5 Inspirational Rustic Interior Designs in Singapore 2023
Whether you live in an HDB flat, condominium, or landed property, a nice and beautiful home is everyone’s dream. When you hear about home decor and interior design in Singapore, you come across a plethora of design styles and themes. Choosing a particular style can be overwhelming but the choice becomes much easier if you know what the design styles constitute, their key characteristics, and other important features. Depending on your personal preferences, you can then select a particular design style and adopt it in your home.
Although interior design styles like the Scandinavian, minimalist, and contemporary design themes are quite popular in Singapore, if you dare to do something different from what most people around you are doing, then the rustic interior design theme is for you.
A rustic interior, at its heart, emphasizes on organic living and this is clearly manifested through the use of natural and organic materials. Let’s discuss in detail what a rustic interior design is, its history and key elements along with tips and tricks on how to create the perfect rustic home that is bound to wow anyone.
What is rustic interior design?
A rustic interior refers to a space comprising elements that have aged naturally and are in distressed condition. Natural and organic materials lay the core foundation of all elements and the space gives a relaxed and cozy feel. Rustic can be considered the opposite of contemporary or modern interior design. A contemporary interior includes elements that are stylish and new. On the other hand, a rustic interior puts emphasis on using elements that have worn out over time. Non-glossy metallic elements, raw wood, and natural materials are the highlight of rustic interiors.
Where did rustic interior design originate?
Rustic interior design dates back to the time when the first houses were built by builders. They would construct their houses using local materials that they would easily find near them instead of importing them from far-off places. The log cabin can be considered the earliest form of rustic interior when the local people cut wood from trees and used the logs to build the house’s structure. The logs would be stacked on top of each other and clay and mud would be used to fill in the gaps and stick the logs together.
As times evolved, people started using stone and clay to build the structure of the house while the interior would feature wooden beams in the ceilings and rough lumber walls. With time, people continued replicating this design style to create a rustic interior and focussed on using raw materials and elements in distressed states to bring about a humble and natural look into the space.
Key elements of rustic interior
Now let’s look at the key elements that make up the rustic interior design.
Raw wood
One of the key features of rustic interior design is raw wood. Raw wood that has worn out over the years or which has not been treated is a perfect choice to be used in this style. Normally, in other design styles when you are choosing furniture and other items, you want each and every piece to be perfect. However, in this case, the more raw and rugged look the wooden element has, the better it will fit in the atmosphere. In a rustic interior, you have to embrace imperfections and make sure that your sofa, furniture, or other wooden products have a weathered or raw look to it.
Natural materials
When choosing materials for different elements in the house, make sure you choose natural materials over synthetic ones. Jute, wool, linen, cane, burlap are the ideal choices of materials for various elements in the interior. Use textured fabrics , throws, and rugs to bring a rustic touch to the space. Natural plants are one of the main features of this interior. You can use large planters or small table plants to add an earthly element to the space. Stonework or a rockery with a small waterfall installed can add the perfect natural touch to the interior.
Earthy color palette
The color palette plays a significant role in defining any interior design style. In the case of the rustic interior. An earthly color palette is used mainly that includes shades of cream, beige, gray, black, brown, green, and blue. To avoid creating a chaotic visual space, choose neutral colors of gray or beige for the walls and add in elements in earthly hues. Although bold colors are not used in the interior, you may use deep shades of green or blue to add in some pop of color in a neutral space.
Handmade elements
A rustic interior includes handmade products as an important part. Since a rustic interior focuses on natural and organic materials, handmade items made from natural materials help further accentuate the room’s appearance. Handicrafts and traditional items can also be used for this purpose. You do not need to fill the interior with such elements though; just a few centerpieces and decorative items should do the trick.
Keep the furniture simple
A rustic interior exudes simplicity and comfort. Therefore, the main focus of the furniture is that it should be simple and comfortable. No added ornamentation or complexity is seen in the furniture. Think wooden sofa frame with comfortable sofa seats and cushions.
Add in wooden beams
Wooden beams on the ceiling are a tell-tale feature of rustic interior. These ceiling beams could be part of the structure or you can add exposed beams later for a decorative effect.
Tips to get the perfect rustic interior
Now that we have an understanding of what a rustic interior is and its main features, let's discuss some tips and tricks on how you can achieve this style in your home in the best possible way.
● Add natural elements like wood, clay, stone, plants, and herbs in the interior.
● Opt for a neutral color palette with a few deep hues of earthly colors.
● Make the space comfortable and inviting by using simple but oversized furniture.
● Use natural elements that give a weathered and worn-out look; embrace imperfections with open arms.
Mistakes to avoid while designing a rustic interior
Just like some rules should be followed while designing a rustic interior, some mistakes must be avoided, otherwise the space would not be a true rustic interior.
● Avoid using synthetic materials and items that appear sleek and modern.
● Don’t use contrasting colors in the space. As discussed above, if you wish to add some color to a neutral palette, keep them in deep hues that do not contrast with each other; rather they should blend in with the overall color scheme.
● Avoid using shiny and glossy finishes in materials. Metals like matte finish iron or brushed brass should be used instead of polished or lacquered surface materials.
How to get the rustic design theme in your home?
Rustic interior design can make any home look appealing and warm as long as you follow its rules and incorporate all its relevant features. To further help you understand and provide you inspiration in the form of pictures and descriptions, we will look at some of the design projects by Swiss Interior to see how the designers created amazing rustic interiors. We will look at each room of a rustic house individually to get a better idea of how to design it accordingly.
Living Room
The living room is the heart of any household and whatever interior design theme you select for the house, it should manifest itself in all its glory in the living room. Hence, for a rustic outlook, the living room should feature furniture and other items made from natural materials and showcase raw wooden architecture in some form.
The following image shows a modern rustic living room where the raw brickwork wall immediately casts a rustic aura over the space. The sofa looks simple and relaxing which adds a touch of warmth in the interior. The coffee table exhibits a raw, rustic finish as if it has not been polished or sealed. The floor tiles give the illusion of a stone or cemented floor, which is crucial in maintaining the rustic outlook in the space. Although we see many contemporary elements in the interior, the atmosphere is undoubtedly a mix of rustic and contemporary feels.
Another view of the living room shows the TV console and adjacent showcase shelf. Notice how the wood used for both these structures depicts a natural rawness. The multi grained wooden texture with varying hues of wood color help create a beautiful rustic appeal to the environment.
Bedroom
A bedroom is a place where one feels relaxed and it should be a place that exudes warmth and comfort. A rustic interior in itself gives a rather relaxing and warm feeling, therefore, adopting a rustic interior design in the bedroom is easily achievable. The following image shows a rustic bedroom that features natural elements and is quite simple at its core.
The bed is the highlight of any bedroom, therefore it should be completely in line with the characteristics of the bedroom design theme. In this portfolio, the designers have chosen a beautiful bed made from cane wood that gives off clear rustic vibes. The bedside tables are made from a similar colored wood that complement the bed. All accessories are also on point in this interior with rustic, golden metallic lamps on each bedside table and a leafy plant on one side. Notice how the choice of bed linen is also on point with the bed sheet and bedspread exhibiting the colors and patterns associated with the Earth and nature. The simple, sheep window drapes further complement the overall rustic theme in the bedroom.
Dining Area
Just like the rest of the rooms of the house, the dining area should also include those elements that give out rustic vibes. Although, primarily a dining space includes the dining table and chairs, you can add other elements of decor and wall art to enhance a particular interior design style. In the case of an open floor living room, the dining space should continue with the overall color scheme and decorative elements of the living room to show a smooth transition between both these areas.
The following image shows a dining area of an open floor plan where it is created on one side of the living room. The overall theme of this interior is a mix of industrial and rustic styles. The dining table features a raw appearance wooden top with steel legs. The dining chairs appear to come from the olden days where such patio chairs could be seen in the patio and in farmhouses. To give it an industrial touch, the chairs have been painted black. Rustic looking hanging lamps are installed just above the dining table to further accentuate the raw and rugged outlook. The rest of the room also shows old and rustic furniture and decor items.
Kitchen
The kitchen is an important room of the entire house which is often given very little attention when it comes to designing. Often people believe that the kitchen just needs to be functional with no particular adherence to the design theme being implemented in the rest of the house. However, this should not be the case. The kitchen should also exhibit the same design theme characteristics like the rest of the house so that there is balance and harmony throughout. In the case of rustic interior design, a kitchen can easily adopt this style by following a few basic tips.
The following image shows a rustic kitchen that looks beautiful as it gives nostalgic vibes as if you are stepping into your grandma’s old cottage. The distinctive patterned black and white tiles immediately take you back in time. The perfect choice of a deep green color for the kitchen cabinets creates an earthly vibe as they complement the brown wood countertop and upper shelves. The textured scalloped backsplash seems to be the best choice in this interior. A finishing touch of nature is added in the kitchen in the form of a few planters displayed on shelves that complete the rustic look.
Bathroom
Finally, we come to the last room of the house that is also almost always ignored during interior designing and that is the bathroom. Although it is true that a bathroom constitutes a rather small part of the house, nevertheless, designing it in the same design theme as the rest of the house can create cohesion and continuity with the rest of the house.
When it comes to a rustic design style, incorporating it into the bathroom is not a very difficult task. Since a rustic interior features non-glossy metals, we can simply use them for the pipes and bathroom fixtures. But to further add a raw and crude touch of the olden days to it, we can use golden metal pipes. This has been beautifully showcased in the following portfolio design of a bathroom.
The shower fixtures and pipes, sink faucet, and the mirror frame all exhibit the golden metallic outlook that creates a rustic ambience. The simple white wall tiles are a true testament to this design theme. Also notice the exposed pipework near the ceiling that is also necessary with this design style. Even the bathroom door has an old, rustic feel to it with its distinctive design.
Types of rustic interior designs
Although a rustic interior design in itself can be chosen for any HDB or condominium, you may wish to create a blend of rustic style with other types of interior design themes. Some of these design styles could be:
Contemporary Rustic Interior
As the name suggests, this interior design theme takes elements and features from both the contemporary and rustic styles and brings them together in beautiful harmony and balance. Think of wooden furniture that has been given sleek and contemporary shapes. Or rustic chandeliers that are coupled with track lights and accent lighting.
Farmhouse Rustic
A farmhouse rustic interior is sort of a rustic interior that has raw and rough elements but they are complemented with a few refined pieces from the olden eras. This beautiful combination of raw and refined elements gives a unique touch of elegance to the farmhouse rustic theme.
The rustic industrial style
Probably the most popular mix of a design style with the rustic theme is with the industrial style. Since both these styles depict raw and rugged elements, they can be combined together to give a unique vibe to the space. In this style, you are talking about exposed pipes, natural materials, prominent brickwork, and track lighting.
The Scandinavian rustic interior
This design style depicts elegance and sophistication in a rustic space. In such an interior, the distinctive characteristics of rustic interior like raw wood appearance and brickwork walls are included but a touch of elegance is added by choosing a rather darker color palette and adding in modern lighting to enhance the interior’s ambience.
All these above-mentioned tips and design inspirations can serve as the perfect guide to creating a rustic home that gives a nostalgic feel and has a natural, earthly calm and warmth to it. The design portfolios by Swiss Interior discussed here show the expertise with which clients’ requirements are met and their dream homes created. If you want to get more information regarding interior design styles in Singapore, contact Swiss Interior today.
Swiss Interior is one of the top interior design firms in Singapore. We offer renovation services for HDB interior design like 3-room HDB interior design and condominium interior design, check out our service today!
About Swiss Interior
Swiss Interior is a leading interior design company in Singapore since 2012. Led by founders Jason and Ronnie, the Swiss team serves customers from all walks of life, delivering bespoke and dream interior design and renovation services to all homeowners in Singapore.
Accreditations & Awards:
- Singapore outstanding enterprise award (2013)
- HomeRenoGuru Most Trusted ID (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
- First ID firm to win 1 Week Kitchen Challenge by HomeRenoGuru (2019)
- Featured in NOC RenoKing (2020)
- HomeRenoGuru Top 10 ID Firm (2020, 2021)
- Featured in CNA Lifestyle Making Room (2021)
- Qanvast SuperTrust (2021, 2022)
- Featured in HomeStyle Magazine Year End Cover Page (2021)
- Featured in Sheikh Haikel & Anna Belle Francis DreamHome (2022)
- Sidac Accreditation (2022)