Transform Your Home Into an American Farmhouse: 12 Ways to Get The Look

The modern farmhouse is one of the most popular decor styles out there today. It's part rustic, part contemporary, and all comfortable. The good news is you don't have to move to an actual ranch to get the look. Here's how you can create a modern farmhouse feeling without breaking the bank. 

1. Neutral Color Palettes

Modern farmhouse style is all about muted tones mixed with lots of white to give an airy, light, bright feel to your home. Neutral colors such as beige, gray, white, and cream are often used in farmhouse decor because they create a calming and welcoming atmosphere.

Additionally, these colors are versatile and can be paired with a wide range of other colors and textures like natural materials, such as wood and stone, which are commonly used in farmhouse design.

2. Vintage Accents

Farmhouse chic often incorporates a variety of vintage or vintage-esque accent pieces. Whether you choose to go antiquing or find replicas at your favorite big box stores, a mixture of old and new is the key to getting the look.

3. Farmhouse Kitchen Sinks

Farmhouse sinks have been a huge decor trend for quite a long time, and they're not reserved for modern farmhouse decor either! Whether you choose one in porcelain, enameled steel, or beaten copper, they're a must-have in any farmhouse kitchen.

4. Fresh Flowers and Plants

With all those neutral colors and muted tones, you're going to want a pop of color, and in a modern farmhouse, the best way to do that is with flowers and plants! Place a pitcher of daisies on the kitchen table, turn a wall into a living herb garden, or just place plants throughout your home.

5. Rustic Wood

The secret to rustic wood for your modern farmhouse is that it should look rustic but not feel like it! Make sure that the pieces you choose are properly sealed and treated to preserve them and prevent splinters. There are also plenty of weathering products out there that will turn new wood into a vintage masterpiece.

6. Subway Tile

Plain white subway tile is the go-to for modern farmhouse decor in farmhouse kitchens and bathrooms. The good news is that they are also very affordable, so you can get all the designer looks for a budget-friendly price tag!

7. Woven Textures

Modern farmhouse living rooms, bedrooms, and family rooms are built around neutral tones, wood, and metal, which can be a little plain. Instead of a riot of color, this decor style relies heavily on textured fabrics, especially woven textures. Woven baskets are another quick and easy rustic farmhouse addition.

8. Exposed Beams

Even if you don't have exposed beams in your home, you can create the look quite easily and relatively cheaply with faux options. 

Some faux beams are made from wood, but others are made out of other materials like composite or plastic, and while they look almost exactly like the real thing, they're much cheaper!

9. Barn Doors

Barn doors aren't always practical for every application, but they do have farmhouse style written all over them. Even if you can't add sliding barn doors, you can replicate the look on other doors or even on cabinets!

10. Open Shelving

Open shelving is perfect for the farmhouse decor style, and if you can do live edge open shelving with industrial steel brackets or frames, you will get even more bang for your rustic buck.

11. Farmhouse Furniture

Farmhouse furniture is a bigger ticket item when it comes to updating your home to modern farmhouse style, but simple things like a farmhouse table or an antique rocking chair on the porch go a long way to making your home look farmhouse fabulous.

12. Window Options

Changing your windows might not be in your farmhouse decor renovation budget, but if they are, this is a great way to get the farmhouse look inside and out. There are two main styles of windows that go with the farmhouse style: casement, and single hung. 

Casement windows are simple side-hung windows that swing out towards the site. They could be two simple windows that meet in the middle, or you could have one or more fixed window panels combined with side-hung, hinged panes. 

Single-hung windows, on the other hand, are classic sliding windows, also known as sash windows. They're simple and classic and go perfectly with the farmhouse look.

Planning Your Modern Farmhouse Transformation

One of the best things about transforming your home is that you don't have to do everything at the same time. You can plan your modern farmhouse decor update to suit your budget and lifestyle. 

Tackle smaller, easier tasks first, and budget and save for bigger items. Since this style is very understated and muted in general, it's also not a huge commitment to big changes. You can keep things fairly plain and simply add a few accents to bring the farmhouse feel to life.