So this happened! I wrote a little article about how to get the farmhouse look in your home….& it’s only been featured in The Mail on Sunday!!! Best thing about it….managing to get the phrase ‘warm your cockles’ in 😂…..& a huge ‘never underestimate the power of a colourful art print in your home’ nod nod wink wink. Little bit proud…

Full text here…..

We don’t all have a rustic farmhouse in the middle of rolling green Countryside…but we can create the rustic farmhouse look in our homes in five key ways.

  1. Wood

Wooden items help to create the feeling of warmth. Wine boxes used as shelving or indoor planters & chunky reclaimed oak furniture are great ways to add warmth.  Even if you warm your cockles by a radiator and don’t have the cottage Aga or log-burner, the addition of a few stacked logs create the feeling of farmhouse chic. Upcycled wooden items, using pastel shades bring a contemporary cottage feel to your home, whilst decorative details like wrought iron handles, door knobs and hooks bring elements of the traditional farmhouse.

  1. Sheepskins, throws & soft furnishings.

Creating texture in your home is crucial to feeling cosy, content and relaxed. Large knitted throws, sheepskin rugs, blankets & footstools all help us to imagine ourselves in the farmhouse snug. Creating an area of calm in your home, a little book nook or cosy corner can be transformed by a good selection of homewares. Soft furnishings aren’t just for the bedroom or living room. Why not create the look of a window seat in the hall by upcycling an old chest & adding some cushions to the top.

  1. Wall Art

Never underestimate the power of a good print.  How we decorate our walls is not only a statement but a way to express and reflect the overall theme of a room. Countryside botanicals, nature and animal art brings the outdoors in. Even if you look out on a cityscape, a beautiful landscape scene or farmland painting helps us to feel transported into those rolling hills. Designs like hares, stags and cattle are often very popular.   

  1. Lighting

An old farm ladder can be used as a lighting feature, with bulbs suspended off the ladder. A simple, but effective way to create atmosphere & fun. Keep lighting warm and low using a variety of mix and match table lamps. This draws the eye in to the room and adds interest. Always invest in a feature lampshade. A quick pop of colour often ties in a theme & an accent of colour helps the flow of the room.  

  1. Say it with Flowers

I’m a big lover of fresh flowers, but I like to display them in quirky ways. Garden (or even window boxes) can be planted into an old pair of wellies, vintage buckets & wheelbarrows. For the home, old teapots filled with sweet-peas & a watering can used as a vase adds a hint of the Countryside without feeling too twee.

However you choose to bring a touch of rustic to your home, remember the key to having the Country look is to personalise, texturize and add warmth at every opportunity. Search local flea markets, invest in independent makers & remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the farmhouse look.