Chic, cozy, and comfortable: These three words sum up the farmhouse aesthetic perfectly. Anybody looking for the best of both worlds, as in beauty and functionality, should consider trying farmhouse-inspired interior design.
Despite some fluidity in form, farmhouse style can be largely divided into two types: traditional and modern.
The former is primarily distinguished by rustic elements and patterns, such as plaid.
As for the latter, there is room to introduce even contemporary elements with the vintage pieces.
Though the name itself evokes the country's farmlands, the aesthetic has evolved over time.
Overall, the rustic homes of 16th and 17th-century Europe have inspired this interior design style.
Yes, even Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon is a part of the thatched farmhouse aesthetic.
Are you drawn to this style for your home? Well, what's not to love about it? The warmth, simplicity, and emotional ease such homes carry can be challenging to find in modern life.
This article highlights four farmhouse-inspired decor ideas that will transform your home into a cosy sanctuary.
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Keep it Natural and Neutral
For 2025, Houzz shared an exhaustive list of interior design trends that pros could not stop talking about.
Two that topped the list included an earthy color palette and the use of natural materials. Well, these seem to be a crowd favorite for a while.
Plus, they're often at the heart of farmhouse-inspired interior design. Whether you opt for a more traditional style or a modernistic one, neutral colors and natural materials won't retire.
Perhaps there may be some changes, like the former would demand more earthy tones, whereas lighter ones would suit the modern approach.
These shades create a foundation for natural materials to stand out. Essentially, the goal is balance, so that would mean nothing too bright, too harsh, or too decorative.
Natural materials undoubtedly play a primary role in achieving this look. Wood, linen, clay, and stone work together to add subtle depth while keeping the overall palette cohesive.
Within this mix, reclaimed wood beams can add a touch of history and authenticity without disrupting the neutral flow.
They can lend a robust feel to any texture, from a mantel above the fireplace to timbers that span across most farmhouse-inspired living rooms.
Elmwood Reclaimed Timber notes that these hardwood beams are sourced from old barns, thereby bringing a distinct vintage wood appearance.
Quite literally, they refer to stuff that dreamy, cozy farmhouses are made of. As far as keeping things as close to nature as possible goes, the following key elements are a must:
- Muted colors for walls and fabrics
- Accent pieces here and there with bright tones for much-needed contrast
- Natural materials like wood, stone, cotton, etc.
- Aged features that cottages and farmhouses are composed of
- Minimal visual clutter, especially in main areas like coffee tables and kitchen countertops
Shiplap The Walls
Can we discuss farmhouse-inspired aesthetics and make no mention of shiplap? Given how popular ‘shiplapping’ the walls has become, it's not something just Southerners are aware of.
Just for context, shiplap refers to a style of wood board where each plank has a rabbeted edge.
This helps the planks to fit snugly and overlap slightly. Be it rustic or modern farmhouses, shiplap is used for its visual appeal. The following reasons make it compelling:
- Clean, horizontal lines that enhance the sense of calm in a space
- Mild texture that offers a sweet change from the rest of the aesthetic
- That cozy, ‘cottage-like’ feel that many homeowners crave
- The handcrafted character usually found in all things vintage
The worldwide wall decor market is booming. From $61.15 billion in 2024, it is expected to become $79.64 billion by 2028. For those targeting a farmhouse-inspired design, nothing works better than shiplap.
Now, don't feel discouraged as the style may be specific, but it offers room for customization.
You can select among different wood materials, seam tightness, and paint finishes. The final outcome will be completely your own.
Embrace the Imperfections
Farmhouses generally feature items that haven't been purchased in a single go. The opposite of this process may suit other design styles, but you're not looking for a meticulously curated look here.
If the interior design is farmhouse-inspired, the aesthetic has more of a ‘collected over time’ look.
In other words, the home feels like it has been slowly built, not instantly decorated.
So, you must embrace the Imperfections and let go of the urge for everything to match.
That's good news, since it imparts a sense of personality and memory to every room. It almost feels like every room has evolved with the people living in it.
Speaking strictly in terms of design, a home begins to declare a story, one that requires no uniformity.
The primary reason this style works is its emotional depth. It's way more meaningful than striving for the ‘showroom effect.’ Now, let's jump right into the main characteristics that give that ‘collected over time' look:
- A mix of old and new furniture instead of all matching sets
- Decor pieces that are either thrifted, gifted, or inherited
- Visible patina or signs of aging on materials
- Objects collected from times of travel or any meaningful experience
- Detailed textures as opposed to strict minimalism and symmetry
Exude the ‘Golden Hour’ Vibe
All of us have been mesmerised by that particular hour of the day when the world seems to be filtered through honey and gold.
Photographers call it the golden hour, the time just after sunrise or before sunset when the sun sits low in the sky.
What makes this hour so special? Studies say it's the angle of sunlight that makes the air take on a dreamy quality. This is especially true when mist or dust in the air catches and sustains the rays.
Now, what does the farmhouse have to do with the golden hour, right? Given its rustic, country origins, it seems to create the very conditions one tends to associate with the golden hour. These include warmth, comfort, and a touch of nostalgia.
To create the same sunrise or sunset physics indoors, you need to be a bit strategic. Let's see the different ways to exude the golden hour vibe:
- Start with the right light temperature, which should be largely warm in hue. So, warm light bulbs, candles, and lanterns work incredibly well.
- Let natural light work its magic during the day. For that, use semi-sheer linen curtains and cotton drapes.
- Have multiple uneven surfaces for light to bounce on. These may include rough wood beams, soft upholstery, and woven rugs or baskets.
- Focus on the nostalgic aspect of the golden hour through aging materials. Think of aged brass or iron fixtures, handmade ceramics, and lightly distressed wood.
In case you've been wondering, the farmhouse-inspired aesthetics is not packing its bags anytime soon.
The Spruce notes that this interior design style is undergoing a major shift.
Designers are moving away from hardcore rustic toward softer and more personalized interpretations of style.
Perhaps this style is maturing, in the sense that the monotonous white-on-white barn-door era is giving way.
However, its soul will continue to exist through warmth, comfort, and nostalgia.
What's for you to take away from this? You can shiplap accents instead of full walls or make the distressed elements more curated and meaningful.
The call is yours, and it's the best way to make your farmhouse-inspired home match your tastes.
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