Underrated Color Schemes That Belong In Your Rustic Home

When you think of a rustic home interior design, your mind likely goes to various shades of brown, mixed with warm reds and perhaps cozy yellows. These are some of the most common rustic paint shades you'll want to use in your home to achieve a woodsy, cabin look. However, many other, often overlooked, color schemes can work just as well. While you may want to stick with warm, nature-inspired colors that feel vintage and cozy, your rustic home can stand out if you get a little more creative with your color combinations and additions by combining some basic colors with some more unique choices. 

Earth tones are always a good choice, but you should also consider colors that make those shades and your wood furniture, walls, or floors stand out even more. Think beyond the basics and add color to your combinations that may seem too bright and assertive, such as jewel tones like emerald greens and ruby reds, paired with those basic browns and tans. 

In fact, we want you to step out of your comfort zone in your rustic style by trying sky blues that pair with pale tans, teals that bring out wood fixtures, and even peaches that make a warm room even warmer. The rustic home design trend is making a comeback, but it doesn't have to be neutral and bland. Not sure how these seemingly flashy hues will mesh with your rustic rooms? We'll explain why each color scheme is an excellent, underrated choice for elevating your rustic home decor.

While warm reds are always a go-to for rustic home decor, have you considered a lush red tone that stands out and brings a bit of brightness when paired with chocolate browns? Ruby and garnet are excellent alternatives that don't get the attention they deserve. They add a more modern look to your rustic decor in small doses, and pair beautifully with warm chocolate browns and even stone accents. Use the red as an accent wall, on curtains, or on a couch to make it the room's focal point. 

Green hues are often considered timeless, so integrating emerald green into your cream-and-gold rustic design is a great way to add a pop of color while still feeling earthy and relaxed. Deep emeralds and other rich green shades will add some elegance to your rustic vibe, while still giving you that outdoorsy, old-world feel that brings comfort. We love that emerald green pairs just as well with rich, dark woods as it does with light ones. You can make the space look even more classic and rustic with brass or gold accents.

Sapphire is a fantastic jewel tone that stands out as dramatic and enigmatic, making it a great pairing with rustic rooms accented with warm light browns. The blue adds a touch of class to the minimalist vibe of those wood and brown tones. It's a shot of dopamine in a room that otherwise looks laid back. Sapphire is a "cool" color, the opposite of the "warm" you'd expect to find in rustic decor. To ensure it doesn't detract from the room's coziness, consider a well-placed couch or an accent wall.

Earthy colors are the go-to for rustic home decor, but don't forget to look up when taking ideas from nature. Laetitia Laurent of Laure Nell Interiors told Homes & Gardens, "There's a lightness and airiness to pale blue that feels calming yet fresh." Sky blue adds brightness to any space, and when paired with off-white shades and creams, it creates a great rustic look. While light blue is a cool color, it's whimsical in an old farmhouse feel, making it transition more easily to a rustic aesthetic.

Teal is one of those colors that plays well with others, and this vibrant '80s color recently made a comeback. Teal will add a pop of flair to your rustic decor, and it's perfect with creams and wood tones. You'll want to keep this cool shade as an accent, or use the 80/20 rule — 80% of your room stays neutral, while 20% is your teal. While this color stands out best when paired with cream and brown tones, add gold accents to evoke elegance or pair with rustic pottery and macramé.

Peach is another underrated shade worth exploring for a rustic home makeover, and it pairs perfectly with pale woods and cream colors. Creams and peaches both instantly evoke images of adobe homes standing like statues in desert landscapes, the epitome of modern rustic. What's more rustic than a home in the desert that looks like it's stood there since ancient times? You can choose a very pale shade or a darker one that stands out while still feeling rustic. For metal accents in the room, consider gold or brass for extra charm.

Gray is neutral, and so is brown. Combining these two colors, whether it's a blond-brown or something deeper, gives a rustic vibe to the space, evoking images of old cabins in the woods. Although gray is sometimes seen as a cooler color, when paired with warm browns, it becomes cozy and warm. When asked about the match, interior designer Nina Lichtenstein told Home & Garden, "Its neutral, versatile nature makes it ideal for creating contrast or layering with other colors." Since this combo has an "old" look, pair it with antiqued golds and rustic coppers.

Sage green isn't just for your kitchen; when paired with tan as your other color, it can create a rustic look. Add some accents to the mix, and you'll have a modern rustic room that really stands out. Green is both warm and cool on the color wheel, and sage and other paler greens add a calm, outdoorsy warmth when paired with the right decor and colors. There are many ways to decorate your home with soft sage green. We suggest you move the light greens from the kitchen to other areas of your home.