Design: Quick farmhouse decor basics

by Marsha Charles 10/10/2022

Farmhouse decor is a style that accentuates your living space by pulling out features such as barn doors, exposed beams and beautiful country elements, like subtle floral designs and the classic unfinished wooden table.

But what other elements bring classic farmhouse decor into modern homes? How can you integrate the two? And what elements should you start with for your modern farmhouse decor?

Here are a few quick basics of the farmhouse style and how you can bring them home with perfect balance:

Keep the colors simple

Farmhouse decor relies heavily on neutral colors, such as white, black, beige, tan, soft grays and lightly tinted pastels. Much like the modern contemporary styles, these colors boast versatility and comfort over lavish statements and bold accents.

However, if you’d like to incorporate both contemporary and farmhouse styles to give your home a modern farmhouse feel, try adding pops of blue or accent lines of yellow to pull the styles together.

Relax your textures

When going for the farmhouse aesthetic, try relaxing your textures. Instead of going for rigid angles, luxurious marbles and posh window frames, try easing into natural home decor elements, such as shiplap wall decor or natural fibers for furniture and throw pillows.

For flooring, consider brick with soft exposure marks, wooden overlays that have a soft shabby-chic air about them.

The best part about relaxed textures is they often come in neutral tones and colors, so they can help pull your rooms together with no extra effort on your part.

Let it stay unfinished

One of the biggest markers of farmhouse decor and design is unfinished wood. This element easily applies to a modern farmhouse style by using unfinished wood as a backdrop for mason jar candleholders, modern accent pieces to preexisting wall decor or as a functional focal point, like a coffee or dining table.

The possibilities for unfinished wood applications in both traditional farmhouse style and modern farmhouse design can stretch as far as your vision will take it.

Whether you’re in the market for the classic farmhouse feel or just want to spruce up your living area with some modern farmhouse decor ideas, these tips can help you get started. So sit back, bring out the idea notepad and enjoy your favorite beverage while you spark up new ideas for your custom farmhouse style.

About the Author
Author

Marsha Charles

Consistent top listing and selling agent receiving Chairman's Club award for superior sales achievement almost every year while associated with Preferred Properties, Inc. Consistently receive the International Presidents Premier award for sales volume since joining Coldwell Banker Realty and ranked in the top 1% of agents in Connecticut and Westchester County. In 2021 I received the International Society of Excellence award for sales volume in excess of $100,000,000. I have been named a Top Five Sales Agent for customer satisfaction since 2010 (longer than any other agent in Connecticut) and listed in Connecticut Magazine. Named one of the Top Agents in Connecticut by Real Trends since 2018. 

I work with sellers and buyers and also have a strong understanding to needs of those who are relocating . Background and experience in advertising, public relations and photography offer creative and innovative marketing plans for sellers.  

Realtor designations include: Graduate Real Estate Institute, Certified Residential Specialist, Certified Residential Marketing Specialist, and Pricing Strategy Advisor. Served as President of New Canaan Board of Realtors (two terms), Director (three terms) and currently serve on Professional Standards Committee. Named Realtor of the year by the New Canaan Board of Realtors in 1994and again in 2022. 

Married and mother of other of four children who attended and graduated from the New Canaan School System, Member of New Canaan, Darien, Greenwich and Statewide MLS systems. Areas covered include New Canaan, Darien, Greenwich, Rowayton, Norwalk, Wilton and all of lower Fairfield County.