Modern Rustic Interior Design Ideas

When you turn on your favorite home renovation show, you're likely to see a few modern rustic elements in the finished product. Modern rustic design combines the industrial, raw wood and metal aesthetic of traditional farmhouse style with the clean lines and open space of modern interior design.

Rustic dėcor prizes function as much as fashion, often showcasing repurposed or reimagined materials that once had a different job to do. Think:

• A tin milking pail turned into a stool
• An old "Eggs 4 Sale" store sign used as wall art
• Pallet wood from the farm turned into a coat rack
• A wine barrel transformed into a wall mount vanity

Within the modern rustic aesthetic, design choices can include farmhouse, industrial, cottage, and coastal. Rustic design choices are also at home alongside Craftsman, contemporary, and transitional dėcor. This versatility means you can go all-in with rustic style or add a dash of rustic flavor here and there. Materials to look for when adding rustic furniture or accents to your home:

• Patinated copper
• Distressed painted wood
• Hand-forged metals
• Stone
• Antlers
• Weathered metal and wood
• Natural fabrics

Ideally, modern rustic dėcor should appear to have a history of its own while adding to the story of your home's interior design.

A Room by Room Guide to Modern Rustic Dėcor

Modern Rustic Kitchen Dėcor Ideas

A modern rustic kitchen makeover begins with your permanent furnishings, such as cabinets, islands, and sinks. Look for cabinets of solid wood finished with distressed paint and apron and farmhouse sinks with hammered copper basins.

For small-scale projects (or to add rustic layers to a big project), turn to rustic kitchen wall decor, cooking tools, lighting, and other accents. Just sustain the modern edge by keeping your counters and walls uncluttered. Some ideas to consider:

• A hanging or wall-mounted pot rack
• Copper kettle on the stovetop
• Cast iron drawer pull
• A colorful cast iron Dutch oven
• A distressed wood linear chandelier above the kitchen island
• Mango wood cutting board with iron handle

Finally, you can bring rustic style to your kitchen with functional works of art, whether it's aged locker basket shelves or understated ceramic farmhouse vases and bowls.

Rustic Dining Room Dėcor Ideas

Continuing your rustic farmhouse theme into the dining room—a place to gather and share meals—comes naturally. Perhaps, you can match your tabletop dining dėcor to the ceramic vases you set out in the kitchen. Matching ceramic candle holders and pitchers create a connection between rooms and open floor plan spaces.

You don't have to replace your dining table with a concrete and reclaimed barn wood table, though that would certainly be an inspirational centerpiece to design around. Work with what you have and add tabletop and wall accents, such as:

• Wooden serveware, such as an oversized salad bowl or charcuterie board
• A mango wood and marble cake stand
• Cast iron trivets
• Nature-inspired wall art
• Table runners and placemats in earth tones
• A wood-plank wall clock

Rustic Living Room and Bedroom Ideas

A touch of modern rustic appeal in your living room or bedroom is as easy as adding the right farmhouse throws and throw pillows, and if you're very motivated, changing them out seasonally. From Christmas to the Fourth of July, a seasonal collection of throw pillows for your sofa, chairs, and beds brings a sense of rustic coziness.

Then, add rustic elements throughout the space to complete the look. Choose weathered wood side tables, antique folk art, ceramic vases, or farm-inspired storage containers and hooks. Look for accent pieces that match your distinct rustic style, whether that's wine country, farmhouse, or mountain lodge. Dėcor ideas to consider:

• Whitewashed side tables
• Reclaimed wood photo frames
• Antique folk art
• Unfinished wood wall shelves
• A windmill ceiling fan
• A mirror with a leaf motif frame

Modern Rustic Bathroom Ideas

Nothing makes a style statement in a bathroom quite like a freestanding tub. If it's within your project scope, start with a freestanding copper tub, and build your rustic farmhouse bathroom theme around that style-anchor.

Beyond the tub, there are endless options, big and small, to add modern rustic dėcor to your bathroom. Here are four key areas to focus your design attention:

Vanity and sink: Bathroom vanities and sinks deliver exquisite rustic style to guest bathrooms, master baths, and half baths. Look for vanities crafted of reclaimed wood with weathered or distressed finishes. For the vanity sink, look for materials like hammered metal and rugged stone.

Lighting: After the 'big 3' furnishings (vanity, toilet, and bath), lighting is one of the best opportunities to bring rustic style to your bathroom. Look for aged metals and wood, and antique glass shapes for a truly rustic look.

Wall dėcor: Including mirrors, towel racks, medicine cabinets, and wall art, you can define your bathroom's entire aesthetic with a few rustic items. Continue with the aged wood and metal accents of your lighting choices to allow your modern rustic look to bloom.

Counter and vanity accents: Burned or patinated copper soap dishes and towel holders, and even an iron toilet paper dispenser can add hints of rustic appeal that will reinforce the theme of your bathroom.

Modern Rustic Design Ideas for the Mudroom, Entryway, and Laundry Room

Your entryway or mudroom sets the tone for the rest of your home, and ideally provides a comfortable spot to transition from outdoors to indoors (and vice versa). And don't skip rustic elements in the laundry room—a few well-chosen dėcor and storage additions can make this chore simpler. For these transitional spaces, look for functional accents with rustic beauty:

• Reclaimed wood coat racks
• Tin bucket tiered shelves
• Foyer lighting with exposed bulbs
• Antique-finish console table
• Basket shelves
• Weathered-wood linen cabinets

• Wood pallet artwork
• A wall clock made from found items
• Wicker laundry baskets with removable linen liners

Rustic Dėcor for Your Apartment

Modern rustic style is at home in rooms of every size, making it perfect for apartments and small spaces. Rustic hooks, wall organizers, and table accents make smart use of space and, in turn, these practical elements lend beauty to your home—no matter the size.

Does the modern rustic aesthetic appeal to you? Take our style quiz to find out which interior design style best aligns with your own personal tastes.