While living in a subdivision in the heart of a thriving city has its perks, it can feel overwhelming to the senses sometimes. With commercial districts around you, business is ongoing 24/7. The streets are always filled with traffic, and on the weekends, people are out and about.
When you feel stressed, busy surroundings aren’t helping. Even if you’re just cooped up at home, the signs of bustling still seem to pulsate all over the place. On times like this, you can’t help but miss the countryside or wish that you were somewhere more peaceful instead.
Luckily, traveling isn’t necessary to satisfy your longing for fresh air and tranquility. By incorporating countryside elements into your city abode, you’d barely feel like you’re living among on-the-go metropolitans.
Here are some tips and tricks to living the countryside life in a busy city:
Cottage-style or Farmhouse-style Aesthetic
Houses in the countryside are usually quaint cottages and farmhouses. If your home design is regulated by the homeowner’s association, remodel your interiors instead. Fool the eye that your home is just like the rest.
Cottage-style andfarmhouse-style homes share a handful of elements, most notably the well-worn pieces. Both styles hardly feature contemporary furniture with clean lines and sleek finishes. Instead, they use organic textures, like wood, natural stone, rattan, and leather.
If you can change your kitchen countertops into butcher blocks, go for it. But if you’re not ready for such a dramatic change, add subtle wood touches instead. Consider changing the finish of the cabinetry into the wood. Alternatively, use antique wooden barstools or a wooden pantry door.
Don’t be afraid of color; most farmhouses and cottages feature brightly colored pieces, such as stools, slipcovers, and table cloths.
As for the style of the kitchen, which always stands out in a farmhouse or cottage, consider shaker-style cabinets, an apron sink, and a movable kitchen island (if your space is small). For the living room, include a wicker or rattan furniture piece, such as the accent chair. And if it’s possible, adorn the ceilings with wooden beams. Exposed wood beams are usually a structural component in a farmhouse, but some modern ones build them for aesthetic reasons only.
Maximize Natural Light
Since construction costs in the city are higher, developers limit the size of the windows to avoid selling their houses for a hefty price. But you don’t have to put up with your home’s meager natural lighting.
To maximize natural light, paint your ceilings the brightest white shade you can find. The color will elevate the ceilings, making your interiors look more luxe.
Install a large mirror, preferably opposite a window, so that it would reflect the light and bounce it back throughout the space. If that’s not an option, you can place the mirror anywhere, and it will still reflect light. The effect is just doubled if it’s directly opposite a window.
Choose white-washed wooden furniture and finishes, or paint them white if they have a dark finish. Just note that painting woodwork will make them hard to restore, so be sure that you’d like the change. That’s why it’s wiser to choose white-washed woodwork instead because though it isn’t white, it’s still light enough to brighten a space.
For your furniture, stick to streamlined and lightweight pieces. Bulky sofas may be a key feature in cottage-style and farmhouse-style homes, but they sadly obstruct the flow of light. To stay within the aesthetic, use bulky furniture sparingly. Place one to two of it in the living room, for example, then keep the rest light and airy.
Go easy on your light fixtures; a dark space doesn’t necessarily need several ceiling lights. Instead, install one overhanging light fixture, such as a chandelier or pendant, and complete the illumination through accent lighting, such as lampshades. Keep your window treatments streamlined so that they’ll filter the natural light, not block it.
Cool Down the Space
Another problem with small windows is ventilation. During the summer, the heat inside your house can feel suffocating. Though an A/C can counteract that effect, relying on it 24/7 isn’t energy-efficient. So use alternative means to cool down the space, too, such as indoor plants.
Since a countryside home is typically bordered by plants and trees, filling your home with greenery will bring the countryside to you. Plus, indoor plants purify the air, which helps when you and your family are allergic to dust from the city smog. Moreover, plants control humidity, preventing molds and the health issues that they cause. Consider aloe vera, snake plant, and the money plant (a.k.a. the golden pothos). Those popular indoor plants are easy to maintain and pretty enough to act as decorations.
With these elements in your city home, you’d wake up each day to a peaceful, bright, and cool space. And you’d retreat to the same cozy space after a whole day of working. You’d feel so good as though you’ve come home to the province after years of dwelling in the city.
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