Decorating your home isn’t an easy undertaking. With so many styles, materials, and pieces to choose from, the process, meant to be fun, can easily become overwhelming. Due to the increasing popularity of rustic and western-style furniture, it’s not surprising that you’re interested in bringing this warm and natural look into your own home.
But where do you begin?
We’ve put together this list of frequently asked questions to help ease your entry into the world of rustic interior design.
How Do I Care For My Rustic Leather Furniture?
When it comes to cleaning leather armchairs and sofas, less is more. Normal use should only require regular dry-cloth dusting and some vacuum cleaning in crevices or along the bottom. Leather actually tends to look better as it ages, so it is relatively easy to care for. Simply keep your leather furniture out of direct sunlight and it should last for decades.
When it comes to spot cleaning, wipe up any liquid immediately with a clean cloth or sponge (you may dampen it with lukewarm water if necessary). Then, let it air dry naturally; never use furniture polish, oils, cleaning solvents, varnish, abrasive cleaners, or ammonia water.
What Materials Are Commonly Used In Rustic Furniture and Decor?
The rustic style is defined by its natural elements. Anything that you may encounter in the wilderness can be incorporated into rustic interior design: stone and wood are a staple, and animal products such as hide, leather, bone, and antlers can truly make your home feel like a cozy log cabin in the woods.
Experimenting with these materials is what makes decorating a rustic space so exciting. You can bring the soft, worn comfort of leather into your home with armchairs and sofas, utilize mahogany and other rich woods as exposed beams in your ceiling, and enjoy the majesty of an eight-point buck by using his antlers as candlestick holders. Don’t be afraid to play around with the limitless options available to you.
Inside vs. Outside: Which rustic furniture belongs where?
As a general rule of thumb, you don’t want to be leaving fragile materials of any kind — rustic or otherwise — outside where they will endure the full strength of the sun, wind, and rain. Since rustic furniture relies so heavily on natural elements, finding pieces that are able to stand up to the elements is imperative; the durability of teak wood is an excellent choice because it is resistant to rotting, warping, shrinking, and swelling. Whether you simply want to relax in a rocking chair on your front porch or are interested in an entire outdoor dining set, teak will keep up with the weather and any human wear and tear.
When it comes to indoor furniture, the choice is yours. You aren’t restricted by weather conditions, so unless you have a little one running around who’s liable to do some damage to your delicate cowhide leather armchair, you can pick from a variety of materials.
How can I make my furniture look more rustic?
At its core, the rustic style is all about nature. Think about what you may find in a pine forest: there are no bright and bold colors, but there are rich earth tones. The addition of accents that bring the outdoors in — such as a forest green throw blanket or hand-stitched pillows depicting animal scenes — can do wonders to transform a room.
Picture a cabin tucked away in the peace and quiet of a dense forest; the warmth of this environment is what you’re going for. If you’re sitting by a roaring fireplace, what do you want to see? There might be a stag’s head mounted directly above the mantle, a few plaid throw pillows on your leather sofa, and a grand painting of the very wilderness you’re living in on the far wall. If a piece or accent elicits feelings of warmth and comfort and is also reminiscent of nature, it will emphasize your rustic style furniture even further.
What is the difference between rustic and western furniture styles?
Western style furniture is supposed to evoke a specific era. The idea of the American “wild west” is iconic throughout the world. It was a time when cowboys and ranchers made their living off the land. Rather than thick evergreen forests, there were sprawling deserts and great plains that stretched on as far as the eye could see. Such a neutral color scheme can be boring, which is why western interior design incorporates pops of bold reds, yellows, and oranges.
You’re still going to be using wood and stone in the western style, but now you can include accents that call back to a simpler time. Consider old rifles hung above the fireplace, and Native American-inspired artwork and designs; rather than a green throw blanket, elect for a chevron pattern with colors reminiscent of a desert sunset. Cowboy culture should be everywhere you look.
Where can I buy rustic furniture?
Though there are a number of furniture stores that sell rustic and western style furniture, only Antèks boasts such high-quality pieces. There’s a reason Antèks has been the go-to store in Dallas for western and rustic furniture over the past 30 years; our furniture — from leather sofas with cowhide accents to lounge chairs covered entirely in tooled leather — is not only exceptionally well-made, but it’s also entirely customizable to your needs. Whatever you’re looking for, you can count on Antèks to provide it!
If you have any other questions or concerns regarding rustic or western style furniture, don’t hesitate to give us all at 214.528.5567 — or drop by our storeroom at 1135 Dragon St. Dallas, TX 75207 — today!