Wood Art

Rustic

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The term rustic is pretty broad, but many different design styles can actually fall into it. In it's most basic definition, rustic describes a design that's natural, rough, aged, and casual, so there are many styles—each drastically different from the other—that can be rustic. Some include Tuscan, coastal, cottage, or what you might traditionally think of as rustic—lodge.

In keeping with the natural theme, rustic furniture is handmade. It's generally simple in design and shape, letting the materials stand out instead. Furniture is usually oversized (minimalism is not the word, here), and is designed to feel cozy, easy, and comfortable. Heavy wood furniture, made from raw logs, boards, and stone is common.

Rustic furniture and fabrics have a bit of a roughness to them. The design is never perfect, as much of it is made from raw woods and stone, so it feels a bit undone. A variety of shapes, textures, and colors from the natural materials ensures that pieces are unique and not cookie-cutter. You want to feel as though your materials have been roughened up a bit by the elements, so you'll often find reclaimed wood or driftwood.