Secrets of a Rustic Decor Shop Owner

Recently I was chatting with a good customer of ours as she was about to buy yet another deer decor item. “Where are you going to put this?” I asked. “Well I really don’t have a place for it, but I like it” she said.
 We talked a little longer; she made her purchase and invited me to meet later at her house for wine.



“Hey! You can’t have too much deer décor!”

That evening when I entered her house, I was confronted by what looked like everything in our shop, plus lots of hunting decor. And as much as I liked her selections, it was, to be honest, overwhelming. There were rustic decor and wildlife decorations everywhere. Antlers poked out of lamps, hung from fixtures, surrounded mirrors and held up tabletops. No wall or surface was bare. Her timber home itself was just exquisite, but it was absolutely bursting at the seams with rustic decor. So when she asked me for a few tips, I shared some straightforward rustic decor “secrets”:

>>>Give furnishings ample space to “breathe” and to be appreciated on their own. Too much of a good thing can detract and even feel cluttered. (Even too much bear decor can start to look a little bear jamboree-ish!)

>>>Always buy only what you love. If you’re shopping and you find something you just kind of like it or are only purchasing it because it matches you’ve already bought, put it back. Surrounding yourself with things you truly love is a sure step towards creating an ambience that is exactly what “makes your heart sing” when you walk into your home.

>>> Because you live in a rustic or timber home in a rural area, it doesn’t mean your home has to have all rustic furnishings. If you lived in a modern home in a city, it wouldn’t mean you couldn’t have rustic favorites incorporated, so why would the reverse be true? Mix it up. Add some small pinecones to a sparkling glass bowl for a more upscale rustic look. Everything in a rustic home doesn’t have to be rustic; besides, contrast calls beautiful items out and creates interest.

Who knew? Even a rustic lamp may look great paired with crystal – try different combinations



>>>If you like to collect rustic decor or a particular theme, but have outgrown space, consider putting some items away and then rotating them. It will make for a variety of interesting combinations and allow you to create seasonal looks and coordinated themes.

This song bird pillow has spirited springtime appeal

>>>Have a good balance between decorative and functional. A comfortable home includes items that are both functional and decorative. For example, trays go a long way when it comes to protecting surfaces and for having a convenient place to rest a glass or stack magazines. Some well-placed skis, snow boards and other sports equipment can look great doubling as decor.

>>>Don’t forget to include sentimental items you may have inherited. Your home should not only reflect your good taste, but who you (and yours) are as well.


This handmade zebrawood bowl will look gorgeous in a home furnished with rustic decor… or spotlighted in a modern decor.

About us: Black Bear Rustic Decor is based in the Sierras in the historic mill town of Graeagle (pronounced “Gray Eagle”) about an hour north of Lake Tahoe. Our shop specializes in cabin accessories, cabin decor and unique one-of-a-kind furnishings handcrafted by local artists. The beauty and timeless appeal of Graeagle, which looks much like it did back in the 1850’s, is inspiration for our rustic furnishings. We love helping people, who love the great outdoors as much as we do, to capture its rustic beauty within their homes.