The New Rustic: How to Mix Reclaimed Wood With Modern Interior Design

Nowadays, the idea of rustic has changed completely. Today, people consider rustic as wood with character and combining it with modern interior design principles. Contrast is taken as the key to this design style, for example, you have to use raw wood together with sleek and definitely non-rustic elements to create beautiful rooms with rustic features. Most of the times a single piece of lumber look much impressive with clean modern design and elegant metallic accents mixed with it. 

Read the full blog to learn more about rustic design in modern interior styling. 

Why Does Reclaimed Wood Suit Modern Homes?

Old timber has tales behind every nail hole and grain, making it one of the warmest materials used in construction and design to fill a warm, minimalistic space. For instance, Reclaimed Beam benches make even the most bare dining room look great next to sharp metal chairs. The reasons for the attractiveness of reclaimed wood go beyond the aesthetic element.

• Sustainability: The reuse of wood means that only a few trees are cut down.
• Durability: Timber used in old buildings is usually dense, seasoned, and stable.
• Uniqueness: Each board is different; there can never be two similar ones.
• Texture: Natural imperfections give tactile sensations to smooth spaces.

What Are the Core Rules of Mixing Rustic and Modern?

The most convincing “new rustic” rooms are designed on certain simple principles. Reclaimed wood should be used as an accent instead of the entire scheme, and nothing else should be a storm.

Balance Texture With Smooth Surfaces

Rough-hewn wood is best paired with materials that have a glass, brushed steel, or matte plaster contrast. For instance, dining sets consisting of Reclaimed Beam tables work best matched with plain and smooth chairs. Make the wood the roughest of them all, and keep the rest clean.

Keep the Palette Restrained

Select two or three main colors to work with; soft whites, warm greys, or muted greens are preferable. Recycled wood, in itself, has a series of browns, golds, or silvers, and thus the extra colors greatly detract from impact.

Where Should You Use Reclaimed Wood Room by Room?

Reclaimed timber can be used virtually everywhere, where it belongs. This table provides an indicative list of pairs that work well together.

Room	Reclaimed Element	Modern Pairing
Living room	Mantel or floating shelves	Low-profile sofa, slim black frames
Dining area	Statement table	Minimalist chairs, linear pendant lights
Kitchen	Open shelving or island top	Handleless cabinets, stone worktops
Bedroom	Headboard wall or bed frame	Crisp white linen, understated lighting
Bathroom	Vanity top or mirror frame	Large-format tiles, matte black fittings

The entranceways are an ignored place for wood beams. To help pull shoes on, reclaimed beam benches offer a solid seat and a nice warm greeting as well. Add a thin-frame mirror and a couple of hooks to make it classy and modern.

How Do You Make a Statement Piece Work?

Pick an item to display prominently. It could be a dining table, a mantel, or a ceiling beam. Whatever it is, it should be something that you will enjoy looking at. Reclaimed Beam tables are great for this purpose, as their weighty build and unique look make them great for large spaces.

• Make adjacent furniture look light: open-framed chairs and simple lights.
• Don’t clutter surrounding walls, because it will make the grain become the background.
• Fit the scale according to the room; slimmer plank designs suit smaller apartments.
• Provide lots of room for walking around big pieces.

What Styling Mistakes Should You Avoid?

It doesn’t matter how nice the wood is if the styling is heavy. Here are five mistakes you should avoid.

Matching Wood Materials

If the flooring, shelves, and table are designed from the same type of wood, the room will feel more like a cabin instead of a home. Vary the shades and choose one piece to act as a statement.

Combining Fake and Real Wood Furniture

Placing a purposely damaged shelf next to a piece of old wood will show the differences between the two. The faux wood will have a dull look, while the actual wood will have imperfections at the edges. Pick one type of wood and stick to it.

Overloading With Rustic Props

Add some lanterns, a wagon wheel, and a timber sign, and before you know it, the space becomes a themed restaurant. The wood gets overlooked in all the accessories. Select one or two items that you find most beautiful and stop at that.

Not Taking Lighting Into Account

Dark timber absorbs all the light, so when the room is badly lit, it creates a heavy and slightly dull ambiance. It is almost impossible to depend on natural light only. You need to incorporate multiple warm lamps and spotlights to highlight the wood grain.

Conclusion

A modern home with rustic is about moderation. Make the right choices of items to incorporate into your home, allow these objects to be seen, and keep your home decor simple and understated. You can kick things off by bringing in just some items and work your way up from there. An old shelf on the wall, a mirror hanging on it, or an old table in the corner may be enough to start.

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