As an interior designer, “modern farmhouse” is still one of the most popular design styles I get requests for. A lot of people credit the trend to Joanna Gaines and her show Fixer Upper on HGTV. In reality, the style has been around much longer than that but definitely gained popularity thanks to the show.
Even though it’s not my personal style, it’s still one of my favorite styles to design because there are so many ways to customize the style. Also, because of the rise in popularity, many retailers have introduced items true to the modern farmhouse style which has made it really easy to shop for beautiful unique pieces.
For a dining room, there are several key elements that can make a room feel more elevated and give it that “modern farmhouse” style.
1. Mix Your Chair Styles
As shown above, I love mixing 2 styles of chairs. No matter what design style you gravitate towards I highly recommend doing a different pair of chair at the end of the dining table. By having different chairs, it makes your room look more high-end and curated as opposed to looking matchy-matchy like you bought the whole set off the showroom floor.
For the dining room, I like to pair masculine side chairs with feminine head chairs. Look at the photo above. Notice how the masculine side chairs have clean, simple lines. They are also made of masculine materials like wood and metal. The head chairs on the other hand, are more feminine looking. The softness is brought in through the fabric, the sloped elegant arm, the nailhead details, and the tufting. If you are worried about durability, you can get your head chairs in a stain-resistant fabric like Crypton or get the retailer’s fabric protection (Guardsman).
2. Shiplap
Thick white shiplap hung horizontally is a great way to make a statement and elevate the space. If you’re looking for high impact, you can do all 4 walls in a room in the shiplap but even just doing the accent wall in a room is a great way to bring in the farmhouse element.
A crisp white shiplap will be the most classic color, my personal favorite is “Pure White” by Sherwin Williams. If you want to go more modern, you can opt to paint the shiplap a different color like gray, black, or navy. If you want to go more country farmhouse, you can do a distressed white.
3. Mix Textures
The modern farmhouse style is all about mixing your textures. Make a mental check list as you’re designing the room – do I have something in a tight weave, a thick weave, a smooth finish, a rough finish, etc.
For a tight weave, this will likely be your large scale furniture pieces or curtains and most of your pillows. Natural rugs are one of the best ways to add a large thick woven texture to the room, some of my favorites are made with jute or sisal. You can also go for a more global look by layering a smaller patterned rug over a large natural rug like the beautiful room shown above by Rooms for Rent. Baskets are another great way to add a thick natural texture.
Your accessories are a great way to bring in the smooth and rough finishes. Think glass and metal for your smooth finishes. For your rough finishes you could use concrete elements, galvanized metals, or distressed woods. If you are going for a more modern look, choose more smooth and sleek finishes. If you want more of a country farmhouse look, add more distressed woods especially in your larger pieces like tables.
4. Linen
One of the most popular textures true to the modern farmhouse style is linen. For your largest piece in the room, opt for linen (sofa, bed comforter, dining chairs, etc.) If you are worried about the durability of linen, you could also use a thick cotton canvas fabric – if done in white, you can easily bleach it.
Another great way to add a large scale dose of linen to the room is with your curtains. If you are going to buy linen curtains, make sure they have been pretreated for UV light or they will yellow over time. I typically recommend going with cotton drapery that has a linen-like texture. White is always classic and easily goes with anything in the room but you could also opt for a pattern like I did in this dining room. It works in this room because there is no other large scale pattern in the room to compete with.
5. Greenery
In my opinion, every room needs a pop of greenery regardless of the style. For the modern farmhouse style, plants are a key element to making a room look more inviting and casual. If you want more of a modern look, look for plants with a more defined line (palms, figs, succulents), and if you want more of a country look add in bushier plants like topiaries or olive trees.
If you don’t have a green thumb (like me!), you can easily find realistic looking plants these days. Some of my favorite places to shop for greenery are TJMaxx/Home Goods, Hobby Lobby, and Kirklands. You could also add your greenery in with stems placed in a vintage pot or seeded glass vase. Last, a wreath layered over a mirror is one of the most popular looks true to the modern farmhouse style.
