The Simple Beauty of Arts and Crafts Furniture and Lighting

The Arts and Crafts look doesn't rely on elaborate curlicues and fussy formality, but gains beauty and function from unparalleled craftsmanship, functionality and simple, elegant lines.

A lot of your color will be found in the rich tones of your furniture. Pick a neutral background like beige, and accent with colors inspired by nature, including rose, indigo blue and deep green.

It's all about earthiness, here. Make floors pop with ceramic tile or stone flagging, while simple, conservative colored tiles and linoleum can blanket your bathroom and kitchen, respectively. Keep feet off cold tile with environmentally friendly sisal and jute rugs, or cover floors with neutral-colored traditional rugs.

If you don't have a chandelier or particularly lovely pendant as a point of focus in your room, you may want to get one to recreate the Arts and Crafts look, then use smaller wall lamps and table lamps as accents. Choose ones with brass or copper finishes, or wrought iron, hand hammered varieties. Glass should be stained or opaque.

Arts and Crafts furniture revolves around notions of quality materials, practicality and superior craftsmanship rather than fancy, detailed ornamentation. The construction itself is the aesthetic highlight of a quality piece of furniture, with exposed joints, paneling and clean lines enhancing the beauty of the wood and conveying the durability of a well-made product. To achieve this look, purchase squared or rectangular chairs featuring straight and ladder backs with generally wide arms, especially ones with rush-seating or upholstery. Invest in characteristic Arts and Crafts pieces like four-poster beds, chests, refectory tables and benches. Oak is typically the wood of choice for this type of furniture, also known as Mission style, and can have some embellishment in the form of carvings, hand-painting or inlays. You'll find numerous Arts and Crafts style furnishings on the GREENCulture site.

Clutter is a definite trespass on the Arts and Craft ideal of practicality and function. Keep accents spare and simple, and make these precious details count. Use a wild flower or nature motif, or handcrafted metalwork like teapots, picture frames, sconces, jugs and vases in pewter, iron, silver, bronze or copper.

For a HUGE selection of Arts and Crafts inspired furniture and lighting visit the GREENCulture websites today.