Swiss Country Decorating

Swiss country decorating is understated and quietly beautiful. Here's an original Swiss checklist for country interiors.



My friend Ruth and her family live in a small village an hour’s drive from Zurich ...

... with stunning views to snow-capped mountains, and surrounded by woods and meadows.

It is incredibly quiet there – in the mornings you wake up to birdsong (and cowbells, occasionally. If this sounds too much like The Sound of Music I do apologize, but I'm convinced it's always better to tell the truth.)

The family own an 1850s farmhouse that was built by Ruth’s great-grandparents.

Ruth has always lived in Switzerland and loves being in the countryside. Her garden is sensational, and she has a wonderful, original interior decorating style.

Here’s her personal checklist for a Swiss style home:

Materials

• Floors, walls and furniture (in traditional shapes and designs) are usually wooden, mostly made of untreated and unpainted softwoods.


• Apart from cupboards, wardrobes, cabinets and buffets, traditional Swiss country interiors also have wooden chests to hold clothes and personal belongings.


• Floors are occasionally made of terracotta tiles (in the house) or bricks (in work areas).


• There's no place for posh china - earthenware jugs and bowls and heavy porcelain (plain white, or with a small floral pattern) are kept on plate racks or buffets. (There are some photos of typical Swiss country crockery in the chapter on Rustic Country Style Decor.)

Keeping Warm

• A large tiled oven in blue, green or brown usually dominates the living room in rural Swiss country homes. It can reach almost to the (low) ceiling, and is often surrounded by a bench with cushions, where people can sit and warm up in the winter.


• You'll find a photo of a typical Swiss tiled oven in the article on Interior Rustic Pictures.


• High-backed sofas (in Swiss country decorating they are upholstered in sober colors) often have woollen blankets on them.


• Rag rugs are occasionally used to cover parts of the floor – Ruth finds them a bit twee and would never consider having one herself!

Swiss Country Decor

• Interior wall paint is white, or occasionally sky blue.


• Interior textiles (linen, cotton, and wool) are mostly white in Swiss country decorating.


• Window curtains, tablecloths and doilies may be made of (or edged with) crochet lace.


• Bedlinen can have a light color woven into it (blue is the most common).


• Cushions and table runners are often embroidered in Swiss country style homes.


• Colorful flower bouquets from the garden play an important part in Swiss country decorating. Often foliage and even small branches with berries are mixed in with the flowers. Gardens are an important part of Swiss country life – they provide some of the food and fresh color for the home.

Where to Find Examples

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