Country-ish decorating in our new home

Ok guys, I have a bit of a problem, I just got married on January 16th and have moved into an 800 square foot home. The walls are all knotty pine in our house with a tan carpet. I have no idea how to decorate in our house. I like the farmhouse style decor but our house is so dark and my husband wont let me paint the wooden walls. How do you decorate with knotty pine walls?
  13 answers
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Feb 11, 2016
    Hello Tawny Congratulations! Sounds like you have some choices for decorating. I'm in agreement with your new spouse...don't start painting! Knotty pine isn't just for country style. You can go with mid century modern, rustic, cabin get-away, lots of options. I think wood can be overwhelming if there is not enough color or pattern involved. Go on Houzz or Pintrest and search knotty pine for some inspiration. Here is an example of how to work with that paneling instead of against it.
  • KatAych KatAych on Feb 11, 2016
    if you really want to cover the walls (maybe even just at chair rail height), you can use a cornstarch and water mix to apply fabric like wallpaper. I personally really like the look of knotty pine; if it's dark in your house, make sure you choose light and bright everywhere else and have some good lighting options! The lodge style is very cute - if you're not already signed up with zulilly and beyondtherack, I would suggest you look at those sites. Their sales change daily/weekly, and they often have country/farmhouse/lodge-style items for sale!
  • Martha Martha on Feb 11, 2016
    If you like farmhouse style you could go to thrift stores or antique shops and get a bunch of old eclectic stuff according to your taste such as picture frames, small farm implements/tools, framed doilies, and hang the stuff on a feature wall. Different sizes of items at all different spacing. Home talk has one of these on one of its sites. Adorable.
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Feb 12, 2016
    Congratulations! A whole new start for 2016! The thing about knotty pine walls is that, at the end of the day, they are brown, and along with a tan rug, that's a totally neutral, and quite dark backdrop. So you need to decide what palette you want to go with to keep it light and fresh. I would use light-colored materials for the sofas, chairs, curtains-then add in your accent colors for contrast with pillows and throws, etc. Try to stay away from too many plain wood furniture pieces- they also will be dark and add to the heavy wood feeling. Use colorful signs and art work for interest and use mirrors to reflect the light wherever possible. Hang curtains on the outside edge of the windows so you don't block the sunlight. You will be able to find so many rustic items at online yard sales- try a painted trunk for your coffee table, an old ladder propped against the wall to hang some colorful blankets, a muslin slip-covered sofa- this will be the basis for your farmhouse look. Good luck! Post some after photos : )
  • Mary Ann Mary Ann on Feb 12, 2016
    I recommend crisp white curtains to frame the windows (not cover light source). The rooms really pop with white. Also use lots of lamps with adequate wattage. Lighting makes a Huge difference.
  • Tris Smith Tris Smith on Feb 12, 2016
    Muslin curtains, light furniture should balance things out.
  • Elaine Burdick Olsen Elaine Burdick Olsen on Feb 12, 2016
    Try a light colored rug as a wallhanging. Lots of bright colors and mirrors. Change out the rug to something with color. Or do everything in white with a touch of your favorite color. Wedding pictures blown up to poster size.
  • Cathy Cathy on Feb 12, 2016
    You can add color by putting a colorful rug on top of the existing carpet---also less wear and tear on the carpeting with a rug on it. Use bright colors to brighten up the room and go on hunts to find just the right things to put around the room---Rome wasn't built in a day and it is more fun to slowly add things you really love than just to get something to fill the space. Congrats!
  • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Feb 12, 2016
    First lesson is in give-and-take. What does your new husband want to do that you will not allow? Exactly. Wax the wood with 2 layers of wax, then give the walls a 'white wash' with a chalk paint. The wood shows through for him, you get the light you want, and a non-permanent effort has been made by the two of you - the paint can be removed with the wax layer with mineral spirits. Live with it for a while; if it is acceptable for a little bit longer, wax it again before it gets grubby. Your second lesson is this: it's your home as well as his, and neither of you should be paralyzed by the fear of change.
    • See 2 previous
    • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Feb 14, 2016
      well, she said she had a problem... which one is it? creativity, for me, comes a lot easier than figuring out than marriage, even tho my very patient & easy going husband and I have been together for for 30 years! ;-)
  • Buster Evans Buster Evans on Feb 13, 2016
    curtains in light colors, you can use swags around the room on the walls to distract from the wood.. Pictures with light colored frames will also help... the walls stay but fade into the background as you add yourselves to them... wedding pictures, and candid shots of the two of you... build memories as you go... Also implement into the country theme with colorful dried flowers, you can use burlap swatches to cover sections of the walls and hang pictures on top of it using it as a background instead of the wood. Light colored lamp shades to draw attention to the light .. let your imagination and personal taste soar as you start your new lives/chapter together... let him help you decide what looks good, you may differ somewhat but its a sharing process.. Too early to start wars in the marriage over decorating... give and take comes in many forms!! Have fun with it, make it both of yours home...
  • Barbara Barbara on Feb 13, 2016
    I agree with duval.26. This is a home for the both of you and it should feel cozy & beautiful. As a newlywed you will have to decide which battles are worth fighting and if the knotty pine walls truly bother you - fight your battle. After 30 years of marriage I can tell you that it takes time to make a home that works for both parties, but sometimes each person has to make a stand & remember that there will times that you will be the one to let your mate have his way. Marriage is a lot of push/pull and hopefully enough love and respect to make it all worthwhile. Compromise is a 2 way street.
  • Amanda Pauls Amanda Pauls on Feb 13, 2016
    Hi Tawny, I live in a log home so I have a similar problem and we lived in a tiny home previous to that... Our floors we put in are a light wood but like you said it is just a lot of brown. I have made my accent light colors like whites, blues, and grays. Finding really need things for your walls helps our space a lot. You can find alot of different ideas on our blog at www.sweetpsdecor.com I hope you find some inspiration! :D
  • Sparkles Sparkles on Feb 15, 2016
    This is your first home, and may not be your forever home as your family grows. Deal with the walls and do not paint them YET. What comes to mind when you think farmhouse décor? When I hear farm décor I think, chickens, pigs, cows, geese, ladybugs, bluebirds and robins, apples, cherries, strawberries, daisies, sunflowers, daffodils, painted milk cans, egg baskets, butter churns,, metal signs, Americana, primitive dolls, wagons, plaids, braided rugs, whites, creams, yellows, and greens, barbed wire, horse shoes, and other things along those lines What is your favorite color? Use this for furniture, pictures, candles, rugs, curtains, and such. See if he will agree to pulling up the carpet, and see what is under there that you can change. Is it hardwood or cement? paint the cement to add charm to the room, or replace carpet with tiles. look on Pinterest for ideas. Go to flea markets and junk stores to see if anything jumps out at you for decorations or inspirations. Use lacey curtains to give the room a lighter feel. DO NOT use heavy leather furniture as that will make the room feel more brown and heavy. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Pinterest+Country+Decor&FORM=RESTAB http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Country+Rustic+Decor&FORM=RESTAB http://www.dreamhomedecorating.com/country-cabin-decor-a-log-cabin-in-canada.html http://themerooms.blogspot.com/2013/03/primitive-americana-decorating-style.html