Creating a farmhouse feel in your new home

The so-called ‘modern farmhouse’ aesthetic is a look that’s become hugely popular in homes across the UK, and it’s one that I absoutely love (how I wish it worked in our 1980s house, but alas not).

Characterised by neutral colours and rustic finishes, it’s the toned-down cousin of the cottagecore trend, with a slightly more practical and modern twist. While cottagecore taps into maximalism, the modern farmhouse look is a little more stripped back, while still adding plenty of texture and character.

But where did the farmhouse style come from? Well, it takes inspiration from those huge family houses in the countryside, think of the Christmas one with Otis from Sex Education and Prince Edward from the Crown. These stunning farmhouses put nature at their centre, and it’s these 16th and 17th kind of dwellings that people want to encapsulate with their farmhouse style.

The key features of a true farmhouse style interior include wooden floors, stone fireplaces (big ones), Belfast sinks, huge wooden kitchen tables, open shelving full of knick-knacks and shaker-style cabinets. While initially a rustic style, the modern farmhouse looks adds plenty of contemporary features to tone down the rustic nature.

 

The best part about this trend is you don’t need to own an actual farmhouse to get the look. It might seem tricky at first, but here are some simple steps on what you’ll need to consider:

 

Use muted neutral colours

Neutral colours are an absolute must in a farmhouse-style home, so if you aren’t a neutral lover, it might not be the style for you. Think whites, off-whites, creams, beiges, greys and browns. Every colour that’s used should be soft and airy.

If you do want to add colour, you can spike bolder colours throughout the space, but use them sparingly. It might be a dark green sofa or a blue bedside table (as below) but the room should use mostly neutrals as a soft base.

Surprisingly, new houses are actually the perfect blank canvas if you want to create a farmhouse style interior, so don’t be afraid to go for it just because your house isn’t old.

 

Embrace natural materials

Texture is a big part of the overall farmhouse look, and wood in particular can be used verywhere in a farmhouse-style home to bring texture and warmth. It’s a natural material that just makes sense in something like a farmhouse, bring the nature outside into the home.

Imagine panelling around the walls, a large wooden kitchen table with rustic chairs, wooden flooring and wooden beams along the ceiling. It might seem too much, but it works when each wood has a slightly different tone and colour.

 

It’s not just wood that works, either. Stone, brick and linen are other key materials that really bring the space together. As well as the wooden floors and panelling, you can have a stone fireplace and hearth, or light and airy linen curtains that gently blow in the breeze on a warm day. The exposed brickwork in this bedroom is beautiful and somehow works with the modern glossy porcelain floor:

 

The more natural your materials and colours, the closer you are to achieving a true farmhouse feel.

 

Discover open shelves

Open shelving is a huge tick box for the farmhouse feel, and the key is to use it to showcase all your rustic or antique finds, instead of modern every-day items.

The design comes together even more when the shelves themselves are rustic or they’re part of a dresser, in a kitchen or dining room. This is absolute true farmhouse style, from the Aga range, to the pans hanging on the walls and the large Welsh dresser full of knick-knacks.

 

The key is to layer accessories in groups, be it a gorgeous scented candle, some antique crockery, a pair of original candlesticks.

 

Look for charming furniture items

Due to the sheer size of traditional farmhouses, large furniture is a staple, as the main priority is to create a comfy and cosy home with practical items. But these things can be expensive, especially when purchased new. My biggest tip is to source original furniture, the stuff that looks like it’s lived a life, it’s been well worn. This works particularly well for dining tables and chairs, dressers, sideboards, wardrobes and console tables. Anything too new or modern will only look out of place.

In the living space, choose furniture that’s new with a traitional twist to the style, such as a Chesterfield sofa or a large, classic armchair. These will blend in so much more nicely than a sofa from Ikea.

In the bedrooms, you need consider bold bedframes that make an impact. It’s all about getting the balance between making a statement with large furniture while still maintaining a simple, modern feel. That means being selective when choosing colours and ensuring that the rooms themselves aren’t cluttered so that the furniture can be the main attraction.

 

Introduce soft greenery

Greenery and foliage are the perfect way of adding natural elements to your farmhouse-style home. The green will help to break up the neutral tones in your home, while also complementing them in just the right amount.

Big, leafy plants are particularly complimentary to the aesthetic, and can be placed on the floor for maximum impact. It’s all about channelling that rustic feel, and adding plants and flowers helps to bring everything together. Just remember not to go overboard!

 

How not to overdo the farmhouse look

As with any interior style, it’s certainly possible to push it too far, and you end up with a room that doesn’t quite feel right.

First, go easy on the rustic elements. Unless you own a true farmhouse from the 18th century, most houses can only deal with a few rustic features. You might choose dark metal brackets for your open shelves, or black metal handles on your kitchen, but use these things sparingly.

You’ll also want to avoid mixing too many styles and colours. Farmhouse interiors are about simplicity, neutrality and traditionality, so keep everything consistent, even within different rooms. Perhaps you could choose two natural materials, like wood and stone, and repeat these throughout the house instead of using a mixture of everything. You might even choose two colour palettes, like cream and brown, instead of mixing in greys and whites too.

Finally, choose quality items over cheap. A glossy white unit is going to stand out a mile, as is any kind of MDF furniture that’s too modern. The items you buy don’t necessarily have to be really expensive, but they do need to be solid and of high quality. Antiques fairs and charity shops might be your best friend here, helping you source original pieces at a lower price.