Rustic Furniture: The Unique Alternative In Home Decorating Origins of Rustic Decor Rustic decor covers a wide range of niches, like lighting, interior design, and furniture. Settlers in remote towns and villages of 19th century America often had a hard time getting the necessities of life. In an age where transport was costly, they could not expect to bring finished furniture from the nearest large town. So they would make do by cobbling together their furniture and cottages from local timber and discarded packing crates. In keeping with the pioneer spirit, a lot of settlers would do this work on their own instead of hiring labor. The rough and ready rustic style furniture caught the eye of wealthy urban vacationers. They started commissioning rustic furniture for vacation homes. The preference for rustic furniture in those days can also be explained by the "Back to Nature" approach made popular by author Henry David Thoreau. There was a rejection of the complications of city life and a preference for a retreat to rural and forested surroundings by many urban Americans. Simple log cabins decorated with utilitarian furniture were preferred instead of high luxury. With the arrival of more modern conveniences, this lifestyle acquired more comforts, but the basic philosophy remained the same: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A804Vo6k7io Rustic Furniture - Why is it so Popular Today? Furniture designs have gone from large overwrought wooden pieces to minimalistic metal and glass structures in the last few decades. In a sort of reaction to these stylized excesses, the simple lines and pastel shades of rustic furniture have become popular again. Buyers are also showing a desire for artisanal products which are made locally by skilled craftsmen and rustic furniture certainly fits the bill. The mass manufactured furniture is often made in offshore factories and shipped over long distances to retail stores. Customers prefer to shun these products because of the environmental concerns related to such transportation. A lot of new rustic furniture commissioned these days is fully handmade. So the buyers can opt for customization of the furniture to their specifications. Elements of the color shade, design of handles, mirrors, and sinks can be changed at will, along with the overall dimensions of the furniture. The warmth and homeliness of rustic furniture compared to mass produced furniture is another factor which makes it popular. There is also a utilitarian side to buying rustic furniture. These pieces tend to be solid and heavy and last for decades. Families with growing children prefer these sturdy products to more fragile modern furniture pieces. Tips for Selecting Rustic Furniture Rustic furniture from UHD should be bought in solid colors with matt finish preferred over glossy. These shades bring out the simplicity in these furniture pieces. Brass or bronze handles and hinges offer a pleasant contrasting effect. Rustic furniture does not fall under just one style; rather there are a whole variety of styles that come in this niche. So buyers should explore as wide a range of rustic furniture designs as possible: http://www.unlimitedhomedecor.com/rustic-farmhouse-furniture-s/223.htm