. Although it's not typical for a bathroom to be described with this word. However, due to the characteristics of the style, it is possible to create an atmosphere where one doesn't want to leave. This can be achieved through wall and floor tiles that resemble wood or have patterns and ornaments, small floral motifs, wooden furniture, carved fixtures, and cute accessories in the form of flowers and decorative items. A bathroom in country style can look beautiful and expensive.

Design: Shperling Design

• Kitchen

The kitchen should be a room where the whole family gathers for meals or dinner and feels at home. Therefore, special requirements are made for comfort. Creating this atmosphere can be achieved through proper decoration, particularly using natural materials in the finish and furniture. Wood, either natural or artificial, as well as decorative stone, is an ideal choice.

For the floor, designers often choose modern tiles that look like wood or stone. This is practical and convenient.

Design: Maxim Noda

Wall finishing should also stick to pastel tones. Paint or decorative stucco in beige or olive shades. To "brighten" the finish, you can decorate a wall with decorative stone or wood.

Naturally, the design of furniture plays a big role. It should add warmth and softness to the room, so it's better to choose wood or MDF, particle board made to look like wood.

• Living Room

A living room in country style will be cozy, family-friendly, and perfect for gatherings of guests and relatives. The simplicity of this stylistic approach appeals to many. There's no need to select a lot of furniture or any special decor. If the desire to create a beautiful interior comes from the heart, it means half the job is already done and the atmosphere will be right.

Wall and floor cladding can be in a cream color palette, adding olive or brown tones. These colors will serve as additional elements to the style and should be supported with proper furniture. Comfort and softness are terms that relate to furniture in the living room. You can unleash your imagination by choosing fabrics for upholstery, cushion covers, and curtains. This should add special charm.

Design: KF Design

It's important not to get carried away and overload the interior with too much modern equipment or hide gadgets behind cabinet doors. In a lovely “countryside” interior, all devices don’t look too favorable.

A fireplace is an excellent addition to country interiors. It can add warmth and remind you that this is a family space. Here are a few more universal tips:

• Soft cushions, you can make several bold accents with them;

• Curtains made from simple natural fabrics;

• Fresh flowers;

• Family photos and paintings in wooden frames.

Design: Svetlana Yurkova

• Bedroom

If the goal is to make a bedroom into a cozy corner, country style is an excellent choice. Soft lines in the interior set the tone for relaxation and positive thoughts, calming one before a deep and pleasant sleep.

Such bedrooms are more often seen in private homes where spacious rooms are set aside, allowing for freedom of design and many useful details to create the atmosphere. However, if homeowners of new construction want to create something similar in their bedroom, they can familiarize themselves with photos of real projects and draw inspiration.

Design: Studio Prosperity

The first thing that deserves attention is the wall, ceiling and floor decoration. It's not recommended to overload rooms with complex cladding; simple paint or wallpaper, maybe with a small floral pattern is enough. The floor is best decorated with parquet boards or laminate with a wood-like pattern.

When choosing such essentials as throws, bed linens, and other accessories, it's important to remember that they should support the room style. These can also be beautifully complemented with table lamps, photos, and paintings, books on shelves.

Design: Marina Kutepova

Color Palette of the Style

“Naturalness” defines the color palette choice. Designers recommend avoiding dark colors and choosing light and pastel shades. These are blue, beige, white. If you don’t want to make a monochromatic country style, you can use brown, olive, or terracotta in the interior. You can add richness using yellow or red, but you need to be careful with these colors as they should create calmness and comfort; brightness is not appropriate.

Designer: Marina Nasedkina, Ilya Nasonov

Furniture in Country Style

It's better to choose furniture made from materials such as:

• Lacquered wood;

• Wood with an aged effect;

• Cast iron;

• Rattan (weaving);

• Light leather or fabric for upholstery.

Unifying characteristics of country style furniture: simplicity, comfort, and naturalness. There’s no need to choose overly ornate wardrobes with intricate patterns or designs. The minimal amount of additional decoration and textures is preferred.

If it's a dining table, it should serve exclusively for meals and family gatherings around the table, not transform into a workspace or something else.

Design: Marina Kutepova

Soft furniture can create the impression of being taken from grandmother's living room – it is cozy, light, and maybe even with a pattern of small flowers.

Kitchen furniture is recommended to be chosen by excluding all unnecessary elements. Often a buffet is placed – it creates a special character for the room. A dining table with chairs, kitchen cabinets, open and closed shelves. If there is a terrace, woven furniture (chairs and table) fits perfectly.

Design: Zhenya Zhudanova

Materials for Finishing

• Floors

Since country style is considered “countryside” in the best sense, designers often base their choices on what finishing materials are used in such conditions. For example, wood or stone is often laid on the floor. In modern conditions, apartments can be transformed with various finishing materials and not limited to these two options. Parquet boards, laminate, ceramic tiles with natural patterns – all of these finishing materials fit perfectly.

Design: Katarzyna Miller

• Walls

It has been mentioned several times above that light walls are a must. Usually, in decoration, they choose the following options: fabric or simple paper wallpapers, decorative stucco, or paneling made from wooden stone or wood.

• Ceiling

Country style interiors do not imply complex ceiling constructions. Simple paint or a matte suspended ceiling is sufficient.

Lighting in the Room

The interior is supposed to have a lot of natural light, and curtains should not be heavy. Artificial lighting complements daylight. Bright fluorescent lamps are not acceptable because they emit cold white light. It is better to use regular incandescent bulbs.

It's better to add chandeliers and vintage-style lamps to the country interior. Subtle candleholders and candelabras create a cozy atmosphere.

Design: Alexey Ivanov

Accessories for the Interior

What accessories are present in interiors today?

• Abundance of textiles (bed linens and covers, blankets, tablecloths, napkins).

• Handmade items (lace, patchwork quilts).

• Familial porcelain (statues, ceramics).

• Paintings and photos in frames.

Also, such interiors should be full of flowers – fresh bouquets, dried flowers, and live plants in pots on windowsills. Unconstrainedness and creativity are a few rules of decorating rooms in country style.

Design: Katarzyna Miller

Features of Various Types of Style

• English

Solid wooden furniture, large bookcases for the living room and buffets for the kitchen, lots of light textiles – these features belong to the English stylistic direction. Also, it is characterized by simplicity (without the typical English elegance with a hint of formality), a large amount of soft furniture, checkered curtains, and porcelain statues on shelves.

Design: Alexey Ivanov

• American

Americans are known for their friendliness and reliability. This stylistic direction is associated with the Wild West due to several characteristic features: large dining tables where big families gather, furniture with leather upholstery, fireplaces in the living room as an unchanging attribute, animal skins instead of carpets and patchwork cushions. This decor is typical for residents of South America who are used to large houses with huge land areas.

Design: Marina Kutepova

• Italian

Italians are known for elegance, where light furniture items are placed in homes and apartments without bulkiness, and aged wood is often used as a material. Round doors and windows in an arch shape – probably one of the most popular features of this style in interiors.

Design: Julia Kalemie

• German

Germaine is very precise and neat, and these traits are reflected in country style. They bleach floors and walls, add wooden beams to the walls, place bottles and baskets with food on shelves, and fireplaces are also an unchanging attribute.

Design: Katarzyna Miller

• French

French people are vibrant and cheerful, bringing energy to their interiors. Lavender color, as well as blue and yellow tones, are often seen in their style. Light furniture, large beds in the bedroom, and often instead of dining chairs, they place benches.

• Swedish

Swedish country style is characterized by an abundance of white or very light colors. This applies to everything: wall decoration, furniture, and decor. A feeling of a northern interior is created. Accessories are usually few, with all items placed only based on functional qualities.

IKÉA Russia

Advantages of Choosing This Style

After all these words about this style, it’s impossible not to mention that the entire style is nothing but advantages. Light, cleanliness, eco-friendliness, and economy – these are all requirements that modern residents demand from their homes and interior design.

Due to the popularity of this direction today, various finishing materials, furniture, and accessories can be found in stores to create the desired atmosphere.

Design: Maria Piliipenko and Ekaterina Fedorova

Design: Maxim Noda

Design: Maxim Noda

Design: Anna Ilyina, Architectural Studio Figura; Decoration: Ekaterina Korneeva

Design: Olesya Shlyakhtina

Design: KF Design

Design: Anna Vasileva

Country style is beautiful, stylish, and achievable in any room. Interesting photos and informative facts will help you create your unique interior.

The cover design project is by Zhenya Zhudanova.