The world of garden design is in constant flux, with new trends emerging and old ones returning all the time. There are also a few time-tested styles that are almost always in demand and which are sure to return soon when they are not. Rustic design is one of these, and that is why adopting this timeless style in your garden can be a wise choice for homeowners. Here is why it is always able to make a comeback.
1. Enduring Aesthetic Appeal
Generally speaking, how welcoming a home looks and feels is more important to most people than how up-to-date and impressive the design is. Rustic designs stand out in this respect by creating a warmer and more inviting environment than modern trends like minimalism. The same applies to gardens and any buildings in them, explaining why the American barn shed style has long been favoured over minimal shipping container-style sheds.
Another reason for the enduring appeal of a rustic aesthetic is that imperfections add to that homeliness. While rusted or scratched metal will always look bad, weathered wood looks lived-in and comfortable. Rustic design also complements other design styles well because it allows for a variety of conditions, patterns, and colours to be used.
2. The Joy of Slow Living
Rustic designs help remind people of a simpler time before life became so internet-focused and fast-paced. A rustic-themed garden can feel like having a relaxing vacation spot attached to your own home, where you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Using natural textures like wood and stone helps create this effect, as does the inclusion of decorative objects and designs, which allow you to appreciate their craftsmanship rather than just their function.
In addition to outbuildings like barn-style sheds, this trend is also evidenced by the nooks and cozy places people are creating in their gardens using things like woven furniture, antique-style objects, and warm lighting. Each is appreciated not only for the job it helps them to do, such as providing a place to sit or some light to see, but also for the way it looks and feels.
3. Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness
Rustic designs fit well into another dominant modern trend, that of sustainability. Reclaimed and repurposed materials form the basis of many design elements which one might consider to be rustic. Remember that looking more lived-in and weathered actually adds to the charm of rustic aesthetics. This means that fewer new materials need to be used. Instead, materials such as reclaimed wood and recycled metals help people to add character to their homes and gardens while reducing waste.
Even when new materials are used, the ones chosen for rustic designs tend to be natural, durable, and biodegradable. For example, clay, stone, and wool do not contain harmful chemicals or microplastics that can seep into the environment. This means that embracing rustic design can be a much more responsible and environmentally friendly way to decorate.
4. Consistency Inside and Out
The principles of rustic design can easily be adapted for use inside the home as well as out, allowing homeowners to keep a consistent style throughout all of their spaces. Wooden and woven furniture both work extremely well indoors and outdoors, as do vintage and antique-style objects. A natural material like stone looks just as good forming the basis of a winding garden path as it does a kitchen or bathroom.
And while a rustic-style garden can be created by incorporating other natural materials and functional furniture among the plants, the creation of a similarly rustic interior is helped by using plants to decorate indoor spaces. This is once again somewhere that rustic design aligns with a popular modern trend. Plants are now popular decorations inside many homes because of their calming and oxygenating properties.
5. DIY Appeal
The fact that rustic decor aims to create a sense of warmth, character, and charm over impressive visual unity means that it can be easily created by anyone without professional landscaping and garden design experience. All it requires is some creativity and effort, which only adds to its appeal. Anybody can go out and find some suitable second-hand furniture or lay down some garden shingle, and large features like American-style barn sheds look great almost anywhere.
However, it is easy to go overboard with vintage-style elements. Doing so can make your garden or home look more dated than rustic. Sticking to neutral colours, warm tones, and a mixture of textures can help avoid this. So can choosing high-quality materials, as these tend to end up looking better with age, whereas cheap materials end up damaged or degraded rather than weathered.
Conclusion
While following fashions can be fun, it is important to remember that things can fall out of favour. When it comes to potentially big investments like designing our dream gardens and homes, it may be better to seek timeless styles instead. Rustic decor is one, and it is both easy to implement and versatile enough to work with many modern trends.