35 Modern Farmhouse Decor Ideas That Go Beyond Rustic

Talk about a barn raising!

Out of all of the interior styles out there, farmhouse decor is one of the most trend-proof—and the most ubiquitous. A recent survey, in fact, demonstrated that the look, typified by country charm and rusticity galore, is one of the most popular decorating styles in the United States. At its best, farmhouse decor feels light and effortless. At its worst, with a glut of matchy weathered wood furniture, sliding barn doors, and plaid, it's a clichéd style that really ought to be put out to pasture.

So what's the trick to getting it right? "Mixing different design elements is key," insists Heidi Caillier, a designer known for her clever blend of eras, prints, and textures. "You can't use pieces that all feel rustic—use a few pieces that have some patina mixed with some pieces that feel a bit more polished." Caillier, who recently designed a quaint 1790s home in Bedford, New York, recommends incorporating unexpected details, like funky textiles, eye-catching lighting, or an abstract artwork to bring in a bit of contemporary edge.

Even if you’re not blessed with a home that's contemporaneous with George Washington—or couldn't distinguish between John Deere and John Derian in a police lineup, for that matter—there are still ways to embrace your inner agrarian. Caillier recommends, if renovating, to create an "architectural base" using details like beams, paneling, molding, and built-ins. "This first layer is really important and helps tell a more complete story once we get to furnishings," she says. "I tend to look more to history as a guide—actual old homes and farmhouses, not new iterations of those."

In that spirit, we’ve culled our archive for some of the most elegant examples of modern farmhouse decor. Before you know it, you’ll be taking "raised in a barn" as a compliment.

When George Kolasa and his husband, Justin Tarquinio, purchased this historic farmhouse in East Hampton, New York, they became stewards as well as homeowners. Working with ELLE DECOR A-List designer Alfredo Paredes, they added artful layers to keep the rooms from going over-the-top farmhouse-y. One of the framed pieces above the mantel holds extra meaning: the original deed to the home. "It was given to me by the sister of the one of the family members," Kolasa explains. "It's a very, very special memento."

While this home in Provincetown, Massachusetts, technically didn't start out life as a farmhouse (it was a former fishing shack), designer David Cafiero added plenty of cozy touches. We especially adore the duck-egg painted ceiling and the gorgeous floral wallpaper in this bathroom.

Even if you don't have an older home, play up your region's history. We love this sweet (and affordable!) decor hack, courtesy Sharone Einhorn. Here, she papered her entryway with Long Island nautical charts. Don't sleep on this design idea—though Skeeter, the dog, gets a pass.

Alyse Archer-Coité purchased a 1790s Georgian gem in upstate New York and brought her own artful twist to the home's creaking floors and period fireplaces. Here in the kitchen, she painted one mantel blue and displayed her collection of vintage vessels by Gio Ponti, Dudley Waltzer, and more.

If you’re lucky enough to live in a home that has ample period details, embrace them. ELLE DECOR A-List firm Hendricks Churchill updated this storied Greek Revival in Connecticut by leaning into history. The bubble Lindsey Adelman chandelier and abstract artwork (not to mention the errant dino toy) keep the scheme from veering stuffy.

Nothing says farmhouse cozy like a quilt. And fortunately, Toast CEO Suzie de Rohan Willner owns a company that makes the most charming ones. Here in her Oxfordshire farmhouse in the U.K., she threw one of the stitched beauties at the foot of a guest room.

Pale pistachio has a certain vintage charm. Fashion designer and fledgling decorator Chris Benz washed the kitchen and dining room in his Long Island, New York, Victorian in Farrow & Ball's perfectly pretty Teresa's Green.

Swap weathered timber for something sexier: lacquer. Here, interior designer Thom Filicia shellacked a butler's pantry in a Connecticut farmhouse in a tempting chocolate hue.

Farmhouse vibes don't have to stop at your kitchen. In this 300-year-old Connecticut colonial overhauled by Ryan Lawson, a tiny bedroom study features a vintage writing desk, bentwood chair, and sunny yellow curtains.

Farmhouse decor feels especially fitting in a farm-fresh atmosphere, as with this rustic dining overhang on a French estate belonging to Patrick and Lorraine Frey. A wrought-iron chandelier brings in additional alfresco elegance.

For designer Heidi Caillier, pulling off a perfectly modern farmhouse look is all about the mix—especially where pattern is concerned. Here in a 1790s home in Bedford, New York, she leaned into the cozy garret feeling of this snug bedroom with a variety of floral fabrics. Their muted hues keep the look from verging into maximalist turf.

Gallery walls add visual interest to any space, and you could say that the one in Sheila Bridges's Hudson Valley escape is a masterclass in getting it just right. Here, she covered the robin's egg-blue walls with classic paintings from the Hudson River School. The writing desk picks up the blue of the walls and that of the sky and rivers in each painting.

A rustic farmhouse-style table anchors the dining room in the home of English decorator Rita Konig, and the theme continues via a rustic lantern, antique chairs, and striped curtains. But it's the outsize painting of an artichoke that makes the look, adding just the right dash of quirkiness.

Twin Cities designer Anne McDonald wanted this lake house to have a feminine Scandinavian feel. Here in the main bedroom, she painted the walls and wainscoting in a soft pink (Farrow & Ball's Setting Plaster) and upholstered the headboard in a sweet Décors Barbares floral.

This former barn was in such bad shape, only bats called it home. ELLE DECOR A-List duo Hendricks Churchill brought it back to glory, allowing the original beams to steal the show. Instead of layering on cliché farmhouse furnishings, they leaned into a ’70s vibe in the sprawling vintage Togo sectional. Talk about farm fresh!

Effortless is the name of the game in ELLE DECOR A-List designer Darryl Carter's idyllic Virginia retreat, which we first showed in this magazine back in 2008. But the decor still feels timeless, thanks to bright white walls and neutral-toned furnishings that complement the rustic table—where Carter treats guests to his famous chicken potpie.

An all-white kitchen by Mark D. Sikes in Portola Valley, California, benefits from vintage kilim rugs and rustic wood accents. A custom ladder by Keith Kelleher of FMA and a white pendant light fixture add an inviting touch.

The Amagansett, New York, home of Athena Calderone, the creative force behind the popular lifestyle blog EyeSwoon, is a lesson in perfecting modern farmhouse style. A modern chandelier by Lindsey Adelman provides a sense of balance to the custom wood table, which is made of reclaimed timber.

A traditional farmhouse served as the inspiration for this modern home in the Washington, D.C., area. The light-filled space, which was designed by architect Piet Boon and designer Jennifer Schmidt, features clean lines and 12-foot ceilings. Pictured here is the office outfitted with a wooden stool and sleek desk.

In a Scandinavian cottage, the sleeping loft's bedside stool is from Åhléns, and the white linseed-oil paint on the walls is by Kulturhantverkarna Färg.

Anna Fixsen, Deputy Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, focuses on how to share the best of the design world through in-depth reportage and online storytelling. Prior to joining the staff, she has held positions at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record magazines. elledecor.com

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