Follow This Guide To Create A Modern Farmhouse Style Home!
What’s better than mixing two trendy styles together to create the best of both worlds? Nothing! The sleek and clean lines of modern style pairs well with the comfy, cozy, and full of charm look that the farmhouse style brings. In this guide, I will help you achieve a perfect balance of these two styles so that you can also enjoy the stunning beauty of this look at home! Follow this modern farmhouse guide to achieve this amazingly cozy home!
The fundamentals of Modern & farmhouse Style
Design Elements
In order to create that perfect balance of elements, you must know what the main characteristics are for both styles. What elements makes a farmhouse? What elements makes the modern style?
What makes a farmhouse is the use of traditional materials that are true and practical to their final looks. For example, exposed wood elements such as reclaimed wood beams, oak hard wood floorings, rattan materials, rustic metals, etc. None with a finished exterior and left alone with all the rawness to show through. It differs from the polished and clean finishes you see in modern styles. All these warm and earth tone materials will help contribute to that home-y and cozy vibe that is so characteristical of the farmhouse style.
Step One: 80/20 Balance Rule
When ever I am designing a mix of two styles, there are certain rules to follow in order to get that perfect balance. Too much of one style will overthrow the other making it look non cohesive, and as a result they won’t blend well.
The trick I use is the 80/20 rule where I will use 80% of a certain style for one aspect of the design and 20% for the remainder. For example, I will create the structural design elements of the home (floors, wall colour, doors, trims, lighting, floor layout) to reflect the style sense of a farmhouse home. The last 20% will be dedicated to the furniture and decor elements of the modern style. This way both styles have a chance to shine through in their own glory without getting lost in the room.
The 80% Farmhouse Elements - Colour
Focus a lot of your decision in choosing a colour. This starts with learning the proper use of colour, which is single-handedly the most important element in any design. Colour helps set up that very important mood and vibe of the space that you are trying to create.
Neutrals are your friend when creating a modern farmhouse interior. A neutral palette will blend the new trendy style of modernism with the old traditional and rustic style of farmhouse. The trick is to use warm colours that evoke warmth, with a smooth and glossy paint finish. Think greige, cremes, greys, browns, off whites, etc. These colours will create that perfect back drop that will help blend everything together, as well as give off that cozy and warm vibe.
The 80% Farmhouse Elements - Charming Structural Elements
Keep all the structural elements of the design clean and crisp, but with a traditional charming design ornamentation . For example, you will add these nuance and intricate details into the doors casings, trims, walls, etc.
Instead of a plain flat door, add clean ornimentional designs to the casing. This will add to the farmhouse charm and character when everything comes together.
The 80% Farmhouse Elements - Natural Lighting
Lighting is very important in a farmhouse style home. Ample lighting coming into the space will make it feel open and inviting. Although we will use artificial lighting, they are more for adding further charm and character to the space. Your main source of lighting should be coming from outside.
Opt to add large windows anywhere you can! This will allow as much natural lighting to seep into your home making you feel cozy and in tune with your home. Further more, if you use a lot of white colours in your home, the light will bounce around the room easier making your space feel larger than it is!
The 80% Farmhouse Elements - Wood & Natural Materials
The main characteristic that everyone associates farmhouse with is the use of a lot of wood and natural elements through out the design. Aside from the modern use of polished and clean looking modern building materials, wood and other natural materials have flaws and look rustic. This is good because it’s exactly these nuances in the material that adds more charm and character!
Use them everywhere! On your ceilings, wood support beams, flooring, fire place, kitchen island, accent walls, etc. Don’t be afraid if the wood has lots of big flaws such as cracks, holes, burns. This only adds to the final look that you are going for.
Final 20% Modern Style - Furniture & Decor
Now that you have the majority of the design down, it’s time to add your secondary style elements. I usually add this element into the furniture and decor. The modern look usually comprises of minimal design, clean straight lines, polished/shiny textures, and neutral colours.
It is important that you keep the patterns and textures minimalistic and neutral. You don’t want bold and crazy patterns on your sofa and pillows because that will clash with every else and will throw the look off.
High Quality Furniture
One final tip I can give you is, invest in high quality furniture because it can literally make or break the look as well
Seriously, you and others will be able to tell the difference between a $500 sofa apart from a $2000+ one. This is one area I usually tell my clients to splurge on because not only will it elevate the look, but they will save more over the long run!
That’s it! Now go and create the look you guys want. Visit “Shop The Look” to browse pieces to add to your design. Leave a comment below, like, and share if you loved the blog!
Designers
Leonardo Bravo
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