I don’t know if I’ve ever been more excited to reveal a house project — I’m SO IN LOVE with our gorgeous hallway. Who ever thought I’d say that about a hallway? Using our handmade farmhouse bench and some stunning decor from Annie Selkie and Dash & Albert (an Annie Selkie brand) a, we transformed our nondescript hallway into a cozy, warm, and inviting nook. It turns out, this spot’s now one of my favorite places in our home. How did we do it? Easy! Keep on reading for 3 friendly tips for styling a beautiful, rustic farmhouse bench.

Add Depth Above and Below

Creating an inviting nook requires you to envision not just the furniture, but the space around the bench. Sure, the bench itself serves a very functional role in our hallway — we sit on it when we’re putting our shoes on — but to create a warm and welcoming nook, we needed to think of the bench as a focal point in a larger picture. Consider what to put under and above the bench to add depth and levity to the decor.

I found this stunning indigo woven rug from Annie Selke’s Dash & Albert and immediately loved the textured herringbone pattern. The feel is both cozy and organic. Against our hardwood floors, the rug gives a beautiful contrast of color that grounds the bench and defines the space. Now, the bench is no longer just a bench, sitting on a hardwood floor. The bench is a signature in a well-defined area, thanks to the gorgeous herringbone rug.

Another way to add depth? Utilize the wall space above the bench. I hand created these three beautiful rustic picture frames and hung them in a row several feet above the seat. Coincidentally, those rustic frames? Cost less than $10 all together and made in only two hours! So simple! I knew I wanted something pretty to frame these cute free printables, and now I’m able to rotate my pictures with the seasons and incorporate the gorgeous prints into my farmhouse bench nook quickly and easily.

Play with Colors and Textures

If you’ve read how I created the farmhouse bench, you know that it was made with less than $30 in lumber and hand distressed using milk paint. I adore this blue shade from Miss Mustard Seed called flow blue. Once it’s distressed, its such a rich and gorgeous deep blue. The woven herringbone rug lends a beautiful texture to the space. And with the blue bench and the indigo rug, the space called for a little more color and texture to lend contrast and interest.

These classic striped spinnaker pillows provide the perfect pop. From Pine Cone Hill, which is also an Annie Selkie Company, the pillows are gorgeously plump and oversized — 2o inches by 20 inches! Perfect for leaning against when putting on my Frye cowboy boots. I firmly believe that my pillows should be like my coffee: served wonderfully oversized!

To add a little more texture, I created a sweet display using my handmade rustic wooden boxes (click here for the tutorial!), some gorgeous white roses in a timeless glass vase, and some decorative rattan and wicker decor. The combination of the distressed wood against the smooth canvas pillows and the feminine roses with the roughness of the rattan accents? Beautiful!

Embrace Beauty and Function

I’ll admit it: the bench is beautiful. I’m obsessed with the rustic frames, comfy pillows, and the beautiful herringbone rug. But do you know one of my favorite functional parts? The four pearl gray storage bins tucked underneath! Oh man, did we need more storage. Between the baby shoes, the coats and hats, and the dog leashes, there are so many things cluttering up our entryway. These storage bins are perfect for keeping clutter organized and out of sight. They’re from Fresh American, an Annie Selkie company, and I love that they’re classic and neutral. These bins are super easy to pull out from under the bench to grab what we need, then tuck them back away.

So, what do you think?  What tips are you excited to incorporate as you style up your bench or design a little nook?  Thanks so much to the Annie Selkie company for providing the products mentioned above in exchange for my honest review. I’m deeply impressed with their quality and adore how they add such gorgeous style to this farmhouse bench and hallway nook!  Definitely check them out if you want to start drooling over beautiful home decor.