Modern Farmhouse Style – 7 steps to achieve this look

Meet Modern Farmhouse style, a stunning update to our much loved classic country style.  For those of you who love the softness and relaxed country look, but feel it is somehow a little dated, you will really embrace this updated look.  It is still very classic, but there is a nod to contemporary living.  The look is slightly eclectic, but also relies heavily on simplicity in design.  Rather than smaller self-contained rooms that you would expect to see in a classic country style, the look is more contemporary with open plan living.

If you love lots of white, accents of black, comfortable and layered soft neutrals with a background of stylish oak, then this is the look for you.  I have 7 steps to achieve this stunning look below.

Modern farmhouse style – The colour palette

The walls and trim for a modern farmhouse look are generally white.  There are instances where you might see a soft light neutral on the walls, but this would be for bedrooms rather than the open plan areas.  As the areas can be quite large, I recommend a neutral soft white rather than a more clinical and cold one.

Dulux White Verdict Quarter is a good choice as this has a green base. This simply means that you don’t see yellow or blue.  Another favourite white for this look is Dulux White Casper Quarter which is slightly warmer.

Accents of black are absolutely crucial to getting this look right and the third colour that you need are natural oak tones.  Some accents of tan leather also work in this look.

The combination of a soft white with black accents and oak are the foundations for this look and you need these to create a successful modern farmhouse home.  From this base you can introduce layers of soft neutrals and some touches of soft colour.  Dark navy and rich green tones also work well with this palette.  These shouldn’t detract from or overwhelm the foundation colours though.

The right doors and windows for this look

The windows really have to be black to get this look right.  They should also give a nod to country style with multiple panes of glass rather than large expanses of glass.  Metal black doors can also be used as internal doors to zone and partition off open plan living areas.

Related: How to choose windows

A modern farmhouse style kitchen

In terms of the colour palette, keep to the foundation of white, black and oak.  You don’t need to use all three colours for the joinery, but you would often see a combination of at least two of them.  You can use a dark grey/navy for cabinetry instead of black if you want a slightly softer look.

Marble benchtops and splashbacks should be used for the stone.  Real marble looks fabulous, although you can also use a porcelain or reconstituted stone, but just avoid the classic Hamptons feel.  There are lots of similarities with this style, but remember that its roots are in classic country style which is a little different.

You can also have a recycled brick as a splashback or a painted brick or stone finish.

Flooring for a modern farmhouse style

Engineered oak really is the flooring of choice to get this look right.  Opt for wide boards if you can with a matt finish and select from the lighter, more natural oak tones.

Carpets should be neutral with a chunky woolen weave.  Rugs can be made from a similar weave or you can introduce some natural hemp or chunky sisal.  Transitional style rugs in muted tones also work really well with this look, particularly for hall runners.

Entrance hallways, laundries and mud rooms can have brick herringbone floors to deal with initial foot traffic and to ensure that the oak flooring is cared for.  Remember that oak is a soft timber and so you need to be gentle with it.

Related: How to choose engineered oak floorboards

The right window dressings

Window dressings should be simple and elegant.  Neutral coloured drapes with a simple box or pinch pleat heading hung high above the window from a black metal rod is the go-to choice for this look.

Simple Roman blinds can also be used and these look great on smaller feature windows.

Keep banks of sheers for a coastal style as this isn’t really the right look for a farmhouse home.

Related: Don’t design your curtains without this one thing

Furniture for a modern farmhouse style

Again, remember the foundation of oak, white and black.  This is what you need to bear in mind when it comes to selecting furniture.  Ensure that you keep the look relaxed and eclectic and carefully curate interesting pieces rather than opting for furniture that all matches.  This is absolutely wrong for a modern farmhouse style.

Sofas should be deep and comfortable with contemporary arms rather than the classic country style round arms.  Natural cotton, linen and linen/polyester blends are the ideal choice.

Occasional chairs should be a different style, possibly a black rattan or oak and linen look.

Relaxed dining for family and friends is a key part of this look so dining tables are very important and should be generous in size, strong and solid.

The right accessories

You must have some greenery in a modern farmhouse style and the bigger and more extravagant the better.  Think statement greenery in a stunning pot, rather than lots of plants around the room.

Baskets are also a key accessory for all areas of the home.  Layers of interesting lighting are needed for this style.  Table and floor lamps are most important, together with feature kitchen pendants.

Related: How to style with baskets and How to incorporate the greenery trend

 

Before creating any look for your home, it is wise to put together a mood board.  This way you can pin down the exact style that you like and that suits your home and way of living.  I have a guide to putting together a mood board in my FREE Resource Library.  You can download it for free here.