Home Décor Tips to Create a Modern Farmhouse
Your home décor plan doesn’t have to follow just one genre. In fact, mixing home décor styles has never been more popular and by adding natural products such as rustic wide plank wood flooring, you will create a space that is not only beautiful but warm and inviting.
Today, we’ll take a look at two merging styles that are nearly complete opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of home décor — Modern & Farmhouse — and when you combine them, you create a look that is a little bit country, a little bit industrial and a lot of wood either left natural or painted white.
To create a Modern Farmhouse you want just the right balance of farmhouse nostalgia and modern beauty, which can be done by mixing styles within the same home décor and details such as stairs, flooring, interior doors and simple accents like a pillow or window fashion.
The Kitchen
The essence of the Modern Farmhouse home is one that puts the kitchen at the epicenter of it all, with large work areas and spaces where families gather not just as a chore but (gasp) as a chance to make something together.
A Modern Farmhouse kitchen is spacious and open where everyone can truly gather and be comfortable. Multiple islands or just a really big one will do the trick so anyone who wants to help “make something” can.
A furniture style island that sits on top of the floor has a nice vintage look. Or make an island from an old piece of furniture entirely, like this kitchen, which used a salvaged industrial table. The wrought iron bar stools are a nice touch, as is the shelving along the back wall.
And you can’t help but notice the floor! This floor has it all. Texture, wide widths up to 10″ and a warm modern brown color with variations from light to dark to balance the white cabinets and industrial pieces in the space.
Don’t be afraid to add in farmhouse style accents, like this Atlanta Kitchen, which has a fresh supply of roosters and chicken adornments, but it doesn’t deter too much from the modern feel of the white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
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The stairs for your modern farmhouse style home can take on a variety of styles. This North Dakota home used modern wood and metal to build the staircase and railings. Notice how the prefinished Hickory flooring has a nice variation of colors that complement the dark wood of the barn doors in the background, and the medium tone of the stair posts and treads.
Interior Barn Doors
Sliding Barn Doors aren’t just for keeping critters inside the barn anymore. They are a popular accent for the interior now too. You can use it in place of traditional interior doors to separate and define spaces. And even to cover up bookshelves, storage, media, and technology when not in use.
Wood Walls & Ceilings
Along the same line as barn doors, why not consider wood on the walls and ceilings. If you were truly building a “farmhouse” way back when, you’d use as much available wood on your property to build floors, doors, windows, and ceilings. Why not reincarnate that tradition — or at least fake it — with some traditional reclaimed wood.
Or if you want something a little more traditional why not white Board and Batten styles paneling. This is indicative of the original farmhouses, where the interior was painted with white milk paint to keep the space light and bright.
Rustic Floors
The flooring you choose for your Modern Farmhouse is going to be an important decision. We know we are a little biased, but farmhouse style wood floors must have wide widths and long lengths. Reclaimed flooring or a newly sawn wood such as White Oak are both great options to consider. Narrow strip oak floors and tile or marble are going to look too modern. And since most Modern Farmhouses boast a more open, expansive floor plan, the larger planks will fit the scale of the room so much better and the long lengths will mean less seams. The kitchen below has Carlisle Brushed White Oak floors graded to maintain the integrity of the tree’s original character such as knots and mineral streaks.
Accents & Furniture
One of the great things about designing a home with a Modern Farmhouse theme is the flexibility to infuse your spaces with a variety of accents and furniture from both styles. We can’t say “anything goes” but if you want to combine a smooth leather sofa with a rooster pillow, then it works!
When choosing your accents and furniture look for a combination of textures like leather and burlap, copper, wrought iron or traditional stainless steel reminiscent of farm equipment and dairy barns.
Chalkboards
Chalkboards represent a simpler way of a life, before texting and computers. They are a fun accent piece for the Modern Farmhouse whether you want to highlight your dinner menu for the week, write an inspiring wake-up message for your family, or just plan out the weeks activities in the foyer.
Windows
Windows are an architectural detail that can create an amazing aesthetic in your room, and give you an outlet to the outside world no matter what time of day or season. The Modern Farmhouse is no exception. Don’t be afraid to incorporate windows — entire walls of windows in some cases — to your rooms.
If you are looking for more ideas download our Buyer’s Guide or contact us to speak with a Wide Plank Specialist.
