This Rustic Trend Just Made Renovating Your Home Way Easier
Paint chipping? Drywall crumbling? Wallpaper peeling? Don't blow your renovation budget just yet—the "raw" look is in!
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Just ask Joanna Gaines: Sometimes, stripping a wall back pays off in a big way. The brick or shiplap hidden underneath is part of your home's history, and uncovering it can add instant character and natural texture to a space. But exposed brick and salvaged shiplap only scratch the surface so to speak. As seen in New Romance, a new book from Gestalten, the coolest trend taking over rustic farmhouses today is embracing your house's raw country charm by leaving the walls and ceilings unfinished. Yep, we're talking chipped paint, crumbling plaster, peeling wallpaper, and partially painted walls—the whole shebang.
"The more self-involved and digitized our daily lives become, the more we surround ourselves with natural materials," a Gestalten editor is quoted as saying in Architectural Digest. "We crave things that have a more pleasant feel to them than the cold touch-screens we're constantly swiping away on."
Bonus: The "undone" look cuts down on renovation time and costs.
"I'm all for exposed brick or stone and original plaster in various degrees of 'decay,' as I feel they embody the authenticity of a place," Contributing Editor and Stylist Heather Bullard tells CountryLiving.com. "To balance I would suggest modern, sophisticated, polished furnishings to keep things from looking 'frumpy.'"
"As for the peeling wallpaper, I would remove it—unless it has historical value—as I think it would be distracting and would require an explanation to every guest!" Bullard continues. "But as a photographer and stylist, it does make a great backdrop for catalog and lifestyle shoots! Take for instance, Anthropologie's merchandising and catalogs."
Don't have this kind of character in your home? Companies like NewWall, Woodchip & Magnolia, and even Amazon offer wallpaper designs that mimic the flawed effect with way less mess.
Exposed Brick
What do you think? Do you love the raw, rustic look, or is it a little too "abandoned-chic" for your tastes? Scroll for more rooms we think did it right.
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