Seven Ways to Add Country Charm to Your Suburban Home

As I write this post, I know full well that the contents are for a specific reader with a unique set of goals. But I know I would be someone interested in these tips, and if I feel this way there might be at least one other person who at one time has wondered the same thing.

Let me start by saying that I love our home. I am so grateful for the blessing of a safe place to live! However, I didn’t think that this is where we would be spending the first few years of marriage. Nick and I were house hunting during a strange time…the pandemic. Houses were flying off the market faster than you would pull your hand off a hot stove. We were determined though, checking the listings hourly, waiting for a something to come up. There were a few places we saw and fell in love with. Country homes with acres of land, amazing views, and the rural setting we desired. After putting bids in on a few of the houses I believed to be “the one” we were consistently outbid by buyers with more cash to offer. Then one day, our cute suburban cottage came at the perfect time, fit our needs, and most importantly was in our budget. We put an offer in and got the house!

I decided early on that even though this wasn’t the exact location we pictured, I had the ability to make this place more like the homes we had thought were meant to be ours. Here are seven things that anyone can do who wishes to bring a little of that rural charm to their highly populated area. This won’t be a post recommending a “Farmers Market” sign above your kitchen sink, but rather changes that capture those feelings that make a country life so desirable.

Some of these things we have done, and some we have yet to tackle. My hope is that these tips can help you feel at home, no matter where you live.

1. Hang a Hammock

Having a quiet place to read or nap outside creates a relationship with the outdoors. Even in a more populated area, the nature around you can be so peaceful. I have spent many, well-enjoyed hours reading in the shade on our hammock this summer.

2. Add Diversity to Your Yard

These two pictures speak for themselves! Neither one is a photo of our yard, but they represent the stark difference between grass alone, verse a mixture of shrubs, grasses and flowers. Next summer we plan to do a lot of landscaping! Adding diversity around our home, deck, garage and fence line will bring in layers of color and life.

3. Install a Clothesline

I got this one from my mom who has always had a sweet spot for a clothesline. There is nothing like fresh washed sheets dried in the sun. Hanging clothes outside on a summer day makes life feel so simple.

4. Add Privacy to Your Outdoor Living Area

For our recent deck makeover, which you can read about here, Nick built a privacy wall between our house and the neighbors. Even though we can’t add distance between the houses, it was nice to be able to create a private outdoor space.

5. Start a Vegetable Garden

Growing your own food is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Having a garden with fruit and vegetables is great for your health, and well being. This is a project we are both excited to start next summer!

6. Add a Fence to the Front Yard

Whether is be picket or split rail, a wooden fence is just so charming.

7. Hang a Tree Swing

A tree swing captures such nostalgia for me; I like to imagine swinging with the view of rolling fields that glow from the sunset. Adding one to our front yard brought in that sense of joy I remember from swinging in my backyard as a child.

I hope you enjoyed these ideas! Thank you so much for reading. I’d love to know if you prefer the peaceful life of a country setting, or the exciting life of a bustling city. We’re all different and that is what makes life fun!