Designing a Country Home with Purpose

Around 8.2 million people moved states in 2021. While a good portion of these went to urban apartments and suburban lookalike homes, plenty of others chose a slower lifestyle by investing in country homes.

Go on any design blog or Pinterest board and type in “country home.” In no time, you’ll be looking at ancient Hoosier cabinets, wide wood-planked floors, and accessories that look like a shopper’s dream from a local antique home.

While the rustic appeal of country living is certainly a trending topic, designing a country home with purpose is a little different than putting a few plants on your windowsill.

What is a Country Home’s Purpose?

A country home with “purpose” is more than aesthetics. It means when you walk inside, you see that the house has functional value as well as beauty. There is a blending of natural elements that incorporate the land around the property and the overall intent of how the area is used.

For example, over 2 in 5 U.S. households are growing food in backyard gardens. When these individuals move to a country home, they design the space with gardening, growing, and cultivating natural resources in mind. That is a home with the “purpose” we’ve been talking about.

The challenge is that not everyone has the same purpose for their new country home. Here are some of the more popular options you may wish to consider when you look at the structure and palette options for your new country home.

Sustainability and Eco-friendliness

Purposeful design for sustainability is often referred to as biophilic design. It means incorporating the natural world in much more immersive ways than a few pieces of greenery. You’ll find homes with this principle using entire walls dedicated to herb gardens and grow lights.

In a country home setting, this purpose tends to use reclaimed or refurbished furniture, wood planks, and other recycled elements. It seeks to incorporate those items that do not add to the consumer-driven marketplace but utilize pieces that extend the property’s lifespan.

You will likely see solar panels, wind turbines, water management systems, and unique methods of gardening in this purpose of the home.

Functionality and Flexibility

A truly purposeful country home needs to adapt to your life’s evolving needs. That means each room may serve multiple functions. You may have a dining room that also converts to a game room or a space for making fresh tomato sauce annually when the harvest comes in.

The flexibility of having a backyard garden that is also a yoga space or a barn that can be rented for wedding events adds a ton of value to a property. Suddenly, that picturesque home on the hill surrounded by trees becomes a destination with plenty of functional utility based on the season, your needs, and future goals.

Integration with the Environment

Country homes with purpose consider the natural layout of the surrounding area. This is different than biophilic design. It is the strategic placement of windows to reach an optimal balance of sun and shade so your monthly expenses are more manageable.

You can find environmentally purpose-driven country homes focusing on gardens that attract local wildlife or using whole cycle biodiversity to encourage a local “at-risk” insect, plant, or animal to have a new home. It is being part of the land, using architecture and design elements that make sense instead of fighting against it by trying to fit a Victorian style in a rolling hills area.

For example, you may use that creek next to your house with a water wheel for power and run the water through your kitchen for a naturally sourced utility area.

Personal or Cultural Significance

Many homeowners moving to a country home love to dig up the property’s history. This adds cultural significance to a home because it pays homage to previous owners, architectural traditions, or local customs.

Another design aspect is using older heirloom pieces from family members or friends to weave in personal significance to your design. Maybe you use that natural oak kit-created table your great-grandfather built before the war as a centerpiece for a new cozy sitting room in your country home. That way, whenever guests come over, you have a talking point that connects your family to the house.

Resilience and Security

A country home doesn’t mean instant safety. In most cases, you can expect more exposure to the natural elements and some concerns for safety and protecting your way of life. Backyard farming, while definitely providing you with fresh produce, also means food independence. That independence requires careful consideration of weather, insects, other animals, and the occasional passerby looking for a snack.

When you design your country home, you want to consider how much self-reliance you want. Think about where the water flows, how rainstorms and heavy winds will affect your structure, and what other activities like gardening, cultivating land, or raising cattle will impact your overall design.

Wrapping Up

Designing a country house with purpose is just as much intention as imagination. It is a beautiful balance of the romantic life you’ve always wanted with a healthy dose of practicality. After all, being in the country often means you cannot access as many amenities as you would in a city. Your design should allow you all the comfort, luxury, and beauty you wish for – without sacrificing the functionality you need.