Choosing Art for a Rustic Home
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Decor Decisions

Choosing Art for a Rustic Home

Featuring interior designer Raena Albers

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In each installment of our series Decor Decisions, an interior designer helps us choose art for a certain style of home, from minimalism to art deco, industrial to mid-century modern and beyond. (See the playlist curated specially for rustic interiors, or browse our other installments.)

Credit: Victoria Pearson

Sorry, Old MacDonald, it seems like a lot has changed since we first started singing about your farm.

Once upon a time, the rustic aesthetic was associated with dark wood paneling, iron accents, and accessories adorned in rooster motifs. And it didn’t matter if you lived in the country or the city, this style was everywhere.

Today’s take on “farmhouse” design is different. The modern iteration places an emphasis on light and natural elements such as shiplap, sliding barn doors, and an airier, neutral color palette. And instead of appearing in every type of home, Raena Albers, principal designer at Raena Interiors argues the rustic looks best in a true farmhouse.

“The days of kitschy country decor are a thing of the past,” she explains. “I really do believe authenticity is key in creating a true farmhouse feeling.”

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The Orange BookAllen Tucker
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As farmhouse design takes on a more current, genuine approach, the question remains how does one choose their art. After all, a traditional painting of a fruit basket doesn’t feel particularly fresh.

For Albers, bringing a farm-friendly home into the 21st century is as easy as weaving some contemporary art into the space.

“I love the juxtaposition of contemporary art in a more laid back setting,” she says, nodding to Allen Tucker’s The Orange Book. “It has a modern feel with the woman’s incredibly chic blouse and green bracelet.”

For a piece that serves as a breath of fresh air for your farm-styled home—without being jarring—opt for simple shapes with plenty of texture.

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Dune IIIPiet Mondrian
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Bold brushstrokes, as seen in Piet Mondrian’s Dune III, and soft suprematism, a la Kazimir Malevich’s Landscape with Five Houses, will offer your walls some depth but still pair nicely with your space’s rustic aesthetic.

Farmhouse styles tend to emphasize natural materials like iron, brick, and wood, giving the space an inherently neutral color palette. However, that doesn’t mean your artwork needs to follow suit. In fact, a farmhouse’s “back to the basics” look offers a canvas for artwork that truly makes a statement.

“If you are a neutral lover, don’t be afraid of having an art piece really stand out,” Albers says. “A fun pop of color is really cool in a rustic space, especially if you have white shiplap.”

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Signs in YellowPaul Klee
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Paul Klee’s Signs In Color will bring a cheery yellow hue to the room, but the monochromatic palette offers some warmth that works well with a farmhouse.

As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And while Old MacDonald may have been inclined to deck his walls with portraits of chickens, pigs, and cows, the subjects of your artwork should stray beyond the barnyard crowd.

“Do something unexpected,” Albers recommends. “I am so obsessed with Leonora Carrington’s Self-Portrait, which epitomizes self perception and rebellion. I would love to place this in a farmhouse setting just to spark a conversation.”

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Self-PortraitLeonora Carrington
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Understandably, contemporary art is not for everyone—and fortunately, it’s not the only way to outfit a farmhouse. If your artistic eye skews more traditional, opt for an unexpected take on the classics. Van Gogh’s Chair for example, offers a hint of rustic charm but isn’t as ubiquitous as, say, the artist’s famous self-portraits or batches of sunflowers.

But when it comes to farmhouse design, how you choose to display your art is just as important as the specific piece you select. Not only does Albers recommend mixing different frames of different sizes, materials, and thicknesses, but she also urges farmhouse dwellers to see the benefit in quality over quantity.

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Van Gogh's ChairVincent van Gogh
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“Every wall does not need to have something hung on it,” she says. “When there are too many focal points, the room will not have balance and the art will not feel as special.”

But just because you should apply an editor’s eye to your art doesn’t mean it should an afterthought. For a piece that packs a punch, Albers recommends opting for oversized art.

“Art is the best way to make a statement, and oversized art can give that visual punch while creating a focal point,” she says.

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Decor for a Rustic Interior

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