Farmhouse Design

If you’ve turned on HGTV in the past decade, you might notice one style dominating over the others. Everywhere we turn, there seems to be a feature of Farmhouse style homes. But what really makes a farmhouse? Is it a big red house with a wraparound porch and chickens running around in the yard? Is it full of roosters and painted ceramic plates? Can you have farmhouse style in the middle of a city?

Farmhouse is a style that evokes the warm and cozy feeling of home, and it can be combined with other styles. It pairs well with modern designs and can help neutralize any industrial feel that people are often wary of. Armed with charming vintage decor and warm wood furniture, farmhouse style is ready to make any space feel like home.

"Traditionally farmhouses are simply homes built on agricultural lands to house and protect who owned or worked the land. The term Farmhouse isn't necessarily connected to a particular style identified by a fixed set of features, but a setting for a way of life. This is most likely why its appeal seems to be timeless." - Vanguard Studio 

Why has farmhouse style dominated and what does it even mean?

Farmhouse deals with a lot of wood and vintage decor. These elements help bring in warmth and character to a modern design. This means that you can have your modern and contemporary style, without the cold industrial feel. This design style allows you to have all your clean lines, with the added warmth of some wood highlights or vintage decor. Tying everything together with warm qualities that make everything feel more like home.

When people think of modern, there are still those of us who think that means a clean, cold or impersonal design. Clean, clear, and cold. But that’s not the whole story. Modern can mean a lot of things. And when you add ‘farmhouse’ to it, it adds an immediate quality of warmth and familiarity. Like most things in life, it’s all about balance. 

Is there anything farmhouse style can’t do?

Farmhouse style is very practical. It blends well with modern design and transform your home. However, it does not thrive in a formal atmosphere. If you are wanting a formal dining room, you probably aren’t looking for farmhouse chic. 

it might first bring up visions of cows in the field and chickens in the yard, farmhouse style is quite adaptable to urban environments. Pick a few key pieces that you love. That way you can center your design around these elements. Clear out your clutter and try to keep spaces clear and open, to help make it feel like a big bright space, even if it’s not. While classic New England architecture loves divided lites, consider keeping it simple with your windows. A 2 over 2 design can help keep things classic, while also keeping your glass clear. 

How do I get the look in my home?

Creating a new theme in your home can mean a huge renovation, or it can mean changing some of the smaller items in your home. New England homes are often already full of classic details that you can highlight with a piece of furniture or some new decor. Wood is a key element in farmhouse design, but it’s not just floors and exposed beams. If you want the farmhouse look, but don’t have those, make sure your dining table is wood or at least has a some wooden features. Combining your wood accents with modern appliances can help create a sense of cozy practicality that only comes from the farmhouse feel. Plants and greenery can also help.