Oh, farmhouse living. There’s just something about the relaxed, lived-in appeal that this décor style exudes that makes you want to sit down and stay awhile. With all the many applications that this design and décor style can have in a home, it is no wonder that it is a favorite decorating choice of homeowners everywhere.
Do you love vintage and shabby-chic furniture pieces? They will feel right at home in a farmhouse-inspired living room. Are you head over heels for ceramics and wooden frames and rustic accessories? Fill your home with them and you will be channeling that old-world feel in no time. Do you enjoy mixing soft fabrics with smooth stone and rough-edged wooden pieces? You can decorate any bedroom or kitchen to your heart’s content knowing that everything will come together like a match made in heaven.
Below are several ideas to help you incorporate more of the farmhouse flair that you love into your home – from kitchen makeovers to master bedroom pick-me-ups. NO matter what room you choose to renovate – or if you opt to revamp the whole house – wooden and other natural elements are a staple of farmhouse style, along with vintage fabrics and accessories that are filled with personality and unique touches.
Bring Wooden Touches Into The Kitchen
The pros at HGTV know what it takes to make a farmhouse-style kitchen shine, and their go-to is wood. Both eco-friendly and an organic material that is usually very affordable, wooden touches are just the ticket when you want to add some rustic touches to your kitchen. They recommend pine or oak, saying, “For seating and dining options in farmhouse kitchens, high-quality woods are often the first choice. Tables are often classic “farm tables”—long planks of oak or other high-quality woods fitted closed and sturdily together. Table and chair legs and back supports may feature rich detailing, and chair backs may even incorporate carvings featuring pastoral or farmhouse scenes.”
Bonus points for mixing wood and stone here as well. For a classy, upscale farmhouse vibe try combining granite countertops with gorgeous wood cabinets either left alone in all their woodsy glory or painted in a light white color then sanded back to reveal the grain underneath.
Create An Idyllic Fireplace Area
Nothing is cozier than snuggling up by the fire on a cold day, and nothing screams “farmhouse style” more than a large fireplace complete with a mantle right in the middle of your living room. If you are ambitious, you can remodel your living room to accommodate an actual wood-burning or gas fireplace reminiscent of the older style you might find in an older farmhouse. If you want something less labor-intensive, you can always create a faux fireplace by adding gorgeous reclaimed wood beams and “framing in” a fireplace area complete with logs and fire tongs.
An added benefit to installing the real deal is that is doubles as a place of warmth during the chilly months and makes for a perfect hangout when friends and family come over to visit.
Add Some “Pretty” To Your Bedroom
A bedroom is a fantastic place to evoke some old-world charm. The pros over at Homedecorators.com suggest mixing and matching textures to achieve a realistic ad vintage look, saying, “For a farmhouse concept in the bedroom, try mixing and matching antique-look wood furniture. Choose bed linens and curtain panels with muted colors and patterns that recall the gingham dresses of the 19th century. Finally, add clear or colored glass vases and a cluster of botanical prints.”
If you are fortunate to have a master bath attached to your bedroom, consider integrating the farmhouse style all the way through. You can do this by opening up one of the walls for a large window area, complete with long flowing curtains and wooden elements throughout. You can even replace your flooring with tile that has the look of wood grain for a truly authentic and rustic feel.
Build A Porch You Can Enjoy Year-Round
No farmhouse would be complete without a gorgeous wrap-around porch. And on that porch? Rocking chairs, a swing, or even a couch all done up beautifully to encourage guests to sit and hang out while the day turns into evening.
Consider having a professional design a one-of-a-king wooden inlay for the floor to make your porch one that is absolutely unique to you and your family. You can also opt for a screened in porch to keep the bugs out and to allow you the benefits of porch living all year round.
Make sure to furnish your porch with indoor/outdoor furniture and accessories even if it is enclosed; this way you will avoid having to replace everything quickly die to sun damage and exposure to other elements.