Bringing the rustic, earthy quality of wood grain into your home can add interest and texture to a variety of furniture pieces and accents. Try these ideas for natural look in your home.

French for "false wood," faux bois is a fitting name for items that appear plucked from the forest but are actually made of cast stone, cast iron, or cement, or are painted to have a woodsy look. Although earthy and rustic, faux bois makes a splendid match for polished pieces. For instance, a pail made of concrete is dainty enough to hold a lady's slipper orchid.

Driftwood, or any other sturdy branch, goes from sculptural to functional when suspended underneath a shelf.

Tree stumps, used individually or clustered together, function as low tables in a living room. A coat of enamel paint applied to the tops serves a dual purpose: It adds a jolt of color and creates a smooth, sealed surface.

An embossed-paint rocker and a combing tool, dragged through a green glaze, leave a faux-bois imprint.

Birch poles sliced into disks and glued to plywood panels create a graphic wall mosaic. Strategically placed longer pieces can be used as hooks for bags and artwork.

If you can peel and stick, you can bring a natural note to your home office with coordinated wood-grain accessories.

Faux-bois planters provide a home for ferns and moss, both woodland natives.

Birch disks, stained in a variety of hues and then treated with a coat of matte polyurethane, can be used as decorative and functional trivets, coasters for drinks, and mini hors d'oeuvre trays.

Boards of mahogany and cedar are great for decks -- and doormats, too. This slatted mat is sturdy and lets water drain right through.

Wood veneer is normally used to create the appearance of a grained surface on furniture, but the material is surprisingly versatile. You can even use wood veneer to make an unusual lampshade.

Glass or ceramic containers get a rustic makeover when wrapped with tree bark, which can be found in the woods as well as ordered online.

A giant faux bois rectangular table and benches graces the entryway in Martha's Maine home, Skylands.

Rather than an explosion of petals, consider a sculptural arrangement of veneer figure eights for a dinner party.

No one will guess there are goodies hiding inside this creative papier-mache tree container.

These beautiful faux-bois vases bring the outside indoors. Group a few of them to create a tableau for the table or mantle.

Create a rustic, richly textured presentation by planting moss or placing a vase of lush flowers in terra-cotta pots adorned with tree bark.