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“Urban Rustic” – What Lies Behind the Interior Design Trend?

Trend Urban Rustic in the Living Room
The name says it all: The "Urban Rustic" trend combines modern and rustic elements. Photo: iStock/asbe
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October 29, 2022, 4:08 am | Read time: 6 minutes

Have you heard of the interior trend “Urban Rustic”? This style tastefully combines the fast-paced city life with a retreat into nature. Rustic comfort and modern elegance have never seemed so easily combinable.

A new interior design trend is currently taking over living spaces. Its name: Urban Rustic. Also known as “Modern Rustic,” both terms make it clear that this trend represents a symbiosis of several styles. Here, the world of modern city life meets the soothing escape into nature. Two extreme contrasts that seem fundamentally incompatible yet are so harmonious. The end result is meant to be a cozy, soothing home—dressed in contemporary attire. myHOMEBOOK reveals how to implement Urban Rustic appropriately.

Big City Life Meets a Retreat into Nature

Those who always live in the city sometimes long for the tranquility of nature. It’s no wonder that forest bathing has gained so much popularity in recent years. Nature provides both peace and new energy. Life in a bustling metropolis, with all its stimuli, can often take a toll on our psyche.

In urban areas, the pulse of the times beats—and trends are born here. Not only in lifestyle but also in interior design, several different styles come together. Elements from the Industrial Style or vintage products are often part of this decor. And because we live in times where lifestyles couldn’t be more diverse, we no longer want to commit to just one style when decorating but instead pick what best suits our taste from everywhere.

What Exactly Defines the Urban Rustic Trend?

Of course, this trend didn’t develop without reason. Not only is a colorful mix of styles allowed—it’s even desired in Urban Rustic, combining several values and worlds. Flea market finds, items from grandma’s attic, or estate sales can be combined at will. Vintage products get a second life and home, while the wallet is spared by avoiding new purchases.

Modern, vintage, cottage style: The Urban Rustic trend combines several styles.
A style of multiple styles: Urban Rustic skillfully combines modern, rustic, and vintage elements.

Creative DIY projects also fit well into the ambiance, especially if they consist of natural materials. And those who choose upcycling act once more in the spirit of sustainability and protect the environment. Minor flaws and imperfections in flea market items or from one’s own workbench appear particularly authentic, making them perfect for the Urban Rustic concept.

Bold Natural Tones with Warm Accents

Primarily, it’s natural shades like muted browns, blues, and greens that define Urban Rustic’s color palette. These colors can be used generously on walls and in furniture selection. Both light colors like sage and olive, as well as dark moss green or navy blue, up to anthracite and even black, are allowed. Soft, neutral earth tones like cream, taupe, light gray, or lilac serve as a balance. The living space is flooded with warmth through natural accents in beige, saffron yellow, or rust red.

Also interesting: 6 home trends that are popular in fall 2022

Materials That Remind of Craftsmanship

Urban Rustic primarily relies on robust, rustic materials, emphasizing the trend’s durable, sustainable character. Strongly textured natural materials like wood, as well as natural stone, steel, and cast iron, inevitably evoke craftsmanship.

In particular, all the woods in the room, which are mostly untreated, natural, and covered with imperfections and knots, are reminiscent of craftsmanship. A hard, cool material like steel can be harmoniously balanced with soft home textiles like wool, felt, or corduroy.

Urban Rustic Stands for Open, Airy Design

In general, the Urban Rustic living trend emphasizes simple, monochromatic, and straightforward furniture design. An original loft is particularly well-suited for this type of living space. Because such a living space is especially focused on comfort, comfortable seating such as colorful vintage chairs complete the look.

An open shelving system in a loft as part of the Urban Rustic trend
Open shelving systems in a loft as part of the Urban Rustic trend.

Open furniture, such as a shelving system made of a wood-steel pipe construction, is especially helpful. Closed cabinets should be avoided. In general, the Urban Rustic trend emphasizes simple, monochrome, and straightforward furniture design. Similar to what has already been mentioned, comfortable seating options like colorful vintage chairs complete the look. And because comfort is particularly important to this interior trend, comfortable seating options like colorful vintage chairs complete the setup, along with a leather couch, a midcentury-style bar cart, or an old secretary desk with plenty of patina.

Furniture: Uniform Yet Original Combinations

You should pay attention to simple, monochrome, and straightforward furniture design in the Urban Rustic trend. Well-suited for this are open furniture pieces like a shelving system made of a wood-steel pipe construction. Closed cabinets should be avoided, and instead, choose elements that repeat themselves in the room.

Similar to what has already been mentioned, comfortable seating options like colorful vintage chairs complete the decor. And because comfort is particularly important in this interior trend, comfortable seating options like colorful vintage chairs complete the setup. A leather couch, a midcentury-style bar cart, or an old secretary desk with plenty of patina can also add to the comfort of this interior trend.

More on the topic

A Style of Many Styles: Urban Rustic Combines Modern, Rustic, and Vintage Elements

Urban Rustic is all about combining modern, rustic, and vintage elements in a skillful way. A green plant in a clay pot pairs well with a linen tablecloth, and not far from it, a tinted glass vase sits on the coffee table next to several thick pillar candles.

A style made of several styles: In Urban Rustic, modern, rustic, and vintage elements are skillfully combined. A leather couch, a midcentury-style bar cart, or an old secretary desk with plenty of patina can add to the comfort of this interior trend.

Decorating in the “Mix’n’Match” Style

Decorating in the “Mix’n’Match” style allows for the combination of modern, rustic, and vintage pieces. A green plant in a clay pot pairs well with a linen cloth, and not far from it, a tinted glass vase sits on the coffee table next to several thick pillar candles.

A style made of several styles: In Urban Rustic, modern, rustic, and vintage elements are skillfully combined. A sisal rug on the floor can be paired with a cozy wool or felt throw, and a leather couch, a midcentury-style bar cart, or an old secretary desk with plenty of patina can complete the look.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

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