Rugs in a house or no rugs?

Hi Roxi, I like area rugs, that way the hardwood shows around the edges. Joanna Gains does a nice job with farm house. The only thing she does that I don't care for is open shelves in the kitchen. And no to all white, that's way to stark. Colors, but you can do light colors to make everything feel bigger and brighter. I would also stay away from greys, they're to drab. Go to the paint store and get a bunch of color cards. Tape them on the walls. Take notice to them at different times of day and in different kinds of weather. Eliminate them until you have a few. Go to the paint store and get sample pints and paint them on the walls. Do the same thing you did with the color cards until you have the right one for each room. Good luck with your decorating.

I will tell you this, the family farms range from Wisconsin, iowa, to kansas, Arkansas and Texas. Not a one was ever done in white. Why? It was the least expensive paint you could get. A poor mans paint. What is you favorite color? Is there a neutral color you like? It’s your home. Make it reflect you.

Roxi, I don't know who told you people don't use rugs any more, I do. More and more people are getting rid of their carpeting and replacing with hardwood floors. Many use rugs for their furniture to sit on so their wood floors don't get scratched.

I prefer color on the walls instead of just white. Have you ever checked out Pinterest? It has many amazing ideas for so many projects.

Only go all country if that's really what you want. I have many interests and I'm trying to decorate my house so it tells a story of our life. My bedroom has the nature theme, sage colored walls, dark brown curtains. I'm in the process of framing photos, and items that reflect nature.

I'm also working on my living room, travel theme in my hallway it will be the military area. In my opinion white can be boring but for some its clean and fresh and they add color with their furniture and accessories.

What do you like? Do you have any hobbies? Look at your wardrobe, what colors do you like to wear?

I would take all the current popular trends and put them in the file "13". Identify YOUR OWN style first. I did this by looking through hundreds of photos both online and in magazines. When a look speaks to you, LISTEN. Save your favorite ideas in one place. Leave it alone for a few days, then revisit. Look at the repeated themes. That's how I discovered how much I love transitional design. I would never have guessed that about myself. My decor is black granite, stainless and natural wood. I expected my style to be log cabin, but in reality I feel so at peace in my new surroundings. Just take a little time to listen to yourself.

I would go nuts without something on the hardwood floors. My feet get cold easy enough, I don't need to walk on wood or tile and freeze my feet. I also like to break up floors a little bit so that it isn't just the same hardwood through so many rooms. I always liked the look of rugs around the couch and coffee table in a living room and along side of beds in the bedrooms. Just my opinion, just like everyone is going with grey on their walls, but I, myself, would never use the color in my house, too drab. Go with what you yourself want to go to get the look you want. You don't have to go with what is "in" right now, it may be out tomorrow.

I like to use rugs. It so much warmer on the feet, especially in the winter. I like color on the walls with white trim. I believe white trim makes colored walls pop. Plus they give a bright clean look.

As to rugs or not, are you looking to be more authentic to the period, I would go with floor cloths.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ5AtkVrouU I used to make these when I was in high school for people restoring homes.... floor cloths pre-date linoleum, are sturdy and very washable

Here is one in the kitchen.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsm0Mg14n-A&t=114s see 2:20

1918 houses had wood floors and often many rugs, handmade and storebiught. Sometimes wind blew through the floors or the walls, so rugs provided some insulation. More rugs gave more insulation. Farm houses had rugs, often woven in beautiful patterns, from rags. And when you look at photos of Gaines and even historic photos, remember, rooms are staged to look their best, not necessarily as they were and are in daily use. Even the 1930s documentary photos were often staged. ☺️