You’ve probably heard the term “rustic” used to describe design millions of times and took it to mean natural materials in a shabby chic cabin in the woods. While that’s mostly right, there’s a ton of nuance within the rustic interior design category that can guide the essential decor elements, including the types of materials you use, color preferences, and textures you choose.
When it comes to lighting, specifically, your type of rustic interior design will dictate the light fixtures that are best for your decor. If you’re interested in finding the right lighting, whether it’s ready-to-install or a DIY rustic light fixture, Color Cord Company can help. Check out our guide for the different types of rustic design and the lighting that goes with them.
1. Farmhouse
If either the traditional or modern farmhouse rustic style appeals to you, you’re probably working with some combination of the following elements:
- Neutral color palette
- Exposed wood beams
- Vintage and antique accents
- Plants and greenery
- Barn doors
- Reclaimed wood
- Shiplap paneling
- Open shelving
Farmhouse Lighting
The ideal farmhouse lighting may feature fabric shades and just a hint of a metallic accent in the light fittings or canopy pieces. Customize your farmhouse vibes with outside-of-the-box approaches – explore glass globe shades or geometric bulb cages for farmhouse with an edgy twist. On rare occasions, a metal shade may be appropriate, but it could stray into rustic industrial interior design instead of “true” farmhouse.
If you absolutely love the look of metal shades, consider matte finishes and pastel hues that complement your natural tones, like mint or rose.
2.Tuscan/Mediterranean
Moving on to the Tuscan or Mediterranean rustic interior design style, the key elements you’ll be seeing include:
- Sun-baked earth tones, like warm stone, terracotta, and sienna
- Natural ceramic and iron materials
- Exposed wood or stone floors
- Stripped-back walls and texture
- Patterned tiles for backsplash and flooring
- Dried botanical accents
Tuscan Lighting
For your Tuscan rustic interior design light fixtures, you’ll want to focus on woven lampshades made of natural materials, like rattan or palm, as well as a few neutral fabric shades mixed in. You’ll likely want a lot of floor lamps with the occasional pendant light or chandelier to create the layered ambient and task lighting you need. You can create some variety with naked bulbs or rustic industrial interior designs that incorporate ornamental wrought iron.
3. Coastal
The coastal grandmother rustic interior design style is taking the world by storm. This aesthetic is no longer reserved for lake houses and tiny coastal towns — anyone can do it when incorporating some of the below elements:
- Blue, white, and light green color palettes
- Distressed wood
- Nautical themed accents
- Striped prints and patterns
- Coral accents
- Rope and twine accents
Coastal Lighting
No matter what type of lighting you choose for your coastal rustic interior design, you should focus on white hardware and natural shades. You can even get a simple base chandelier and create a DIY rustic light fixture by twining some rope around the arms. If the rest of your interior design is mostly white, you may want to develop some contrast with a more rustic industrial interior design that utilizes layered metal lamp shades with geometric bulb cages in black or navy blue.
4. Wabi-Sabi
Wabi-Sabi design seems like a bit of a crossover of several other styles, including Nordic minimalism and Japanese rusticity. However, it is its own unique aesthetic defined by the following characteristics:
- Grey and stone color palette
- Texture and roughness
- Asymmetry
- Modesty and simplicity
- Austerity
- Ambient greenery
Wabi-Sabi Lighting
You might think that this rustic style is a little limiting, as most of its defining characteristics are to keep everything as minimalist as possible. However, Wabi-Sabi light fixtures can be very playful, as they explore asymmetrical shapes that curve and flow. For this type of lighting, opt for plug in pendant lights that highlight a uniquely shaped shade in stone-like hues and textures.
Finding Your Style Here
There are several other types of rustic interior design, including Japandi, Naturalist, and Cottage Core. The four we’ve chosen to highlight are currently the most popular trends we’re seeing people recreate.
At Color Cord Company, we want you to find the perfect lighting to complement your rustic interior design with ready-made pieces, custom designs, and even simple lighting to help you DIY a rustic light fixture. Whichever path you choose, we have the complete designs and modular components you need to bring your vision to life. Explore our gallery for inspiration and check out our guides for wiring advice.
