What does Rustic mean to you?

By Bryan Christl

Rustic – adj – 1: Rural

2: Awkward, Boorish

3: Plain, Simple

4: Made of the rough limbs of trees

When you think of "Rustic Decor", does an image appear in your mind? Can you see what embodies a "Rustic" home, lodge or cabin? It seems that everyone has his or her own thoughts about what "Rustic" looks like, and what you think of is entirely different from what I, your neighbor or friend thinks.

Doesn't the definition state what rustic is rather well? I think of rustic decorating in terms of the third definition "simple and plain", with simple being the key word and I think there is a reason for that, don't you? Lets explore it a bit.

Many years ago during a time when life was not filled with all of the technology and advancements of modern times, there lived many hardworking people who lived day to day and made do with what they had. They had no choice but to keep it simple because the only things available to them were what they could make or buy with their hard earned money.

Many of the things we take for granted weren't even available back then. Things like plastic, acrylic, nylon, polyester, aluminum, stainless steel, fiberglass and rubber. The processes for creating things that are every day items to us weren't even developed yet. If people couldn't make it with their own hands, they probably didn't have the money to buy it, so they did without it or worked harder to earn enough money to buy it.

Rustic decor has it's roots in many different geographical locations and lifestyles as well, which helps to explain why everyone thinks of something different when they hear the word rustic. The decor of the lumber camps was different from the decor of the rural farmer, from the cowboy bunkhouses, from the fur trappers and the townspeople. The common thread between them all was that it was simple, at least by today's standards.

In the coming months, I am going to examine and give you my observations of the time period and lifestyles that inspire today's rustic decorating. Hopefully these thoughts will help you to create a decor that will fit the image you have for your home, lodge or cabin.

Since I am from an area where logging was a huge part of our history, I will begin with the Midwestern north woods lumber camps of the late 1800's and early 1900's. These camps were scattered around northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan where the pines grew fat, straight and tall.

Coming soon - Part One, Lumber Camp Days.

About the Author: Bryan Christl is a part owner of Wildlife Decor LLC. Bryan has spent most of his life living in the North woods of Wisconsin. His closeness to nature has fostered his interest in photography and his business venture. Websites: http://www.rusticwildlifedecor.com

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