Country Style: The Rougher Outside, the Cozier Inside

Finally, I’ve arrived at the country style. Otherwise known as rural or eco style. I adore it.

Modern interiors are as diverse as the people who inhabit them, ranging from penthouses with exposed brick walls to marble bathrooms with glossy pink furniture. But is a country-style interior even acceptable nowadays?

Absolutely, yes! Every time a storm brews somewhere in the world, its influence finds reflection in design.

The colder and harsher it is outside, the warmer and cozier it becomes inside.

Urbanization, globalization, and commercialization have a flip side, which is expressed in the longing for rural areas, nature, and locally produced goods. There is a growing appreciation for artisanal products, handcrafted furniture with regional influences, colors inspired by the local landscape, and patterns borrowed from folklore.

This style, born in rural areas, is the oldest type of interior design that has ever existed. People worldwide lived in estates and cabins long before they came together in cities and countries… These rural dwellings, shaped by local and family traditions, were influenced by the character and taste of their inhabitants, as well as the simplicity of country life.

In other words, there are as many variations of this rural style as there are regions. But all country houses have something in common: when you step into one of them, nature rarely stays outside, regardless of the location in the world. Furniture is carved from wood, preferably from the same tree species that grow in the area; cushions are covered in coarse fabric, ottomans in leather, and tables are supported by sturdy stone bases. There is no place for polyester or synthetic materials here.

The emphasis is placed on craftsmanship and how things are put together. Simultaneously, it requires a radical departure from notions of status. As our daily lives become more digitized, we surround ourselves with natural materials. We crave things that evoke pleasant, warm sensations rather than the cold touchscreens we constantly swipe our fingers on.

Country-style interiors are usually not designed by professionals but by people who actually live in them. It is the most personal of all styles, an expression of the sentiment to avoid imitating elitist dictates of taste imposed from above.

The so-called stylistic offshoots of the country style relate to its ethnic origins. Finishes, interiors, decorative elements—everything varies depending on the country’s style it seeks to replicate.