If you've ever seen Frank's decorations on TLC's Trading Spaces, then you know all about the country style of design. From stenciled drawings to wooden cows to ruffled curtains, country design has all the frills you might expect from our dear friend, Frank. When I was a little girl, my grandparents sold woodwork at the flea markets all over Tennessee and Kentucky. We had wooden calendars with dolls or bears painted on them. We had quilt racks with hearts. We had every crafty country decoration imaginable. Although I thought at one time that you could just toss all these things into a room and have style, I've learned since that there are very definite ways to create crafty country rooms that men are still willing to enter.
Crafty country is great, but if you are not careful, your husband may be ready to kick you out of the house. Country design tends to be frilly and a bit girly, and your husband may not approve. One way to create a home that is comfortable for everyone is to use wooden flea market items and ruffled curtains sparingly. Not every room in your home needs to have a cow or duck in it. You can create a beautiful country sitting room with a comfortable plaid couch, slightly ruffled curtains, and a couple of stencils on the wall; the room is still definitely country, but at the same time your wooden coffee tables may have somewhat modern lines so that the males in your home enjoy the room too.
Another way to bring country design to the whole family is to let your husband add his own touches to the decoration. I'm not saying you should let him put antlers on every part of the walls, but if he hunts, you should allow him to have at least one or two rooms (maybe in the back of the house) where he can display his animals. If he doesn't hunt, you could simulate the more manly country style by integrating rustic decor items such as an antler chandelier or floor lamp. Another option is to bring in old farming tools or hunting traps to display on the walls. Old items like these bring a manly air to the house, and they are interesting pieces that will give your guests something to talk about. They can also give the room a settled, sturdy feeling; something about the tools makes a room seem safe and secure. Using a few of these tools or items throughout your home can really make your crafty country them come to life.
Crafty country is a great way to design as long as you remember one word: moderation. The frills and flowery stencils of this design are not the only parts of it. Another part of country is simply that you are crafty and you create your own unique items. Make a desk out of an old door; make screens out of window shutters; use an old window with berries and holly glued on to make a beautiful Christmas decoration. Being creative is really the most wonderful part of the crafty country style. Your friends will marvel at your ingenuity as you create a style that is yours and yours alone.
© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. This article is provided courtesy of The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - http://www.diyhomedecorating.com - a large and growing decorating and decor website featuring articles, tips, advice, and popular decor shopping.
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