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Rustic Modern Decor for Country-Spirited Sophisticates

Rustic modern decor is gradually forming into a style in its own right. And although it doesn’t have any special rules, it certainly has its own formed recognizable aesthetic. Wooden beams, live edge and untreated wood elements in combination with mid-century modern furnishings is a rough picture of reference. But it’s quite accurate. The rest is all styling, really.

Rustic Meets Modern Luxury

If rustic style is all about using rough gems nature gave you, modern luxury allows you more leeway with decorations, materials, and finishes. And here is where the mix turns into a beautiful cocktail of polarizing textures and minute details.

Ski House rustic modern interior by Reed Design Group LLC
Ski House rustic modern interior by Reed Design Group LLC
Basement family room by Sarah Richardson
Basement family room by Sarah Richardson
Rustic modern aesthetic by Ngọc Báu
Rustic modern aesthetic by Ngọc Báu
Rustic modern Quaker Bluff Residence by Birdseye Design
Rustic modern Quaker Bluff Residence by Birdseye Design
Rustic chic modern living room in neutral tones by Andrea Bazilus
Rustic chic modern living room in neutral tones by Andrea Bazilus

The best thing about this mix is that you can dial down the luxury or the rustic part if you enjoy either aesthetic a bit more.

If you need a better reference for a luxury rustic modern style take a cue from chalets and cabins with their lush country interiors.

Sleek Modern Design With Rustic Elements

Modern style is pretty sleek, which cannot be said about rustic aesthetic. But you can still keep your interiors minimal when creating rustic modern decor. Just tone down on the wooden elements.

Lake Tahoe Residence in rustic modern style
Lake Tahoe Residence in rustic modern style by Salinas Lasheras
Sleek rustic modern renovation by Scott & Scott Architects
Sleek rustic modern renovation by Scott & Scott Architects
Modern living room with a wooden ceiling
Modern living room with a wooden ceiling by High Camp Home Design
Mill Valley refined rustic modern interior by Artistic Designs for Living
Mill Valley refined rustic modern interior by Artistic Designs for Living

The result may not look as country-spirited, but it will still look pretty romantic. You can simply keep the beams and your modern home will still have the strong hint of country present.

Barnhouse Style

Barnhouse style with all those vaulted ceilings and wooden beams really feeds the notion of country. Even the urban loft apartment can look like a rustic dwelling if it’s fortunate enough to have beams.

Modern and rustic loft
Modern and rustic loft by Epad Architecture Office
Modern and rustic mix in a Portugese apartment
Modern and rustic mix in a Portuguese apartment via Casa Tres Chic
Paris apartment with rustic and modern elements
Paris apartment with rustic and modern elements by Margaux Beja
Ranco House in Chile with rustic modern decor
Ranco House in Chile with rustic modern decor by Elton+Leniz Arquitectos Associates
Rostov country home in rustic modern style
Rostov country home in rustic modern style by Chado

A barnhouse style home looks especially great with modern and contemporary elements like lounge chairs, retro sofas, and minimal floor lamps.

Cabin & Barn Aesthetic

Following the barnhouse style is cabin aesthetic. Who doesn’t like the idea of their own cabin somewhere picturesque where there is no worry or trouble of a daily life? And though a cabin has a wild streak in its rustic charm there’s a lot to take from it.

Cabin-style bedroom by Chelsea Sachs
Cabin-style bedroom by Chelsea Sachs
Italian rustic modern home by Carnet Casa
Italian rustic modern home by Carnet Casa
Minimal bedroom by High Camp Home Design
Minimal bedroom by High Camp Home Design

Reclaimed wood walls and headboards, makeshift nightstands and cozy rugs should be the major elements of a cabin-style room. If you want a bit of luxury you can add in some fur throws, knitted pillows, or showy lighting fixtures.

Mid-Century Modern With a Hint of Rustic

Combining mid-century modern and rustic style is the best thing you can do for your decor since both of these may look pretty bland on their own. Together, however, they make a perfect combination of nostalgia and romanticism.

Neutral rustic modern bedroom by LIV Design Collective
Neutral rustic modern bedroom by LIV Design Collective
Retreat bedroom with bathroom barn doors
Retreat bedroom with bathroom barn doors via Architectural Digest
Cozy bedroom with rustic modern decor
Cozy bedroom with rustic modern decor by Jauregui Architecture, Interiors & Construction

To instantly give your modern bedroom a rustic update opt for wood look tiles, reclaimed wood furniture, or a country style bed frame.

Rustic Modern Bathroom Decor

When it comes to creating rustic modern bathroom decor, it’s all about wood, really. Wooden texture alone, even if perfectly imitated by porcelain tiles, can make any bath look more country.

Modern rustic bath in an Aspen chalet by Frank de Basi Interiors
Modern rustic bath in an Aspen chalet by Frank de Biasi Interiors
Philipe Starck's rustic modern bathroom decor
Philippe Starck‘s rustic modern bathroom decor
Barn doors in a modern bathroom
Barn doors in a modern bathroom via Freshome

Barn doors are especially good at bringing rustic style to even the most modern interiors. Pair them with wooden vanity countertops and mirror frames and there you have it. A cozy and bright country bath.

Rustic Modern Style in Kitchen Design

Kitchen is the best place to begin your rustic renovation. You can start small with a couple of rough wooden floating shelves or a farm sink. Or you can go all out with brick veneers, natural wood cabinets, wooden countertops, and country cottage furnishings.

Stylish rustic modern kitchen with a stone island
Stylish rustic modern kitchen with a stone island via House Beautiful
White rustic modern kitchen with a black backsplash
White rustic modern kitchen with a black backsplash by Regan Baker Design
Peak Construction and Design's rustic modern kitchen
Peak Construction and Design‘s rustic modern kitchen

There are indeed so many avenues for change from lighting fixtures to backsplash. Also if your kitchen doesn’t have it, you have to create a window to make it feel truly rustic.

True Rustic Wooden Kitchens with a Hint of Modernity

A wood-clad kitchen doesn’t have to look dull and boring. Just add a few metallic accents and modern elements. It’s they that take these country cook rooms from blah to whoa!

Wood-clad kitchen with modern and industrial chic accents
Wood-clad kitchen with modern and industrial chic accents
Wooden rustic kitchen with modern seats and cabinets
Wooden rustic kitchen with modern seats and cabinets
Industrial chic and rustic modern kitchen by Applegate Tran Interiors
Industrial chic and rustic modern kitchen by Applegate Tran Interiors
Rustic modern kitchen with an assymetric angular island
Rustic modern kitchen with an asymmetric angular island by Mark Hickman Homes
Rustic meets modern in a kitchen by Kitchen Choreography
Rustic meets modern in a kitchen by Kitchen Choreography

Although industrial chic accents will stir your rustic kitchen in a different direction, you can always count on modern furnishings to bring it back to the rustic modern decor you’re striving for. Also take note of how good country cottage furnishings look next to sleek modern designs.

Rustic But Modern Dining Rooms

You can often hear or see people say ‘rustic but modern’. This is exactly what it looks like. For instance, it’s a dining room full of rough wood furniture, but it has wall-sized windows or pristine white walls. It is major elements of the two styles clashing in one room.

Modern mountain Montana home
Modern mountain Montana home via Architectural Digest
Mid-century modern dining room with rustic decor elements
Mid-century modern dining room with rustic decor elements by Jordan Iverson Signature Homes
Kitchen and dining in rustic modern style
Kitchen and dining in rustic modern style by Feldman Architecture
Bright dining room in rustic modern style
Bright dining room in rustic modern style by Atelier Rua
Thistle Hill Farm in rustic moder style by Northworks
Thistle Hill Farm in rustic modern style by Northworks
Michigan Barn by Nothrworks
Michigan Barn by Northworks

It can also be a juxtaposition of textures like wood and stainless steel or plaster and rusted metal. We also think molded plywood looks great next to natural untreated wood.

Refined Rustic Decor

Refined rustic decor is somewhere between rustic and modern luxury. It may have the elements of both, but it’s still more rustic than anything else. Think sophisticated furnishings paired with exposed stone, untreated wooden beams, and impeccably styled country style elements.

Historic dining room by On Site Management
Historic dining room with rustic modern decor by On Site Management
Breakfast room with a leather couch and a candle chandelier
Breakfast room with a leather couch and a candle chandelier
Refined rustic dining room design by Jeff Akseizer and Jamie Brown
Refined rustic dining room design by Jeff Akseizer and Jamie Brown

Sometimes even the most polished decor may give off a rustic vibe just because of how cleverly it’s styled. Think animal hides in sophisticated tones, quality shiny leather, and complex lighting fixtures.

Rustic modern decor is like a great taste combo that always works. Even if you don’t like them separately together you may find much more to appreciate about these two styles.

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