Wall and Floor Decorating Ideas for a Rustic Ranch Home

The best wall and floor decorating ideas for a rustic ranch home use a few real, textured materials (stone, solid wood, wool or jute) and keep everything else quiet. Ranch ceilings are often low and the plans are long, so the walls and floor do most of the work.

Below are the ideas I'd start with, the sizes that keep a room comfortable, and the pet-friendly choices that hold up to claws and muddy paws.

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Which wall treatments suit a rustic ranch home?

Pick one wall to carry the texture. Flat drywall on every side makes a ranch feel plain, but texture on every side makes it heavy. A single stacked stone or limestone-washed wall behind the fireplace or the sofa is usually enough.

Stone and tile accent walls

If budget is tight, use less of a real material rather than more of a fake one. A small authentic stone surround on a fireplace looks better than a whole wall of peel-and-stick plastic stone, because repeated grain patterns give it away. Brick works the same way, and our rustic brick wall kitchen ideas show how far one wall can go.

Wood paneling and board and batten

Paneling adds warmth and protects the lower wall from a dog who likes to lean. Choose a hardwood such as oak or hickory. Pine dents and scratches easily. Keep the paneling on the lower half of the wall or on one wall if your ceiling is a standard 8 feet, so the room doesn't feel like a cave.

Flooring on walls ideas

Wide planks of reclaimed oak work well as a headboard wall or behind a TV. Keep them light or mid-tone, and mount them horizontally to stretch a narrow room. Porcelain tile that looks like wood is easier to wipe down for a mudroom wall.

What are good wall decor ideas for living room walls?

For wall decor ideas for living room walls in a ranch, think in layers: one large piece, a couple of smaller ones, and lighting. Hang art so its center sits around 57-60 inches from the floor, and keep the bottom of a frame about 6-10 inches above the sofa back.

• Vintage landscape paintings or framed botanical prints suit the rustic mood better than generic prints.
• A large mirror opposite a window doubles the daylight in a dim room.
• Sconces or picture lights on the wall free up table space and warm the corners.
• Open shelves in solid wood hold books and baskets, but keep them out of the way of tails.

If you want to hang art without a frame, here's a guide to hanging unframed art.

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What to put on the floor for decor

Rugs are the first answer to what to put on the floor for decor, and size matters more than pattern. At least the front legs of every seating piece should sit on the rug. In a typical ranch living room an 8x10 is the minimum and a 9x12 is often better. Under a bed, let the rug extend about 18-24 inches past each side.

Other floor decoration ideas: a long runner in a hallway, a woven basket for blankets, a leather pouf, or a sheepskin throw over a chair. Keep a main walkway at least 36 inches wide so none of it becomes an obstacle.

Keep rugs from becoming a hazard

This is especially important for older relatives. According to a National Institutes of Health study on rug and carpet falls, an estimated 37,991 adults age 65 or older are treated in U.S. emergency departments each year for falls associated with carpets and rugs. The same paper notes that loose throw rugs and carpets with curled edges or folds are among the factors most often cited as unsafe. I recommend a non-slip pad under every rug and replacing any rug whose corners curl.

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Which floors work best by room?

Kitchen and mudroom

Choose matte porcelain tile or slate. Avoid high-gloss finishes, which are slippery for dogs. Check the DCOF rating on the box; 0.42 is the common benchmark for wet interior floors. Brick and slate also hide dirt and suit a side-entry mudroom.

Living room and hallway

Wire-brushed or hand-scraped hardwood hides claw marks far better than a smooth, glossy finish. A runner in a long hallway dampens footsteps and breaks up the tunnel effect.

Bedrooms

Ranch bedrooms often share one hallway, so noise travels. A wool or jute-blend rug, lined drapes and an upholstered headboard all soak up sound. If you're shopping for seating to go with these floors, see our farmhouse leather sectional picks.

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What is the best color combination for floors and walls?

The best color combination for floors and walls in a low-ceilinged ranch is a light wall against a darker or mid-tone floor. Warm white or light greige walls bounce daylight around, while a wood floor in oak or walnut tones grounds the room. Keep the floor and the biggest rug a step apart in tone so the rug doesn't disappear.

Matching every wood tone looks flat. Pick one dominant wood, then add a second tone in small pieces such as a console or frames. For more ideas on blending old and new, see modern rustic decor ideas.

Current wall decor trends that fit a ranch

Some of the current wall decor trends suit ranch homes naturally: limewash and other mineral paints, slim vertical wood slats, plaster-look finishes, and big single artworks instead of gallery clusters. They all add texture without adding bulk. Limewash is a good low-risk start because it can be painted over later.

Should you DIY or hire a pro?

Paint, limewash, hanging art, shelves and laying a rug are fine DIY jobs. Stone veneer, tile and hardwood installation need level substrates and correct adhesives, so I'd hire a licensed installer. Anything involving wiring, such as hardwired sconces, should be done by a licensed electrician.

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Frequently asked questions