How To Achieve A Modern Rustic Aesthetic In Your Home

New home design trends keep unfolding with every dawn of the day. To note, the turn of the millennium was characterized by intensely modern designs, which prompted interior designers to do something a bit different.

Part of this was a renewed look into things of the older generations. Think about hand-hewn wood tables, handmade throws, wood rafters, and stone fireplaces.

Incorporating such old decor elements into present-day homes leads to a modern rustic aesthetic. Below is a detailed discussion on how to achieve this in your home.

1. Use reclaimed wood elements

One of the most important materials to use when creating a modern rustic aesthetic is reclaimed wood. Its warmth, charm, and comfort brings memories of past ages. 

You could start with wooden flooring. Ensure the planks you use are rustic grade, denoting hardwood that falls between the more modern natural grade and the rougher cabin grade. You could go for recycled wood or buy new distressed laminate planks which are intentionally made to look older. 

Next, use reclaimed wood for your tables, seats, kitchen islands, countertops, and cabinets. Pine is an excellent option for these furniture pieces as it comes in different hues from dark brown to deep orange. Knotty pine is particularly more rustic in feel and look.

Replace your modern flush doors with sliding barn doors. These are perfect for both entryways and partitions. You could even install them on closets for a rustic feel in your bedrooms.

For the ceiling, you’d want gigantic beams and rafters exposed to the viewers beneath. Don’t cover them with ceiling boards as is common in modern spaces.

2. Use distressed metals

Too-shiny or stainless steel metals exude a modern vibe. Contrarily, distressed metals give a unique, vintage, and antique feel. This can be done by using fine abrasives like sandpaper and steel wool.

You can also apply a coat of patina solution to the surface of the metal depending on the desired effect, whether black, dark brown, amber or deep red.

Distressed metal can be used for lamps, light surrounds, pull knobs for kitchen drawers, wall hangings, picture frames, planting pots, metal tree accents, shoe storage racks, and benches.

Don’t confine yourself to interior elements. Consider installing a metal roof, which is durable, cost-effective and attractive. They typically last 50 years or more, thus you can be sure of a positive return on investment (ROI). They also come in varying styles and finishes that’ll instantly spruce up your curb appeal.

A reliable Wisconsin metal roofer can advise you on what finishes will work best with your other exterior design elements.

3. Incorporate stone fixtures

Stone is another crucial rustic material. It brings a phenomenal organic feel and connects you to nature, as was the norm of farmhouses.

Consider adding a natural stone wall to your bathroom or part of your living room. In case whole stones are out of reach design-wise or cost-wise, you could still use natural stone veneers, which are far less heavy and cheaper while still bringing the same effect.

You could designate one of your living room walls as a feature wall. Use natural stone to make this wall different from the rest in terms of texture, color, and contrast. It helps add energy and interest to your living room. You can then mount your TV or decorative mirror on this wall or hang some gigantic art pieces for a profound visual impact.

Next, install a stone fireplace to bring that earthy element into your home. Couple this with the warm glow of fire and your living room will feel exactly like those you see in 20th Century magazines.

4. Maximize natural light

Modern rustic homes typically feature lots of natural light and big open spaces. Add a window or two to those rooms which don’t have big enough windows.

Use exterior wooden shutters to add organic warmth to the rooms. Wood pallet shutters are on trend as they’re eco-friendly. Try them, especially the weathered ones for a rugged feel. Add metal hinges and latches to finish off the rustic look. 

Besides the vintage feel, wooden shutters also act as a privacy screen and control the amount of light entering your room. Use checkered, plaid or buffalo check fabrics to achieve that rugged, outdoorsy vibe. Hang them high and let them kiss the floor for maximum visual impact. 

In case your windows aren’t as large as desired, consider placing a giant mirror on the opposite side of the room from the window. This almost feels like a second window, and its reflecting ability  feels the room with natural light. 

Another workaround is adding a faux window that psychologically gives you access to the outside world. Looking at the faux window subconsciously makes you think of the great outdoors.

5. Paint in rustic colors

Using neutral earthy tones for your walls will add the much desired rustic feel. Your first port of call is the brown section of the color wheel. To this, you can add greens to bring the feel of trees, grass, and other elements of nature.

Grey is also a worthy consideration, given that it matches many other design choices. If painting isn’t your thing, you can as well add nature-inspired wallpaper. 

For your wooden doors, you can emphasize the rustic feel by using the dry brush technique. Don’t fully dip your brush until it becomes wet with paint. Apply paint sparingly to the brush and use it with the bristles almost dry.

Painting your door this way will make it appear older and faded. Another idea is rubbing steel wool on the freshly painted door until the surface behind shows.

6. Look for antiques

Finally, add antiques to your home to create that old-time feel. There’s a wide range of antiques you can add to your home. These include:

• Furniture pieces like armchairs or tables

• Vintage lighting fixtures such as chandeliers or lanterns.

• Reclaimed wood decor such as shelves, frames, and signs

• Woven rugs and baskets

• Handcrafted trinkets

• Shelves made by repurposing old suitcases

• Bookcase made from antique crates

• Converting a vintage ladder into a towel track

• Faux fireplace mantel made from salvaged wood

• transforming an old door into a coffee table.

Visit local thrift stores or shop online for these items. 

Conclusion

Achieving a modern rustic aesthetic in your home isn’t something so complicated. You first have to understand what elements make a home rustic, for instance, materials like wood, metal and stone.

With this understanding, see how to incorporate these old-style design features into your modern home. While you can do most of these independently, it helps to seek the advice of interior designers for a truly professional rustic transformation.

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Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014 and the luxury interior design blog All The Pretty Homes in 2024.

When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.