Decorating in country chic these days is a very popular trend. It is possible that many of us will remember this particular decorating style from the homes of our parents and grandparents, and like all things from the past, it is making a huge comeback. Wheat country is a style that personifies the harvest, as well as Mother Earth.
Once a popular style for just the kitchen, it has grown to encompass the entire home. It is a very good style for achieving a range of country styles, like Early American, Rustic, and Cottage. If your home has a lot of square footage, this style might not work as well, because the end goal is for every room done in Wheat Country is to reflect a sense of comfort and coziness.
Light Oak Beds
One of the elements that make this style so appealing is because it just cries out for the use of antiques. Antique furniture, artwork, knick-knacks, and aged quilts and rugs can all be showcased using this particular decorating style. The theme to be achieved is that of an era where things were simple, often made by hand with pride, instead of being mass produced elsewhere.
Another trendy feature of this style is that focal points can be shifted as you add to the decor without much effort. Whether you start with an antique country hutch as the focus, or you start with a collection of Wheat country china, you can shift the focus easily by changing the display, or by just moving the furniture about.
Elements that will go with this theme are very easily recognized: motifs of farms, harvest symbols, Amish barn decorations, fruits, vegetables and farm animals were dominant in the time period being reflected here. The furniture was stout and sturdy, made of good hardwoods and were often in light cherry, maple and wheat colors. The fabrics used in these pieces often had patterns in them that reflected the harvest, farm life and bundles of wheat and grasses, in faded colors against a creamy background.
Artwork were of simple themes, usually landscapes framed in light or whitewashed wood. Groupings of framed artwork would be coupled on the walls with elaborate shadowboxes, holding thimbles, photographs or other small memorabilia. You can duplicate this look easily just by browsing through your local thrift shops and craft supply houses. Walls were either done in various shades of cream or wheat, with brown molding, or wallpaper with light backgrounds and faded patterns of harvest repeated on them.
Knick-knacks appropriate for this era would be vases shaped like jugs with harvest patterns, small collections of animals or postcards from the time period, whatever you can find that emulates the harvest theme. Lamps would range from brass or copper shades to hurricane lamp motifs. Curtains used in this theme can be cream, tan, brown and green, and should be used with coordinating fabric pullbacks. For the floor, oval area rugs, floral rugs or braided area rugs in light colors would be best.