READY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS STYLE TO DETERMINE IF IT’S THE RIGHT LOOK FOR YOUR SPACE?
Let’s dive in.
What Is Modern Farmhouse Interior Design?
Modern farmhouse interior design enables you to get the fabulous farmhouse look without actually purchasing a farm or moving to the country. It embraces longtime staples of a historic farmhouse — think shiplap walls, open shelving and apron-front sinks — while using modern-day pieces that look more contemporary.
Oftentimes, this style allows for more farm-like architectural accents like a barn door, reclaimed mantel and exposed wood beams. These touches, mixed with modern flair, combine to create a striking contrast that screams comfort and class.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and you get to decide where to strike the balance between modern and farmhouse decor. However, you’ll want to get a good mix of both rustic and contemporary elements. You can determine which well-worn pieces fit the aesthetic you’re going for, whether that includes several smaller fixtures and furniture items spread throughout your home or one statement piece that takes center stage. Just be sure that the rooms work together to deliver the perfect harmonious farmhouse look rather than battle for attention.
The History of Farmhouse Interior Design:
Where Did It Come From?
Before diving into the cornerstone pieces that help form the foundation for this design, here’s a little history lesson to better understand what makes this aesthetic so special.
The country-style architecture originates from Germany and Scandinavia from homes built on farms where farmhands stayed in the 1700s. Many of the homes were built from wood, which was the material that was largely available at the time. This is why wood accents are such a large part of the design today.
While the modern farmhouse design is less about functionality and more focused on entertainment and aesthetics, it still uses much of the rustic charm of historic farms.
Modern Farmhouse vs Traditional Farmhouse:
What’s the Difference?
Modern and traditional farmhouse designs come from the same aesthetic but have taken on different forms over the years. While classic farmhouse design is meant to exude warmth and old-time appeal, modern farmhouse style focuses on functionality and an open-concept living space.
As the name suggests, modern farmhouse is a more up-to-date version of the classic look. It’s not minimalist by any stretch of the imagination, but it leans more towards wide-open rooms and clean, simple furniture.
Key Design Elements Associated With This Look
Modern farmhouse decor enables you to have a clean and tidy space while still embracing tradition and surrounding yourself with beautiful vintage items. So, what pieces make modern farmhouse interior design the style that it is? Let’s take a look at the key design elements associated with this look so you can get some modern farmhouse ideas for your own space:
METAL ACCENTS
From door knobs and drawer handles to picture frames in your living room, metal is a subtle way to incorporate this design into your home. Other popular uses include wrought iron chandeliers for the kitchen and metal chairs around a dining room table.
By layering in some mixed metals through light fixtures, hardware and other architectural elements, you can bring rustic charm to any space. Just be careful not to overdo it. A good rule of thumb is to use up to three types of metal per room. If incorporating more than that, the room begins to adopt a more traditional farmhouse look.
VINTAGE FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES
Modern farmhouse is all about balance. You can’t swing too far to one interior style or the other. However, placing a few vintage furniture pieces amongst modern decor can create a beautiful contrast. This is a great opportunity to showcase your favorite knick-knacks. Have a collection of vintage vases? Fill them with flowers and display them on open shelving in your living room, side tables in your bedroom or on your kitchen island. Want to display your late grandmother’s vintage plates? Rather than keep them in storage, find beautiful places to hang them throughout your home or make an accent wall with all of them artfully exhibited.
The main thing to keep in mind when choosing vintage furniture and accessories is that less is more. It’s okay to give your favorite pieces a chance to shine, just don’t clutter your home with too much furniture and decor. Keep your layout parallel to keep the modern look consistent within your space.
NEUTRAL COLORS
While traditional farmhouse may make you think of colors like red and blue, the modern twist on this style takes a more subdued approach. Like modern design, modern farmhouses tend to use creams, beiges, silvers, sage greens, grays and light blues for a clean and simplistic finish. The color scheme in this style of home often pulls inspiration from nature, utilizing warm browns, greens and blues that are soothing and serene. Just because it’s modern doesn’t mean it has to be colorless!
Don’t be afraid to play around with accent walls or wallpaper, either. They can be a fun pop of color in an otherwise simple room. You could even paint the trim a color within your palette to pepper in unique shades that bring each room together.
BIG COMFORTABLE FURNITURE
Do you know the saying, “Everything’s bigger in Texas!”? Well, everything is also bigger in a modern farmhouse home. Think of sofas that are large enough to seat multiple people, dining room tables that can host all of your friends and a bathroom vanity that’s wide enough to store all your bathroom products with plenty of countertop space to spare.
On top of size, farmhouse design really pays attention to how comfortable an item is. When looking at couches, dining room chairs, chaise lounges or any other items, you should think about whether or not you could sit back and relax. Because there’s a large emphasis on hosting and hospitality in your farmhouse home, ensure you consider potential guests and family members and how cozy they’d be — no matter which room they’re in.
WOOD FLOORING
Whether your home came with beautiful wood flooring or you have to put it in yourself, hardwood is the perfect tie between modern and classic farmhouse design. Rather than the weathered, dark wood in traditional homes, opt for a lighter, refined wood that’s clean and matches the other furniture pieces. This could include oak, ash, maple, and hickory — all of which are light to medium hardwood flooring options that strike the right balance between modern and traditional farmhouse styles.
As for the width of the wood, wider planks complement this style and are a unique choice that you won’t see in many homes. This makes them a statement piece — one that will look great with any furniture decor.
NATURAL MATERIALS
We already discussed metal accents, but other natural materials like wood and stone are also characteristics of a modern farmhouse space. To pull in the modern part of this design style, incorporate distressed or reclaimed wood furniture, concrete kitchen countertops or a stone fireplace. These are all elements that could be found in nature but are refined to fit the cozy atmosphere of farmhouse home decor.
On top of that, wicker, rattan, sisal and other textiles inspired by nature can add warmth to the space. Think wicker baskets for storage, rattan chairs or dressers, sisal welcome mats and area rugs among other uses that can add visual appeal and a touch of texture to the otherwise simple rooms.
Tips and Best Practices From the Experts
The bigger, the better
If you have the choice between small, dainty pieces and larger furniture, always opt for the bigger selection. Because modern farmhouse focuses so much on creating a space where you can gather and spend quality time with those you love, bigger items like an extendable dining table or a substantial coffee table are great additions.
Layering is key
Using throw pillows, blankets, area rugs and other farmhouse decor to add texture and define the space. Layering also makes your rooms look more comfortable and inviting.
Incorporate subtle patterns
While modern farmhouse design doesn’t use bright, bold colors or patterns, using subtle geometric patterns, like herringbone designs or other traditional motifs, can complement the farmhouse aesthetic.
Farmhouse Interior Design Out in the Wild
Want to wrangle up some inspiration for your modern farmhouse space? Use these real-life examples as a jumping-off point:
Saddle Up and Prepare To Transform Your Home
Ready to jump back on the horse and give your home a second chance? Our Decorating Den Interiors team is ready to help. Once you reach out to us, we’ll organize an initial meeting as a chance for us to get to know you and your style preferences and even see your space. This will provide a lot of clarity before heading into the design prep and planning phase.
Throughout the entire redecorating process, we work closely with you so the space turns out exactly how you want it to. Ultimately, you get to live in your house once the project is complete, so you drive the ship — or the tractor, if going for a more country look.
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