Comfort, coziness, and style; the classic fundamentals of home sweet home and just what the modern farmhouse exudes.
Home is the best place to immerse ourselves in the things that make us feel good, and a home featuring the modern farmhouse style certainly makes you feel good. Modern farmhouse cultivates comfort and charm and is a design style that is not disappearing anytime soon.
Contrary to any assumptions that modern farmhouse is outdated, this design style is traditional, classic and understated and can be integrated into any home, new or old.
What are the main design elements of modern farmhouse?
The trick to successfully achieving a modern farmhouse look in your home is to consider the aesthetics as a whole, rather than the individual pieces. Combine comfortable furniture with upcycled materials such as reclaimed timbers or decorative antique-looking pieces for a warm, relaxed and traditionally updated look.
Modern farmhouse style requires a level of sophistication and, unlike the farmhouse or country trends of the past, you should refrain from adding too much unnecessary clutter and accessories. When creating a modern farmhouse style you should look to include only items that are functional and tactile and keep those to a minimum.
What are common inclusions in a modern farmhouse design?
Typical features and inclusions of a modern farmhouse design include:
- beautifully finished, salvaged or upcycled materials and furniture pieces (hand-painted furniture items are perfect in a modern farmhouse)
- wrought iron accents
- wide plank wooden flooring (or a high-quality timber-look vinyl/Laminex as is popular nowadays)
- oversized, comfortable furniture like armchairs and chunky dining tables
- smart architectural accents
- antique and vintage accessories
Tips for achieving a modern farmhouse design of your own
Here are some tips on how to go about creating a modern farmhouse design in your home.
#1 Think practical
Functionality is number one in modern farmhouse.
Consider the entire space you want to overhaul and do some serious planning before getting your hands dirty. Think about the flow of the space, existing lighting and any extra lighting you may need, as well as key furniture inclusion and placement.
Consider what already works well for you and what you can do to rectify anything that needs improvement. Do you need new items or can you work with what you already have? Can you upcycle furniture and accessories or will you need to purchase those new?
#2 Go neutral
Forget any ideas that you might have had of brightly-coloured feature walls and textures. Modern farmhouse is all about being neutral and this is crucial to pulling off the style effectively.
Here are a few colour tips to consider for your modern farmhouse:
- white should be the dominant colour
- other colours could include earthy tones such as tan, grey or browns (green is definitely out)
- reserve the boldest of those colours for your accent shade
Furniture pieces, accessories and finishes also need to be kept quite neutral. Instead of the bold, colourful tones you find in other contemporary-style trends (like Hamptons for example), settle for antique-looking shades instead.
#3 Mix it up
Much like traditional farmhouse, the furniture pieces in modern farmhouse still tend to feature wood, however cleaner lines and crisper detail is more vital. You can use any type of timber finish in modern farmhouse, but layering is important too.
Balance the neutral colour palette with comfortable elements such as plump, cosy cushions, padded bar stools and accent chairs to infuse an extra layer of cushiness. Throw rugs, floor mats and textured wall hangings (like these ones at Spotlight) can also be welcomed into your finished modern farmhouse-look.
#4 Industrial design accents
Industrial is also big in modern farmhouse. We are not talking chunky machinery in the middle of the interior, this refers more to the decorative elements of modern farmhouse style.
Subtle industrial accents reflect gently on the origins of farmhouse style and the machinery used in those hardworking communities. Industrial-inspired pieces are high in popularity at the moment, which helps to highlight the modern aspect of the style and also makes pieces easy to source.
Some industrial-inspired design elements that are great to feature in modern farmhouse include:
- iron or industrial-inspired lighting fixtures and pendant lights
- galvanised metal storage buckets or stainless-steel buckets. These could be used as fresh herb planters which look great featured in modern farmhouse kitchens
- wooden mantles
- solid wood panelled, barn-style, hanging sliding doors
Remember, the most effective design elements in modern farmhouse are those which are practical and functional. So, consider the purpose of any accents before adding them to your modern farmhouse design plan.
Modern farmhouse is a contemporary take on a design style that has been around for decades. But that does not mean that your modern farmhouse has to remind you of your grandma’s place. A typical modern farmhouse should be fresh and crisp with all the creature comforts thrown in. It is warming, cosy and inviting, just like Grandma’s place but with a new and refreshed touch.
The team at Highlands Hand Painting can help incorporate stunning hand painted items of new or old into your modern farmhouse design. Contact us on 1300 662 112, submit an online enquiry, or visit us at 12 Graham Hill Road Narellan NSW.
Main image source: freshome.com