Decor Tips for a Ranch-Style House

If you want to spruce up a ranch-style house, you’re in the right place. Given its history and charm, this type of house often calls for a specific type of decor. In this post, we’ll share some of the leading tips for decorating a ranch-style home

We’ll discuss why choosing the right furniture and accessories for this type of house is important and share some of our favorite ideas for styling it to maximize comfort and aesthetic appeal. Whether you’re looking for a subtle change or a dramatic overhaul, these tips will help you get the most out of your ranch-style house.

The Appeal of a Ranch-Style House

When it comes to home design, ranch-style homes are an enduring favorite. This type of house is typically single-story and features an asymmetrical layout. It often has a low-pitched roof and an attached garage. In addition, ranch-style homes usually have sliding glass doors that open to the backyard and large windows to let in lots of natural light. The charm of ranch-style homes lies in their simple lines, roomy interior layouts, and connection to the outdoors.

Advantages of a Ranch-Style House

There are several great benefits of living in a ranch-style home. First, the layout is conducive to entertaining since there is no need to manage staircases or awkward spaces caused by split-level designs. Second, a single-story home makes getting around easier for people with mobility issues. Finally, since a significant amount of a ranch-style home is visible from the main living area, it’s easy to watch children and pets whether you’re relaxing or entertaining.

Tips for Decorating a Ranch-Style House

Design the Exterior

Since a ranch-style house usually has an oversized lot, the outdoor areas can be utilized creatively. Adding outdoor elements such as trees, shrubs, and flowers is an excellent way to make use of a huge yard. Planting evergreen trees will provide year-round color and texture to the landscape, while flowering shrubs will offer pops of seasonal color. Consider installing stone patios or walkways made from pavers or gravel to add more visual interest.

Embrace the Rustic Aesthetic

When decorating the exterior of a ranch-style home, it’s important to remain true to its overall rustic aesthetic. Consider incorporating elements into the design that draw inspiration from nature and match the existing architecture. For example, outdoor furniture made from reclaimed wood or lightly stained wood furniture can add a natural yet folksy touch to the space, while vintage metal chairs may look right at home on the front porch. 

Create Curb Appeal

Regardless of how nice the interior of your ranch-style home looks, you’ll want to ensure that it looks good on the outside, too. Make sure your landscaping appears inviting from the curb by placing plants strategically to create dimension and textures that draw the eye. Incorporate flowers and wildflowers into your garden beds for added pops of color throughout each season. You can also strategically place some potted plants and outdoor lighting along walkways for a welcoming touch. 

Decorate With Available Space in Mind

When it comes to decorating inside your ranch-style house, one of the main challenges you may face is making full use of the space inside smaller rooms. If you’re dealing with limited square footage, consider investing in multifunctional furniture pieces, like ottomans, that can be used as seating and storage. In addition, light colors can help brighten small rooms. If you don’t want to deal with painting walls, consider using wall decals or wallpaper. To make the living area and bedrooms cozier, consider adding Western bedding such as quilts for decorative yet practical accents.

Incorporate Natural Materials

To bring out the true charm of a ranch-style house, choose decorations that use natural materials like wood, leather, or woven materials. Wood furniture can be wonderful focal points when paired with cozy seating options like leather pillows and couches. Try incorporating lighter shades with dark woods for contrast, like whites with walnut browns. For added texture, bring in rattan furniture pieces or handwoven textiles like rugs or Western-style throw blankets. These details connect interior spaces with the natural surroundings in subtle ways while providing comfortable elements for guests to enjoy. 

Utilize Wall Space 

Don’t forget to get creative with what you hang on your walls. Opt for striking artwork that brightens the space or portrays scenes and images of Western culture like horses or expansive, grassy fields. Large mirrors also work great for reflecting light into dark corners without taking up too much space visually. Wallpaper is another great option here — choose designs within the theme that are eye-catching but not too busy; think botanicals and boho prints.

Decorate With a Neutral Palette 

When designing around a neutral palette, add accent colors like warm yellow, sage green, and terracotta orange to make rooms feel more inviting. You don’t want stark contrasts since those can appear cold and uninviting, so try sticking with similar colors only three to five shades apart or theming each space around a different color.

Incorporate Textural Elements 

As mentioned earlier, it’s especially important to consider texture when decorating. Incorporate items like handwoven rugs made from wool or cotton in various colors and patterns, ceramic pottery pieces, and vases filled with vibrant flowers. Hanging textured artwork on walls can help soften modern edges and add depth while placing throw blankets in natural tones around the home can create a cozy atmosphere for relaxing indoors. 

Create a Harmonious Living Space 

The key to making a house feel like a ranch-style home lies in combining various elements harmoniously between rooms; different styles should coexist peacefully rather than compete against each other visually. Connect the styles of different rooms with comparable color schemes. For instance, incorporating similar shades of blue in the living room and bedrooms can aid in smoothly transitioning between those two areas.

Conclusion

Tying together the decor of a ranch-style house can seem daunting, but with the right tips, it’s easier than you think. It’s important to maintain the rustic charm of this type of home when decorating but also to ensure that it feels inviting and comfortable. Choosing furniture and accessories that emphasize natural elements and textures is the key to success, as is utilizing a neutral, earthy color palette. By following these tips, you can create a unique and eye-catching ranch-style home that your friends and family will admire.