Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Rustic country decor can be defined as coarse, charmingly simple, unfussy, unfinished and yet with endearing qualities. Rustic country decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Cottage style homes are comfortable, modest, quaint homes that can be made of thick stone or log wood.

Floors in rustic country decor and cottage style homes are made with stone or wood materials. Wooden floors were traditionally constructed with boards that were bare and simply waxed and hand-polished (high-gloss varnishes did not exist). Sometimes the boards were painted with light colors. If you like floor coverings, use oriental rugs and throws for visual warmth and color. Rustic country decor is about handcrafted objects, simplicity, furnishings that you enjoy and connecting back to nature.

Baskets can be used to store wood, pine cones, flowers, plants and needlework. Brass candle holders, oil or kerosene lamps, sconces, hurricane lamps, tin lanterns, recessed ceiling fixtures or a vintage wrought-iron or metal chandelier provide successful lighting for rustic country decor and cottage style homes. Colors used in rustic country decor or cottage style homes are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and greens.

For rustic country decor in the kitchen, use open shelves, hutches, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Often, country kitchen storage is crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron — cookware tends to be large and plain. Use open shelving in the rustic country kitchen to display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections. Natural woods, light colors and bright fabrics work great for window treatments. Adding a rustic butcher block island creates a wonderful visual effect as well as provides useful functionality.

A rustic country decor bathroom has neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting, and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity. Knowing how to decorate cottage style homes and bathrooms can result in creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country cabinets provide the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to spend time there. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower.

For shoppers looking for country decorating options, Timeless Country Decor should be your one and only destination. Their online store offers an enormous selection of primitive decor items perfectly suited for all your country home needs. Choose from roosters, hearts, stars and more at TimeLessCountryDecor.com to fully outfit your cottage.

Understanding how to decorate cottage style homes means including items like quilts, antique furniture or reproductions, flea-market pieces, trunks, chests, armoires, stenciling, wallpaper, adirondack chairs, flower wreaths and bistro chairs. These types of elements give cottage style homes the kind of rustic country decor that is simpler, very personal and warmly inviting.

Your lighting choices are really important to giving your home that cozy, welcoming feel to it and rustic lighting is perfect for doing that. There are many different types of lighting fixtures. Rustic lighting fixtures come in a range of designs so they can easily be tailored to fit any room. Here is a list of fixture ideas:

* Wall sconce. They can be made with a cedar log or pine cones or even made of wrought iron. They are great for an entrance or hallway. They are also a great addition to a stairway providing a bit more warmth and light.

* Chandeliers. They come in many varieties and can change the entire room with their elegance charm. You can go with very rustic, a chandelier made with cedar logs or an inverted pendant with acorns and oak leaves. There is also choices like a faux elk antler chandelier and moose chandeliers. There are actually some very elegantly rustic chandeliers which are a bit more delicate while still giving off the warmth and feel of being rustic.

* Vanities. There are so many fun styles with your traditional rustic with the mica glass, or you can go with the rust look. Another example is one where the lights are painted as pine cones hanging from wrought iron painted and shaped as a stick.

* Lamps. Artist’s design really comes out in rustic lamps. There are fishing reels, faux antlers, and big chunk of mesquite wood with a copper bear shade. Table lamps made from sticks or made to look like stick chairs, buckets of pinecones, wildlife pottery, porcelain lamps painted in rustic themes, or even one that looks like your old canoe. Rustic lamps can be made with almost anything like the lamp made with the old canteens or the old boot.

* Ceiling. From flush mount lights decorated with bears, moose, fish, pinecones and more all made of iron and burnished or black to varieties of pendant lights that can be used in rooms with taller ceilings. The pendant lighting comes in oblong shapes, chandeliers, smaller lights, inverted pendants and ceiling mounts.

Rustic lighting gives a home a lived in, warm feel. They bring the elements from outside to the inside warming your home with not only light, but with genuine warmth and a down home feeling. There are so many choices that finding a rustic lighting fixture for your home is simple.

For the best Rustic Chandeliers, Rustic Lighting & Western Lighting selection online shop at Aspen Lighting. They offer a huge selection of lighting options for any decor or style, whether you are looking for Western Lighting for your lodge or a coastal lamp for your beach house. With a wide assortment of mission lighting, cottage lamps and many other fixtures, Aspen Lighting is the website leading retailer of indoor and outdoor lighting. They offer a plethora of options for illuminating your home no matter the decor or style: from western or cottage to coastal or cabin, along with a wide selection of fixtures with classic Tiffany Lamps elegance.