The rustic modern furniture style is an incredibly versatile solution for decorating a country house, a farmhouse, or even an apartment in the heart of the city.
To fully emphasize this style and make it blend perfectly with the characteristics of your property, it’s essential to balance various furniture elements, both in terms of tones and materials. It will be crucial to carefully choose the cladding and flooring. Here are a few tips:
The main characteristics of the modern rustic style
The main aspect of modern rustic decor is to achieve a mix of contemporary and traditional design with primarily natural materials such as terracotta, stone, and wood, combined with some more innovative elements.
To give an idea of how to use these elements, several options can be considered:
- Have a ceiling with exposed wooden beams and terracotta tiles.
- Paint the walls in neutral colors or use wallpapers with a modern texture.
- Opt for terracotta flooring, either classic or glazed, to match with modern furniture pieces.
- Use plants throughout every room to add a natural chic touch.
- Have a masonry kitchen paired with linen and cotton textiles.
- Enhance existing terracotta finishes in your home, such as walls, stairs, or columns.
These solutions emphasize the concept of modern rustic decor, featuring a contrast between terracotta and wood elements with lighter tones.
Glazed terracotta for flooring
The advice is to start the design process with the flooring, so that other elements can be evaluated accordingly.
One of the most popular options to meet this need is glazed terracotta, an artisanal product, handmade and painted. It is important to emphasize that glazing does not affect the main characteristics of terracotta.
Thanks to the glazing, daily cleaning of the floor becomes easier, as it is protected from potential use of aggressive products and corrosive agents. Glazed terracotta can be used in all areas of the house, including bathrooms and outdoor spaces.
To avoid making the design too uniform, many people choose to go for different shades. When it comes to tones, you can opt for a dark color, but without overdoing it. You can cover one wall or the floor, alternating very soft colors that create contrast and open up the space. This combination is typical of modern rustic decor and makes the home feel even more refined and valuable.
An alternative to glazed terracotta flooring is wood. It is a material that offers significant elegance, but it is more delicate and requires more care and maintenance over time.
How to choose wall coverings and colors for your space
Once the flooring is decided, it becomes easier to assess the other furnishings to achieve the perfect rustic modern decor. In this case, the distinctive feature is precisely the rustic flooring, while the walls add that touch of modernity.
When we talk about modernity, attention is immediately drawn to white tones and simple lines. For the walls, white or wallpaper can be easily used. Very much appreciated in contrast to a terracotta floor are dove-gray walls.
Even the coverings have their importance. If you have stairs in your house, you can make them in light terracotta or cover them with this material. A dark steel railing or small LED lights along the stairs will add the sought-after modern touch.
A popular choice among modern design enthusiasts is also the combination of industrial-style floors and handcrafted terracotta, which can provide elegance and refinement.
By itself, terracotta embodies the concept of rustic, being a natural and handcrafted material. In contemporary homes, terracotta floors in herringbone or straight patterns are increasingly common, especially in lighter colors. In particular, the herringbone pattern pairs perfectly with dark-colored walls.
Terracotta can be used in contrast with wooden coverings installed vertically or metal finishes to be placed in various areas. The final result will be striking, especially if the metal is matte and quite dark.
Rustic modern furniture kitchen and living room
Once the key elements of the project, such as the flooring, walls, and various coverings, are established, the furniture choices are made.
A classic of rustic modern style in the kitchen is a masonry solution paired with storage elements to keep things organized. The color of the furniture can be white to create a contrast with the flooring; the combination of terracotta flooring and a white kitchen is a timeless choice. You can add exposed elements in natural wood color, while the choice of the stove should generally lean towards a more rustic product. However, the inclusion of an induction cooktop is not to be ruled out, as it adds a touch of modernity that this style requires.
In the living room, you could pair terracotta flooring with velvet armchairs in bold colors. The table could be made of wood or glass. Adding some neutral-toned accessories is also recommended. You can also consider using wallpaper with a floral pattern.
Those who love color can opt for Mediterranean-style coverings and flooring. Meanwhile, those looking for a modern look with more neutral tones may find their dream design in Provençal-style flooring.
Rustic modern style open space
Rustic modern style open spaces offer a fascinating blend of tradition and modernity. The use of handmade terracotta as the main material for floors and coverings proves to be an ideal choice for creating elegant, warm, and refined environments.
The combinations of color, materials, and architectural details can be customized to suit any type of decor, allowing for the creation of unique spaces with great visual impact. Experimenting with rustic modern open space furnishings, combined with handmade terracotta, allows for the creation of welcoming and charming environments that reflect the essence of the fusion between tradition and modernity.
In the evolution of architecture and interior design, open spaces and the merging of tradition and modernity have become dominant trends. Spacious environments provide an unprecedented sense of airiness to the home, making it visually larger. The latest trends see fewer walls, offering less closure for guests, who are free to experience the home in its entirety. Rustic modern open spaces stand out for their ability to create welcoming, warm, and refined environments. In this context, the use of handmade terracotta as the main material for floors and coverings proves to be a winning choice.
Rustic modern open spaces are characterized by the combination of traditional and contemporary elements. This style creates a balance between the sturdiness of rustic materials and the lightness of modern lines: handmade terracotta fits perfectly into this context, adding a touch of authenticity and warmth.
In these open environments, architectural details such as exposed beams, terracotta tiles, rustic terracotta walls, and even glazed ones for a more modern touch are often used. The inclusion of decorative elements such as paintings, ethnic rugs, and soft fabrics will enrich the welcoming and warm atmosphere.
What makes a rustic modern open space in terracotta unique is the amount of natural light that enters. This allows for playing with darker tones and highlighting the beauty of the terracotta floor.
If you have an open space that includes a kitchen and living room, the best touch you can add is a brick arch, capable of both dividing and connecting the two areas at the same time.

Bedroom, bathrooms, and study
In the bedroom, the distinctive element of the rustic style is the use of wrought iron. There are many brands that specialize in creating wrought iron beds, so it will be easy to find a solution that suits your needs.
In this space, a striking rustic modern touch could be a face-brick wall behind the headboard of the bed. You could also consider incorporating some antique furniture, such as a restored chest or a wardrobe from the late 19th or early 20th century, without altering its colors.
If you have a spacious bedroom, you could opt for the installation of terracotta floor borders, adding an elegant touch to the room.
For a well-designed bathroom, the wall coverings should generally feature light tones with some terracotta accents. For the study, an ideal choice would be a vintage bookshelf and a worn desk, without any damage or scratches. The chairs could also be vintage, perhaps restored to their original beauty.