"Country interior design style is very welcoming and comfortable."

Country interior design is all about lived-in comfort. The emphasis is on natural materials, handcrafted features and time-worn charm. I find it very cozy.

Your color palette can vary widely, but country decorating gets inspiration from the surrounding landscape. That's why you often will see color schemes centered on greens, reds, blues, beige and white to name a few.

The materials and textures you use are key to anchoring this style. Tactile surfaces of wood, wicker weaving, wrought iron, stone, pottery, tin and other natural or earthy materials work well and provide great visual texture as well.

Floral or checked fabric made of simple materials, like cotton and linen, compliment a casual, country style. You can go with more sophisticated silk and damask if you are creating a more refined, "cottage" variation of this style.

While there is a sense of history and age with country decorating, it doesn’t have to always be overly rough-hewn and woodsy. The country style can also be presented in a softly sophisticated way as is the case with French Country style. Speaking of French Country...Toile De Jouy is great fabric to incorporate into this look because it has a decidedly rural, European feel.

Consider soft, fresh colors for your country inspired home. The overall look should bring to mind the long traditions of living in the countryside. Whatever variation of country interior design you choose to create, always remember the end result should look soft and built up over time.

Style Tips:

• Mix floral patterns with checks and stripes for upholstery and fabrics. Don't try to make everything match precisely.

• Use curtains to enhance and soften the windows.

• Incorporate antique furniture or hand-crafted decorative accessories throughout the scheme.

For inspiration on cottage country accessories, check out the items at (Link opens a new window).

• Natural floors (like wood) work best. Area rugs can be used, but leave some parts of the floor exposed. Wall to wall carpet is not ideal because it doesn’t have that built up, layered look.

• Beadboard can be used to create a strong country feel in a space. Consider using it on the walls, ceiling or perhaps just the wall area below a chair rail.

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