With nostalgic and botanical elements making their way into our homes, country interiors are coveted more than ever. But if you’re living in the city, it can be a drastic change that is hard to turn back from.
“The start of a new year often promises hope and new beginnings. However, instead of racing full speed ahead with a million plans and ideas, sometimes it’s a good idea to start slowly and mindfully,” Amthal Karim, Head of Design at Furniture And Choice, advises.
If you’re on the city chic to shabby chic pipeline, country interiors are timeless. However, the transition should be slow, curated and intentional so as to not read as a parody. Amthal shares her tips for intentional country interiors.
The Rise Of Country Interiors
Many are saying that the country is back but country never left. There were subcultures that clung to farmhouse and country-esque coastal during this time.
Slowing design has taken off following the death of hustle culture and overconumption. This might explain the move from the city to the countryside through more botanical motifs and garden offices.
“Recent lifestyle trends reflect this,” Amthal explains, “such as the ‘slow living’ and ‘joyspanning’ trend, which highlight our desire to appreciate the present moment and quality of life. These trends have also influenced interior decor styles like country decor, cottagecore and modern farmhouse interiors.”
“Country-inspired interiors have gained popularity over the past few years on TikTok with modern farmhouse amassing over 60k posts,” she adds.
Tasteful Country Interiors in 2026
“Compared to cottagecore, country-style interiors are less whimsical, adopting a more practical and rustic approach with classic elements, natural textures, and an earthy palette,” Amthal says.
“Gone are the days when country interiors feel old-fashioned and uninviting,” Amthal explains. We’re now seeing the democratisation of country style—DIY hacks, high street dupes and the growing popularity of second-hand markets are all to thank for this.
She continues: “Modern country style bridges the gap between classic country style and contemporary design. What’s the key to achieving this look? Choosing a statement furniture piece is one way to start. A contemporary style sofa with a classic silhouette and soft curves is an ideal statement piece that doesn’t shout and is understated. Light, contemporary plush fabric upholstery is hard-wearing and makes it easy to layer while remaining elegant on its own.”
“Layering with the right textures and accessories like ruffles, frills, wicker and rattan are essential in country-style interiors,” she says. “Traditional country interiors take inspiration from the outdoors—think relaxing country walks and leafy colour palettes. Mixing different wood tones helps create a layered and lived-in feel, like choosing light wood flooring and dark wood accents for furniture.”
If you’re working to a tight budget an affordable way to achieve it is through colour.
“Colour psychology plays an important part in making country decor look chic. Green’s connection to the countryside and outdoors makes it an easy pick for this decor style. Different shades or hues of green from olive to sage, set the mood depending on whether you want to lighten or make the space feel moody. Soft jade tones and celadon green are currently trending and are in the Pinterest colour report and are great picks as we move towards spring. For those who want to add bigger pops of colour, burnt orange or terracotta accents help give the space a rustic charm.”
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