Essentials of Farmhouse Interior Design

Farmhouse kitchen design with the Diehl Adjustable Brass Cabinet Pull, Hurston Pull-Down Bridge Kitchen Faucet in Matte Black

What is Farmhouse Design?

Centuries before it became a design style, “farmhouse” merely referred to the dwelling of farmers, built using whatever surrounding materials they had on hand. Designed solely around functionality and comfort, farmhouses supported the busy lifestyle of farmers while providing solace after a hard day's work.

As building materials, running water, and electricity became more accessible in the rural areas farmhouses were being built, what we know as farmhouse design emerged. The addition of these indoor luxuries paired with the abundant use of natural materials made the perfect blend, inadvertently creating the warm, cozy charm that defines farmhouse interior design.

Farmhouse Vs. Modern Farmhouse Design

You may be wondering the difference between traditional farmhouse style and its popular descendant, modern farmhouse. As with any contemporary iteration, modern farmhouse interiors blend current trends and luxuries with the original style’s favored elements. Airier tones, polished surfaces, luxe materials, and minimalist silhouettes are commonly used in modern farmhouse decor, adding a sense of openness and refinement to the traditionally rustic farmhouse qualities.

Farmhouse kitchen with Strasbourg Solid Brass Cabinet Pull in Black, 33" Torun Fireclay Farmhouse Sink in Matte Black

Achieve the Farmhouse Look in Your Home

To achieve the coveted farmhouse look, your home doesn't need a huge wraparound porch or rest on acreage of farmland. A few key farmhouse characteristics can be followed to achieve an inviting, countrified feel inside your home, whether you're on a farm or in the middle of suburbia.

Let Natural Materials Lead the Way

Constructed from readily available materials, authentic farmhouses heavily featured natural elements like wood, stone, and brick. Left unfinished, the unique grain patterns and textures of these materials brought immense character to these humble homes. For an unmistakable farmhouse look, it’s all about incorporating these organic textures through your main fixtures and furniture pieces.

As seen in our Ayanna Mindi Double Vanity, a wood foundational piece adds instant warmth and charm to the room. Farmhouse design isn’t full of flashy statement pieces but, rather, understated ones that showcase simple, dependable materials.

An alternative to wood, you may also see farmhouse furniture in equally-as-alluring bamboo. Regenerating much quicker than trees, bamboo makes for an eco-conscious choice that’s true to the readily available nature of original farmhouses. Shown by our Burfield Bamboo Double Vanity, this material offers a unique, eye-catching texture of its own.

72" Ayanna Mindi Double Vanity in Natural Mindi for rustic bathroom ideas

Reference a Rich History Through Copper

When choosing the metals in your home, be sure to include those that were prevalently used in original farmhouses, such as copper. Our oldest metal, copper was commonly found from the hidden to the exposed fixtures as it was reliable and widely available. In homes today, copper emits a rich history whenever it's used, not to mention a lived-in look that can’t be matched by modern alternatives.

Our Paxton Copper Slipper Pedestal Tub, for example, features a hammered texture and a warm sheen with stunning natural variation, exhibiting how this metal brings character to a room unlike any other. A sought-after choice to this day, copper tubs are not only eye-catching but incredibly easy to maintain while keeping your water warmer for longer.

For a more modern interpretation, consider using this material in a sleeker silhouette, as shown by our Raksha Hammered Copper Japanese Soaking Tub. Still teeming with charm, a Japanese soaking tub offers a simple shape that complements contemporary spaces and lets the material speak for itself.

59" Paxton Copper Slipper Pedestal Tub for farmhouse bathroom

Set a Comforting Tone

One of the best ways to bring a farmhouse look together is through color palette. Take the natural materials you started with—these will serve as the base of your palette. Pull from the stunning variation found in stone, wood, and copper with shades of beige, taupe, brown, gray, and black. These will instantly create cohesion within the room while keeping the materials your focal point.

The perfect way to incorporate your finishes, seek options like brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze to blend in seamlessly to your farmhouse design. These can be used from cabinet hardware to faucets to shower systems, as seen in our Cooper Bathroom Collection.

For those who prefer a more colorful palette, navy blues, muted greens, deep reds, and rusty oranges are also welcome in farmhouse designs. These colors complement natural tones beautifully while creating an ultra-comforting atmosphere.

Cooper Freestanding Tub Filler with Hand Shower in Oil Rubbed Bronze for farmhouse bathroom

Charm Up Entryways with Barn Doors

A farmhouse design simply isn’t complete without barn doors. Used to separate rooms, to hide a pantry, or as closet doors in your farmhouse bedroom, barn doors can easily replace standard doors around your home to truly embrace the countrified feel.

While traditional barn doors offer a classic farmhouse look, in more modern homes, you may benefit from minimalist options such as our Polson Bi-Fold Barn Door. These offer a subtle nod to barns without feeling inauthentic to the build of your home.

For a hassle-free setup, opt for a barn door hardware kit. Available in a wide selection of designs, finding the right hardware to complement your door style is made easy.

78" Bowden Top-Mount Barn Door Hardware Kit in Black for modern farmhouse interior

Combine Beauty & Practicality

The underlying role of farmhouse design is to serve practicality. To achieve this in your home, seek hardworking pieces with function that inspires its form.

Take farmhouse sinks, for instance. A staple in busy homes to this day for good reason, their deep, spacious basins not only accommodate large pots and pans but can be used for various tasks like watering plants or bathing little ones. Although designed out of necessity, the oversized, apron-front look happens to stand out in kitchens or mudrooms for its simple, timeless beauty, as evident by our 36" Mitzy Reversible Fireclay Farmhouse Sink.

Keep this principle in mind across all areas of the home—including comfort when it comes to seating in your farmhouse living room and flow when it comes to the overall layout. Everything should work together to effortlessly support your everyday routines and rituals.

36" Mitzy Fireclay Reversible Farmhouse Sink with Fluted Front in White for farmhouse kitchen design

Aim for Authenticity

For a farmhouse look that veers far from “theme” territory, seek pieces that embody a certain farmhouse element as opposed to choosing those that scream “farmhouse.” Items labeled as farmhouse decor can come off as cliche, often pigeonholing this understated, broad-spanning design style.

Join your new, high-quality fixtures and furnishings with salvaged materials, beloved heirlooms, and secondhand finds to achieve a lived-in look full of character. When all brought together, your carefully selected details will complete the farmhouse aesthetic in a way that’s authentic to you and your space.

Arvo Solid Brass Contemporary Cabinet Pull in Matte Black. Keeton Cast Iron Shelf Bracket in Black for farmhouse interior design

Farmhouse Design Tips by Room

In the Kitchen

The heart of any farmhouse is the kitchen, making this room a great starting point with your design plans. When it comes to your sink setup, take your time finding the perfect farmhouse sink. These are available in an array of sizes and materials, in styles from rustic to minimalist, making it easy to meet your traditional or modern farmhouse kitchen goals.

Then it’s time to pair your farmhouse sink with a timeless faucet. We love how bridge faucets in particular offer old-fashioned charm with their exposed “bridge” connecting the hot and cold water supplies. If a pull-down faucet is a must-have for you, plenty are available with quaint detailing to complete a functional yet timeless farmhouse kitchen design.

To blend modern-age appliances into your lived-in look, bring the space together with antique-inspired appliance pulls for adorning ovens, refrigerators, and dishwashers. Designed to tie seamlessly into your cabinetry, these are available with cabinet pulls and knobs to match.

farmhouse kitchen design with the Toulouse Solid Brass Cabinet Pull in Brushed Nickel, 24" Reinhard Farmhouse Sink - White

Bellevue Bridge Kitchen Faucet With Sprayer

Rindahl Solid Brass Appliance Pull

Finnian Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet

Belfast Solid Brass Cabinet Pull

In the Bathroom

Creating a cozy farmhouse atmosphere can be tricky in a room where cleanliness takes priority. To bring ample warmth into your farmhouse bathroom, trade cold, uninviting materials for teak or bamboo when possible. These organic materials naturally withstand moisture while adding textural charm, making ideal options for a farmhouse vanity as well as mirrors, shelving, and bath mats.

For further warmth, take advantage of the many metallic surfaces throughout the bathroom, opting for warm-toned finishes. Copper fixtures are an excellent choice, which are commonly formed into unique freestanding tubs as well as vessel sinks. Brass is another stunning option for farmhouse bathrooms, which can be used from faucets to shower systems to create an inviting, golden glow.

In full bathrooms, be sure to reserve a space for your farmhouse centerpiece: a luxurious freestanding tub. Those made from cast iron, copper, or stainless steel are classic farmhouse options, though more modern materials like acrylic can also be found in charming silhouettes. For an authentic look, you can’t go wrong with a slipper tub or clawfoot tub.