Last year the farmhouse interior design style took over social media โ Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram all have been full of farmhouse interior design pictures and inspiration photos. Do you ever wonder what makes an interior design style go viral? Well, I know I do! We’re going to talk about that and more.
This post is all about farmhouse interior design style.
We’re going to talk about what farmhouse interior design style is, why it’s so popular, and where it’s headed next.
Like most styles that reach a broad level of popularity, “farmhouse” has become a broad sweeping term used in the interior design world. In a lot of ways, the term has become overused.
I know that there are specific aspects of what has become known as the farmhouse design style that I really love, and others that I do not like at all. For me, it’s really helpful to talk about what characteristics define certain styles. That way I can figure out what I like about the style, and what I don’t. In the next part of this blog post, we will walk through what defines the farmhouse interior design style so that you can determine your likes and dislikes.
There is one thing that I want to note before we get into what exactly the farmhouse design style is โ the name can feel very weird. Don’t get me wrong, because sometimes the term farmhouse is used to describe a literal farmhouse. A lot of the time though, the word “farmhouse” feels like a historically unaware term to be using.
It feels ahistorical to be calling everything “farmhouse” design as if that’s something we should be aspiring towards in designing our contemporary lives. Especially here in the US, it seems like those connotations would not be favorable. I would love to come up with a new name for this style, so maybe we can collectively think of something that has a better sound to it!
What is farmhouse design?
Farmhouse design is a style that focuses on using neutral colors and natural materials. Rustic interior design is where a lot of the elements of the farmhouse interior design style come from.
White is definitely the most used color in farmhouse design. The rest of the color palette focuses heavily on neutrals and lots of different shades of brown. Gray, black, and green are also colors that are common in farmhouse interior design.
Blue also is a popular color, but I think that this usually shows that there is an intersection with coastal design happening. Occasionally you also will see terracotta being used, especially for tile or as an accent color on throw pillows or other details.
These colors lend themselves to natural materials being used frequently. For example, materials like wood, marble, quartz, brick, and stone have all been fundamental to the farmhouse design style.
The textures that these materials have are all really important stylistically, because those textural layers are what you can play with the most in farmhouse design. The textures are what add the most dimension, because they vary the most. You can see in this pin below from Pinterest how these colors and materials come together and create a rustic and natural looking interior.
To me, farmhouse is a cross between rustic design and industrial design. Rustic design has so many of the same natural materials and colors, and industrial design uses a lot of the same lighting, hardware, and exposed beams. Together they make farmhouse!
Overall, you can tell if something is farmhouse design or not by the combination of colors, materials, and the feel that they evoke. The combination of these things is more important than one individual element. Spaces that are inspired by farmhouse design feel light, bright, airy, and homey. Of course, that’s assuming that they’re well designed!
I think that the feeling that farmhouse design evokes is also a large reason it has gained so much popularity. It’s not easy to cultivate the feeling of home, and often this style makes that more accessible. And who doesn’t love to feel at home? It’s a wonderful feeling.
I also can’t forget to mention baskets and rattan! They are both part of that brown family of natural materials that are extremely textural, which is a huge part of farmhouse design.
I definitely take a lot of inspiration from the textures that are popular in farmhouse design. A few weeks ago I got this laundry basket from Target and I love the color and texture it brings into my bedroom!
So if you remember one thing about farmhouse design, let it be baskets. Baskets, baskets, baskets. They are used all over the place in farmhouse inspired spaces! There are so many little spaces for cute little baskets. Under a console in your entryway, in your shelves to hide away junk, in your closet to tuck away socks โ there’s always a place for a new basket. They definitely are the most inexpensive way to start transforming your space to look more textural.
Why is modern farmhouse interior design so popular?
Where farmhouse design really reached its popularity was through mixing farmhouse design with modern design. Purely rustic design does not tend to be super popular among people who live in more urban environments, so mixing farmhouse with modern design elements was a huge part of how it reached so much popularity.
The mixture of different styles means that there is something for everyone, and it makes the design feel more homey and personal. Part of why it is so hard to define exactly what farmhouse design is, is because it so rarely exists completely on its own.
Modern classic design has become extremely popular this past year, and I will be the first to say that I love it! Because you get to have both. I could never pick which I liked more before, and mixing modern and classic design is the perfect solution. Farmhouse design has a similar charm, because it can be mixed with other styles so easily.
For example, the modern farmhouse kitchen is what has gone completely viral on social media. I see modern farmhouse kitchens all over the place! And it’s so cool to see everyone’s different take on this style. This pin is a great example of everything we’ve been talking about. Also, that little copper tea kettle is such a great styling piece, I love it.
As you can see, the combination of white and brown is all over the place in this photo! And mixing in natural, raw looking materials like stone and wood is such a trademark of the farmhouse interior design style.
I love how the kitchen in this next pin shows a different side of the modern farmhouse kitchen. The porcelain farmhouse sink is such a signature look with this design. In contrast, these grayish green cabinets add so much personality to the space.
I think it’s so important to note that not everything that is being described as “farmhouse” now will age that way. A lot of these kitchens are actually quite different and will have unique qualities that make their way through the years differently.
How is farmhouse design changing in the next few years?
Over the next few years, we are going to see the farmhouse design style evolve even more, but a few specific aspects of the style will remain unchanged.
First of all, the use of natural materials will never go out of style. Wood, stone, metal, and leather will always be beautiful and timeless. The forms that these materials take may change, though.
I think that we will start to see the colors used in farmhouse interior design vary in the next few years even more than they do now. Neutrals will always be beautiful, but color is becoming more and more prevalent in design.
Personally, I am so excited for this! I love color. Muted colors are seeing a surge in popularity right now, and I think that colors will only trend to be brighter and bolder in the next few years.
Also, what we know as modern classic design will evolve to take many different shapes in the next few years. It already is! Farmhouse will become a category within modern classic design, which will give it lasting power throughout the years.
The blend of different design styles will continue to gain traction. To me, this is so exciting! I love mixing design styles and seeing this become the norm is inspiring so much creativity for me.
But don’t fear. If you’re in love with the idea of a farmhouse style house or you simply love farmhouse style decor, you don’t need to worry too much. This trend is not going anywhere in the next few years. Farmhouse design definitely will evolve little by little, as all trends do, but what matters is that you pick out the elements of the style that you really love.
When you know what you like, whether it’s trendy or not will not phase you. And that’s why it is so helpful to map out what exactly certain design styles are, and what you like and dislike about them. It helps you get to know your own personal style better. The better you know your own style, the less trendiness will factor into your design process.
This post was all about farmhouse interior design style. I hope that it helped you learn more about what farmhouse design really is. And let’s keep experimenting to see if we can come up with a better name!
For more design inspiration, follow @garlandcollections on Pinterest and Instagram. Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this page to join the Garland Collections email list so that you can stay in the loop on all of our latest news!
