Unlike the fairy tale style of cottage chic, which captures an idealised rural life, modern farmhouse focuses on functionality and simplicity, with simple furniture, elegant details, refined colours and a dose of Old England.
If you love the farmhouse style but don’t want your bedroom to look dated anytime soon, the modern farmhouse style is perfect.
How can you get the modern farmhouse look?
You don’t need exposed beams and floorboards for the modern farmhouse look. Any bedroom will do, and the key is to create a homely space without introducing any white elements. Otherwise, you’ll go all cottage chic on us!
Here’s how to get the modern farmhouse look:
Less rustic, more modern
The basic theme of your bedroom should be modern, with only a few touches of raw elements. The lighting needs to be cool and crisp, the furniture should be simple, and the colours should be neutral with a moody accent.
Simple, natural wooden bed frame
A simple wooden bed frame will anchor your design. Avoid dark and light wood finishes favouring a medium finish like oak or stained pine.
The Flintshire Gladstone is a beautiful oak bed frame for a modern farmhouse bedroom, or if you prefer a simpler style, the Nordic Mill Vega is a good option. Pick any style you like but make sure the finish is a medium stain.
Pictured: Flintshire Gladstone 4FT 6 Double Wooden Bed Frame, Available from Bedstar. The Online Bed Superstore.
Modern metals for décor
Your wall lights, bedside lamps, décor and door hardware, should be modern metals like brass, stainless steel and painted metal. Avoid aged and antique metals because these are synonymous with the industrial style.
Match your furniture to your bed frame
Simplicity is the basic building block of the modern farmhouse style, so mismatched furniture is at odds. Match your bedroom furniture in colour and style to your bed frame keep a consistent theme across the space.
Neutrals are essential base colours
A neutral colour pallet blends old and new elements, bringing cohesion to the modern farmhouse style. Your walls should be white, but you can play with neutral colours that are muted to add character to your bedroom.
Muted greys, greens, beiges and tans are all considered complimentary to white, so you can use them to inject a little personality.
Go navy blue for an aura of sophistication
Something wonderful happens to the modern farmhouse style with a navy/dusky blue feature wall – it becomes a space of sophistication. Unlike neutrals, dark blue is elegant and moody, and it gets along perfectly with wooden furniture.
Put a tree in your bedroom corner
An indoor tree like the Ficus Benjamina Anastasia or the Fishtail Palm in the corner of your bedroom will take your modern farmhouse style to another level. Nature softens and opens up spaces, creating a welcoming, free-sprinted vibe.
Industrial ceiling lights are your best friend
Scrap your fabric ceiling shade for a metal pendant light. Not only do pendant lights look fantastic, but they can be as eloquent or as simple as you like.
A farmhouse chandelier is always a great option if you have high ceilings, or if you have low ceilings, you can go for a pendant light bar that sits almost flush against the ceiling. The trick is to scatter light in interesting ways to make it a feature.
Go for a mid-colour temperature range
You don’t want bright white lighting, but you want it to be crisp. The ideal colour temperature (kelvin) for the modern farmhouse style is 3,500K to 4,000K. 3,500K has a hint of yellow that we like, but 4,000K is crisper with a clinical vibe.
Overall
Modern farmhouse is an attractive interior style because it shuns cottage idealism, favouring simple, functional living. It is perfect if you love barn conversions and new country style, shunning industrialisation for a crisper vibe.