Farmhouse style is a favorite among designer crowds for its timeless and storied look, but it’s also popular with the general population because it prioritizes a comfortable, practical, unpretentious lifestyle. What’s not to love? But that being said, farmhouse style is truly at its greatest when updated with contemporary items, from cutting-edge appliances to forward-thinking artwork, to align a home with the way we live today. So if you’re looking for ways to put a modern spin on the timeless aesthetic, you’re in the right place to learn from the best. Ahead, discover the farmhouse decor trademarks—from exposed beams to subway tiles, antique accents, rustic bones, and more—in exemplary rooms to get a sense of how House Beautiful’s favorite designers give the farmhouse look a modern spin to create spaces that are both fresh and timeless.
It’s approachable and cozy to live in, yet “the details stop and make you pay attention,” says Jeffrey Dungan, the designer and architect behind this primary bathroom. A separate niche spotlights the glamorous bathtub to create a visual moment—and an inviting place to soak.
Cool white paint lacquered pops against the brass fixtures and gilt decor in this modern farmhouse kitchen designed by Andrew Flesher. A still life is decidedly old-world and the exposed beams and low ceiling locate the home distinctly in the countryside, but everything else is truly contemporary.
Juan Carretero lacquered the ceiling of this dining room to make it feel slightly higher and airier while also giving us a taste of the rest of the fun surprises, from the modern dining chairs, an oil painting on the mantel, and a vintage Art Deco floral rug.
Modern Scandinavian design meets farmhouse style in this bright white living space for photographer Vitoria Pearson. White paint, rough flooring, and modern prints make the room feel cutting-edge, there’s also a bohemian sensibility that makes it super approachable and laidback.
Floral wallpaper defines the sweet farmhouse character in the home of And Studio founder Arianna De Gasperis. A linen headboard with matching bedding, an organic contemporary side table, and a modern sconce bring the bedroom to the 21st-century.
Metallic surfaces are a welcome surprise in this farmhouse bathroom designed by McLaren.Excel. The swanky custom gold details, industrial matte and concrete materials, and warm wood paneling proves to be a modern farmhouse trifecta.
Bold colors can go a long way. Designed by Kureck Jones, this farmhouse entryway gets a whole new personality from blue-painted floors and a bright orange front door.
A traditional armchair gets a second life with contemporary boucle fabric, which looks especially cozy against the all cream and pale pink backdrop designed by Kristin Fine. The color palette helps soften the darker wood exposed beam on the ceiling.
This farmhouse dining room by Mise en Scène for Hadas Dembo in her upstate New York family home strikes that careful balance between formal and approachable.
Sometimes all it takes is a modern light fixture and offbeat paint color to modernize a farmhouse. An old bedside table, jute rug, and color-block linen bedding keep the bedroom by Fiona Lynch casual and simple.
Anchored by soft pistachio paint color and terra cotta floors tiles, this contemporary country kitchen designed by Heidi Caillier is calming yet bold, and an area rug introduces just a touch of softness. The marble backsplash and brass hardware nod to both tradition and modernity.
Nothing says “farmhouse” like a pitcher filled with wildflowers. The oil paintings and console make the space an English countryside impression while the houndstooth area rug and abstract print liven things up in this entryway by Andrew Flesher.
Subtle details—like the off-center placement of the pendant light—give this California kitchen by Reath Design a subtly modern undertone. A pleated skirt, exposed bricks, terra cotta tiles, and pendant lamp all bring a country feel to the more modern marble.
A long hanging pendant accentuates the high ceilings and plays on the fancy feel of this kitchen space designed by Cathy Chapman, yet the farmhouse-style sink keeps it approachable.
Playful table lamps, a reclaimed pillar-turned-side table, and modern artwork give this eclectic farmhouse bedroom designed by Andrew Flesher a modern edge.
Hip Scandinavian minimalism meets historic upstate design at Inness, a new Hudson Valley hotel designed by Post Company. For a similar look, practice restraint with a neutral palette, mix contemporary pieces with antique ones, and embrace texture.
Hadley Mendelsohn
Senior Editor
Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful’s senior editor, and when she’s not busy obsessing over all things decor-related, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again.
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