If you want to change your farmhouse decor for a new one or make your home unique, then this guide is made for you.

First of all, what is farmhouse decor?

The apparently mixed elements of farmhouse decor are convenience and practicability, simplicity and coziness.

Since farmhouse decor dates back to America’s earliest settlers, they embody natural and easily available materials, textures and colors. For instance, the fact that wood was widely available made wood elements a design staple in farmhouse design.

If you want to change your farmhouse decor for a new one or make your home unique, then this guide is made for you.

First of all, what is farmhouse decor?

The apparently mixed elements of farmhouse decor are convenience and practicability, simplicity and coziness.

Since farmhouse decor dates back to America’s earliest settlers, they embody natural and easily available materials, textures and colors. For instance, the fact that wood was widely available made wood elements a design staple in farmhouse design.

Farmhouse design is also known for its mix of old and new, along with features that don’t necessarily match perfectly. Vintage and conventional furniture and accessories, antiques and knick-knacks work together to give farmhouse spaces personality and a feeling of history.

In short, in cottage decorating you usually see a lot of the following things:

  • Comfortable but functional furniture (think clean and cozy)
  • Wood, stone and other natural elements
  • Earthy white and neutral tones
  • A mix of old and new with non-matching elements

Farmhouse elements become decorating staples

Although the farmhouse style of interior decorating is distinctive, some farmhouse elements are becoming so popular that they are now staples of modern interior design.

For instance, the clean look and brick design of white subway tiles are ideal for farmhouse interiors. However, subway tiles have become so popular that they have transcended any decorating scheme, lending themselves to numerous looks.

Skirted sinks, which we now know as “farmhouse sinks,” are another cornerstone of farmhouse decor that has made its way into kitchens of all styles.

Ditto for typical farmhouse materials: the mix of metals and wooden architectural elements typical of farmhouse interiors have been, and continue to be, trending. As a result, farmhouse fixtures, as well as elements such as shiplap, barn doors, and ceiling beams fit well with a variety of decorating schemes.

What does this mean for farmhouse decor? 

Firstly, that it’s easy to add rustic style touches to the decor you already have, if you don’t want to go all out. And secondly, that you can seamlessly transition from farmhouse decor to another decorating style when you want to.

Farmhouse Transition

If you want to revamp your farmhouse decor or want to combine farmhouse elements with another style, we have some tips for using farmhouse decor with other design schemes. Similarities in styles, materials and elements will make the transition easy and without major changes.

1. Modern Farmhouse

Our first recommendation is perhaps the most obvious: the modern farmhouse.

Predictably, the modern farmhouse design is a modernized version of the classic farmhouse style. Consider something less rustic and more elegant.

For instance, modernizing your farmhouse decor, you could add:

  • Accent colors limited, often incorporating black
  • Brilliant textures
  • Raw surfaces
  • Contemporary stainless steel appliances
  • Countertops and other marble or granite-look surfaces
  • Contemporary lighting hardware

2. Contemporary

Turn to contemporary decor to further modernize your space. Contemporary decor is characterized by a simple yet sophisticated and contemporary style.

Such a transition becomes easy due to the fact that both farmhouse and contemporary decor feature neutral color schemes, sleek lines and architectural elements.

When moving from farmhouse to contemporary decorating, consider:

  • Add bright, bold accent colors.
  • Swap paneled appliances, often used in farmhouse decor to match cabinets, for stainless steel appliances and tiled surfaces to match countertops
  • Add contemporary furnishings (look for simple, uncluttered pieces in neutral colors and clean geometric shapes)
  • Replace worn or outdated vinyl and carpeting with modern materials, such as ceramic tile (wood-look tiles would look good)
  • Replace light fixtures with more modern fixtures.
  • Change contemporary art
  • Incorporate architectural details

3. Minimalism

Farmhouse decor is often more ornate than minimalism, but the mostly white or neutral farmhouse color scheme provides the right foundation for an easy transition.

In order to transition from farmhouse style to minimalism, look for ways to simplify your decor. For example:

  • Remove knick-knacks, as well as excessive fixtures or furniture. You want a clean, uncluttered look.
  • Implement a monochromatic color scheme. Think whites, beiges and/or grays.
  • Opt for simple, beautiful materials with no visual distractions. Calibrated porcelain tile panels/slabs are a favorite for minimalist decorating because of their minimal grout lines and sleek styles.

4. Biophilic Design

Biophilic design-introducing natural elements into the home-can be incorporated into any existing decorating style.

Cottage decor already has a number of biophilic elements to start with, such as wood accents and neutral earth tones. To add even more biophilia to your cottage decor:

  • Incorporate more earth tones. No need to limit yourself to neutrals either: shades that evoke the forest, earth, sky or ocean work well. Green is a popular biophilic color.
  • Utilize natural materials, patterns, shapes and textures. Besides the look of wood, think about the look of stone, variegation, flowers and nature motifs. Remember to look for environmentally friendly materials, such as ceramic tiles.
  • Allow plenty of natural light in and add plants to your space.

5. Boho 

Bohemian styling looks are known for their individual expression, with inspiration coming from an extensive variety of sources. Nothing is “matchy-matchy” about boho decor, as it is a collected look with layers of natural and artistic pieces.

Farmhouse decor alone already has a foot in the door with its mix of old and new and mismatched elements. Moving even further afield:

  • Integrate bright, saturated colors and/or unique patterns.
  • Furnish your walls with wallpaper or wallpaper-look tiles, layered with photos, pictures and tapestries from your travels.
  • Make a one of a kind ceramic tile layout pattern.
  • Throw in unique accents to let your personality shine through.

6. Seasonal or Rotating Decor

A great thing about cottage decorating is that its neutral color palette is flawless for bringing in accent colors that can be cyclical.

And who doesn’t like refreshing their decor for the next season or vacation? or simply to have some fun?

Perhaps you decorate with bright, energetic colors like yellow, turquoise and pink in the summer and with autumnal tones like rust, maroon and moss in the fall. Or perhaps you’ll change colors and accents according to your mood or trends.

In any case, cottage base decor makes it easy to rotate accents in and out while maintaining a cohesive style.

Ease Transitions Using Ceramic Tile

Budget and maintenance are important to consider when considering an improvement, like a renovation or a change of décor. In order to understand the full life-cycle cost of a material, factor in not only the cost of purchasing and installing the materials, as well as the cost of maintaining them and how often you will or will not need to replace them.

The easy maintenance of ceramic tile means that your new décor will not add additional maintenance steps. Sweeping regularly and wiping with water is usually all that is needed to clean ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles are scratch, stain and fade resistant, so you can feel confident changing your décor, even moving furniture, without fear of exposing discolored areas.

Both available in a wide variety of design styles and durable enough to last for decades, ceramic tile will go great with any decorating scheme you choose for the next transition – and the next one, too! Given this, it’s no wonder that ceramic tile has the lowest life-cycle cost of all flooring options.

No matter what style you choose for your home, we hope these tips will help you feel prepared for your cottage decorating transition.