The charm and warmth of country décor have never been more popular. Blending vintage pieces with modern, and giving them a twist of farmhouse charm, is the key to putting this décor style to work for you.
Farmhouse décor can vary from region to region, but some key elements link them together. Let’s look at some of the most decorative and distinctive characteristics, the key elements of easy modern farmhouse décor.
Farmhouse Finishes
When you’re talking about farmhouse finishes, slick surfaces and clean lines will not spring to mind. Farmhouses are old, weathered, and lived-in, and the finishes of furniture and architectural elements going into farmhouse décor reflect that.
Farmhouse furniture pieces are designed to be used, and to last, so they are often large and bulky with durable surfaces. Wood is the choice for most farmhouse décor, with various finishes designed to create an aged and weathered effect.
Painted/Antiqued Finishes
White is one of the most common finishes in farmhouse décor and country furnishings, and that applies to paint finishes as well. Whether the paint is laid on solidly, used as an accent, or applied sparingly for an “antiqued” effect, the white color quickly adds a homey, vintage look to a room.
Another popular paint color is blue, especially a cornflower or sky blue. The natural shade lends itself well to country and farmhouse décor and is often seen in kitchen pieces, including table and chairs, sideboards, china cabinets, and cupboards.
Natural and Distressed Wood
Wood is a staple of farmhouse furnishings and architectural elements, whether it has a natural, rustic finish or is distressed to look older and more worn and weathered. Natural wood lends warmth to any room and is ideal for kitchen, family areas, and bedrooms embracing farmhouse décor.
Vintage Pieces
Farmhouse décor is all about looking old, lived-in, and functional, and vintage accents help bring the room together. Vintage signs and branding, including feed store signs, old tin and aluminum advertising signs, and flour and grain bags, are easy, inexpensive ways to add a vintage farmhouse and country feel to any room.
Aluminum and tin work tools and cooking utensils make beautiful accents, and some can even be useful. For example, an enameled coffee pot or teapot, milk pails, oil cans, and washboards can be repurposed in a room or used as is to give whimsy and warmth to a room.
Punched tin and aluminum designs are very popular as inserts in cabinetry. You can easily remove the wood or glass insert and add nail-punched designs. Steaming pies, roosters, tractors, and sun motifs are popular nail-punched designs for farmhouse décor.
Chicken Wire
Nothing says farmhouse living like chicken wire. This versatile metal fencing can be integrated into your farmhouse décor in a variety of ways.
One of the most common ways to add chicken wire to your farmhouse décor is by using it for front cabinetry. Removing the wood or glass inserts on a china cabinet or cupboard and replacing them with chicken wire instantly adds that rustic, farmhouse touch. Plus, the hexagonal design and metal feel of chicken wire are a great way to add texture to a room.
Quilt Patterns
Quilting has been intimately connected to farmhouse living since the days of pioneers and before. The many patterns and designs of old quilts inspire farmhouse décor, so it’s not surprising that adding these designs and pieces to your space help complete the look.
Well-known quilt patterns, such as the log cabin or flying geese, add color, texture, and geometric design to any space. Painted on a tabletop or added as a border along a chair rail or near the ceiling can bring a room’s color palette together.
Fabric quilts, vintage and modern, can be hung on walls as art, added to beds as a room focal point, or thrown over a sofa to add farmhouse charm to a living room. Incorporating gingham and calico fabrics increase the farmhouse and pioneer feel, and the addition of grosgrain ribbon edging or accents even more so.
Learn More About Easy Modern Farmhouse Décor
It’s easy to bring the vintage, rustic elements of farmhouse décor into your home. Textures, fabrics, and accents bring the feel of farmhouse living to a room instantly. With a bit of creativity and the addition of some of the key elements we talked about above, you can have easy, modern farmhouse décor in no time.
Kristina Wolf’s House of Design offers tips, ideas, and advice for creating your ideal interior design in your home. With 25 years of experience in the field, Kristina Wolf has the expertise and DIY know-how and is bringing it to you on her website and blog.
If you’re looking for more information about easy modern farmhouse décor, or have an idea for one of her future blogs, contact Kristina. And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter, filled with tips and information.