We have an incisive search service that can help you find the right farmhouse plan to meet your specific design requirements. Try it out and purchase your plan today! Over the past couple of years, the modern farmhouse style has quickly been gaining in popularity in the world of home design.
This simple, yet warm and inviting, style takes inspiration from old, classic farmhouses in the materials, techniques and colors used, but with a slightly more modern look. The well-worn, inviting looks of old farmhouses have inspired this style, but it is also more about the mindset of the country life, incorporating natural elements and colors and simplifying clutter and design.
While you used to only see farmhouse-style houses in the country, today they are quite popular in the suburbs and even in more urban settings. For the most part, the farmhouse style uses soft, neutral colors and lots of antique pieces with plenty of patina and character.
It is essential, however, to also have a few new, modern touches to keep the overall look from getting too country or kitschy. Here are seven farmhouse decorating ideas you can bring home. What colors are best for farmhouse style?
Using this color palette consistently throughout the home will give a sense of calm, while unifying the different rooms of the house. Some pops of color here and there are OK, but avoid busy color palettes or lots of loud, bright colors. If you do use a pop of color, repeat the shade in another small element in the room for a polished look. For example, if you have a barn-red armchair that you love, find something in that same shade, like a vase or throw pillow, to display in another spot in the room to bring the color palette together.
Traditional farmhouse style uses lots of well-loved or well-used items, but too much of this can give the opposite of the polished look you want, so be careful not to overdo it.
A more modern approach to farmhouse style incorporates new elements, too, for a perfect blend of styles. Pair a chunky antique wooden coffee table with a modern-looking couch in a neutral cream, for example. It should feel homey and effortless. Another way to run with the old-with-new idea is to use old items in new ways.
Use an old flour sifter as a vase for fresh flowers, or use antique buckets as baskets to corral smaller items like remotes, books or toys. Many old farmhouses used to have shiplap walls, and this look has taken hold in farmhouse style. Shiplap uses broad, horizontal planks of wood for a rustic look on walls. These boards give walls texture, dimension and lots of charm. You can use it throughout the whole house, in one room or even on an accent wall or a piece of furniture. Similar to shiplap, wainscoting and beadboard are two more wall treatments that add texture and dimension, while keeping with authentic farmhouse style.
Wainscoting is a traditional feature in dining rooms, but it can play a role in other applications too. Beadboard looks great in bathrooms and kitchens, or on the sides of cabinets, islands or shelving. Farmhouse style is full of these textural elements, generally painted with a creamy, whitewashed look. Another key aspect of farmhouse style is to use natural wood and rustic wooden antique pieces. The main idea with these wooden elements is to find pieces that are already a little more worn.
Use interesting pieces of reclaimed wood and antique pieces like spindles, washboards or architectural elements as unique works of art, bookends and more. Especially popular right now are wooden signs, painted on pieces of salvaged wood with inspiring messages.
Galvanized metal touches are popular in the farmhouse style, and there are a variety of ways to use them. This material is reminiscent of old farm buckets, watering cans, milk containers, water troughs and more. Modern farmhouse style uses galvanized metal for buckets for magazines or to use as vases, trays and more. You can find it on bar carts, planters and all sorts of other decorative items. These items, also reminiscent of old-fashioned farm elements, bring historic charm to a home.
Baskets made from wire are a great organizational element, or strictly for decoration, too. Hang them on the wall, display a cluster of them above a cabinet or use an extra-large basket to store blankets and pillows. Painting mismatched furniture pieces the same colors can bring a room together. Think about the same creamy neutrals that work best on farmhouse-style walls for a truly unified look.
You can also try to distress painted furniture yourself for a more worn-in look, or shop for lovely distressed pieces at antique or secondhand stores. Here is one time where imperfections make a piece more desirable.
Look for pieces with lots of visible wear and chipped paint to add tons of character to your room. Avoid bright colors and shiny finishes on any fabrics. Consider unusual fabrics that give a vintage farmhouse vibe like burlap for throw pillows and decorative touches.
Traditional patterns coordinate best with this look. For farmhouse kitchen decorating ideas, incorporate gingham or striped dish towels in soft colors. For couches and other upholstered furniture, go with solid colors, plaids or small florals in soft, natural tones. Try a throw blanket over the couch in a creamy neutral color and a soft, chunky knit. For farmhouse living room decorating ideas — or any other room in the house, for that matter — check out these inspirations.
Make a fun weekend out of thrift-store shopping for some of these elements, or get crafty and make some of them yourself. If you love the vintage farmhouse style, why not go all out and build your gorgeous farmhouse from the ground up?
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