For some, the phrase “rustic style” suggests a house like “La Pitchoune,” the late chef Julia Child’s cottage in Provence, with its exposed wooden beams and well-worn antique furniture. For others, rustic furnishings and decor prompt images of a place like the Lake Placid Lodge in Upstate New York, with its stone fireplaces and knotty pine paneling. Indeed, rustic furniture design takes many forms: twig furniture, a plank trestle table, a hand-stitched quilt, a chandelier made of deer antlers.
The rustic style originated in the late 1800s in England, where it was heavily influenced by Romanticism. By the 20th century, it had spread to the United States, adopted by wealthy New Yorkers and the National Park Service alike. Although there are many categories of rustic furniture, one of the most popular and familiar manifestations of the style is Adirondack furniture and the low-slung 1903 Thomas Lee Adirondack chair.
Rustic design is perhaps mostly about texture and humble materials: hand-hewn reclaimed wood, woven rush seating, wrought iron, coarse stone and weathered metal. As a decor, it exudes warmth and honesty, while a single piece of countrified design adds an intriguing visual counterpoint in a sleek, modern environment.
Easily identifiable by its rough textures, earthy colors and natural materials, rustic wares help bring the beauty of the outdoors inside.
As you can see on 1stDibs, vintage rustic chairs, dining tables and other pieces of rustic furniture offer endless inspiration.
$396Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Moroccan Camel Stool, Red Leather Cushion, Rustic Style, 1950s
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1950s Moroccan camel stool with original vintage red leather cushion. Faded embossed graphics, some vintage stains adding character to the stool. No label...
Brass
Vintage Pommel Horse Footstool in Leather and Wood
Located in Hundested, DK
Distinctive vintage footstool inspired by traditional pommel horse equipment, featuring aged leather upholstery, solid wood construction and brass-clad details. A sculptural and char...
Brass
Set of Three Italian Footstools, Upholstered in Green & Gold Fabric, 19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A charming set of three 19th Century matching Italian footstools of walnut. Each square stool is finished with gold tape trim at the base of the plush upholstered body, providing a c...
Fabric, Walnut
Rustic Handmade Wooden Footstool, Solid Hardwood, Slovenia, 1950s
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Authentic handmade wooden footrest from the 1950s. Crafted from solid wood with a simple, functional design and beautiful natural patina developed over decades of use. The piece show...
Hardwood
Asian Folding Fishermans Bamboo and Rope Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Folding Asian Fishermans Stool with Bamboo Frame and Woven Rope seat. A wonderful decorative piece - this can also be practical, however, due to the s...
Belgian Black Marble
Rustic Vintage Handcrafted Oak Step Stool with Slatted Top and Curved Sides
Located in Seattle, WA
A charming vintage handcrafted step stool seemingly made of solid oak, featuring a slatted top surface and smoothly curved side panels that lend a sculptural, handcrafted quality. Li...
Wood
Vintage Bohemian Rustic Handcrafted Wooden Stool with Leather Seat & Brass Bells
Located in Seattle, WA
This is a small, rectangular wooden stool with four turned legs. The seat is cushioned and upholstered in worn brown leather. The sides are covered with a woven textile featuring a r...
Leather, Wood
$629
H 15.36 in W 22.45 in D 17.33 in
1960´s Fully restored Danish Footstool in Teak Reupholstered in Black Leather
Located in Knebel, DK
1950´s Reupholstered Danish footstool in teak and black leather Danish footstool from the 1960´s in solid teak with elegant curved seat making it comfortable to sit on if needed. T...
Leather, Teak
Set of Two Camel Boucle Vintage Stools, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s. The stools consist of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of the 1960s style. Stools were designed b...
Fabric
Norwegian footstool 1950s-60s
Located in Brescia, IT
Norwegian 1950s-60s teak footstool with cream leather upholstered seat. Norwegian footstool from the 1950s-60s, featuring a teak frame with clean, well-proportioned lines. The desig...
Teak
William Sheppee Folding Iron and Leather Stool
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Unusual folding foot stool by William Sheppee. Heavy wrought iron and patinated brown saddle leather.
Wrought Iron
19th Century Biedermeier Footstool
Located in Darmstadt, DE
We present an authentic small Biedermeier footstool from around 1830. The piece features a solid walnut top resting on oak legs, displaying the w...
Oak, Walnut
Wonderful Transitional Chrome Velvet Stool Nickel Bamboo Jansen Bench
Located in Roslyn, NY
Perfect seating for the transitional or Classic rooms, this chrome / nickel stool with purple velvet fabric top done in bamboo chinoiserie design are so versatile that can be used in...
Nickel
$512
H 14.57 in W 20.48 in D 14.18 in
1960s, Restored Danish Teak Footstool Reupholstered in Black Leather
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Restored Danish teak footstool reupholstered in black leather. Fully restored Danish footstool in minimalistic yet advanced Scandinavia...
Leather, Teak
$865Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.67 in W 17.72 in D 13.78 in
ANTIQUE LATE ViCTORIAN HAND EMBROIDERED FLORAL FOOTSTOOL WITH HARDWOOD FRAME
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
All Vintage Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this original late Victorian hand Embroidered mahogany framed small footstool Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide...
Hardwood
Mid-Century Modern, Studio Made Rustic Wood Farmhouse Stools, 1970s
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern, Studio Made Rustic Wood Farmhouse Stools or Side Tables, 1970s. Pair of Stools. Organic form wooden stools from the 20th Century. American studio made, solid wood. These pieces can also work as low profile side tables...
Wood
$680
H 13.78 in Dm 15.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Hexagon Oak Stool with Lambswool Seat & Bobbin Legs, 1950s
By Henning Kjærnulf, Viggo Boesen, Flemming Lassen
Located in Odense, DK
This elegant stool is a refined example of Danish Modern design, crafted by a skilled Danish cabinetmaker in the 1950s. The piece is distinguished by its hexagonal seat and softly sh...
Lambskin, Sheepskin, Wool, Oak
Mid-Century Danish Hexagonal Oak Stool with Lambswool Upholstery, 1950
By Henning Kjærnulf, Flemming Lassen, Viggo Boesen
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant example of Danish Modern design, this oak stool features a distinctive hexagonal seat and finely carved legs, newly upholstered in luxuriously soft, natural taupe-colored ...
Lambskin, Sheepskin, Wool, Oak
English Chinese Chippendale Giltwood Faux Bamboo Stool
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
English Chinese Chippendale style gilded faux bamboo stool from the mid-19th century, its square crown seat with canted corners upholstered with a leopard print cut velvet in orange ...
Upholstery, Wood
$455 / item
H 15.75 in W 25.2 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Camel Boucle Vintage Stool, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s. The stool consist of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of the 1960s style. Stool was designed by Ed...
Fabric
$455 / item
H 15.75 in W 25.2 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Camel Boucle Vintage Stool, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s. The stool consist of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of the 1960s style. Stool was designed by Edmu...
Fabric
$6,000
H 18.51 in W 20.28 in D 15.95 in
Art Deco Stool in Wood, French Design, 1930, Elegant Curved Shape
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Stools Art Deco. Material: wood You want to live in the golden years, this is the stool that your project needs. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles s...
Wood
Sold
H 7.68 in W 13 in D 9.26 in
Rustic French Low Footstool in Turned Wood and Rush, Early 20th Century
By Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Chapo
Located in Valencia, VC
Rustic French Low Footstool in Turned Wood and Rush, Early 20th Century Handmade in France in the early 20th century, this rustic low footstool combines a solid turned-wood frame w...
Straw, Rush, Organic Material, Wood
Antique Crocodile Leather Camel Footstool Ottoman Bench
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Crocodile Leather Camel Footstool Ottoman Bench.
Crocodile, Wood
Reclaimed Elm Timber Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Crafted of wood reclaimed from 18th-century Chinese buildings, this small stool embraces the notion of “wabi-sabi" with swirling wood grain and antique wear. Left unfinished, the raw...
Reclaimed Wood
Vintage Spanish Patinated Brown Leather Elephant-Shape Footstool
Located in Dallas, TX
Rest your feet on this charming vintage elephant stool. Crafted in Spain circa 1970, the freestanding sculptural stool is formed in the shape of a stylized elephant and upholstered i...
Leather
Pair of Primitive Woven Hickory Bark Rush Stools
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rustic pair of primitive rush footstools or stools featuring woven cane hickory bark seats. Beautifully crafted with strong, solid joinery and construction having an aged, distressed...
Cane, Wood, Hickory
Rustic Ax Handle Counter Stools, Set of 4
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering one of our recent palm beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of Set of 4 Rustic Ax Handle counter stools cherry...
Steel
Primitive Antique Rustic Yellow Painted Shoe Shine Box Step Stool Farmhouse Chic
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique wooden shoe shine box or step stool painted in pale yellow gloss.
Hardwood, Paint
Vintage Rustic Wooden Bench
Located in High Point, NC
Made in Central Europe, circa 1900, this wooden bench captures the utilitarian elegance of rustic furniture. A subtle decorative profile reveals the attention to detail, add an integ...
Softwood
Central European Tree Trunk with Upholstered Seat
Located in High Point, NC
Carved out of a tree trunk circa 1800 and freshly upholstered, this original Polish pouf - is modern and rustic, a fresh combination of new and antique. The coarse texture of the woo...
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage French Stool
Located in High Point, NC
Made in France, circa 1960, this vintage wooden stool gives an extra step or a place to rest. The wooden plank has been bored with a slotted hole; this typical country handle gives a...
Wood
Sold
H 26.38 in W 15.75 in D 20.48 in
Rustic Wabi-Sabi Stool with Arm Rests, England, 1890's, Romantic, Organic
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rustic; Wabi-sabi; Stool; Footstool; Armchair; Ottoman; Wooden chair; Armchair; 1890's; Contemporary influences; Romantic; Organic furniture design; Natural furniture design; Oriental influences; Axel Vervoordt; Authentic; Historical; Rustic stool with armrests created in England in the 1890s. Influenced by the Wabi-Sabi principles this craftsman has a great eye for detail. An organic stool following the natural lines of an oriental bench...
Wood
Central European Tree Trunk with Upholstered Seat
Located in High Point, NC
This antique wooden pouf was made in Poland. Crafted from a tree trunk, the smooth patina and variegated tones of gray and flaxen offer warmth and a rustic...
Wood
Provincial Chinese Carriage Step, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Crafted at the turn of the century, this petite bench from China's Hebei province is simply designed with clean lines and little decoration. Given its short stature and narrow frame,...
Elm
Modern Bench Ottoman Upholstered with Vintage Oushak Rug
Located in Wichita, KS
This rug bench ottoman is new and covered in a wonderfully neutral vintage Oushak rug from the 1960s. It sits on nickel-plated wheels and works well in any s...
Nickel
Primitive Rustic Tripodal Oak Stool
Located in New York, NY
Spayed leg in medium toned oak with great character and patina. Through tenon joinery.
Oak