The REAL shabby chic: How to do farmhouse style the right way
A country style vignette of carved wooden bowl, neutral linens, and dried flowers. Design: Time & Place Interiors
If you’re soaking in the days of Summer at your beach house, or looking forward to time away at your Upstate country house in the Fall, the shabby chic/farmhouse style may be on your mind. It’s a style that gets tons of attention, but can sometimes be overdone with, if I put it frankly, gimmicky exaggeration.
Let’s talk about ways to do the farmhouse style better. It boils down to seeking authentic subtlety, moving away from faux “distressed” finishes and contrived reproductions of old-time styles.
A nuanced, classy approach to farmhouse style highlights natural materials, integration with the surrounding landscape, the use of original antiques, and appreciation for handmade artisan crafts. For visual balance, throwing in a few modern accents goes a long way, too. These decorating ideas can easily be applied not only to country houses, but also to city apartments for those who want a relaxed look for everyday living.
For a guided lesson in how to do farmhouse style right, take a look at the design inspirations below, noting their fresh authenticity and use of furnishings and accents with subtle integrity. And for more tips on country house design, check out my post, A recipe for the perfect farmhouse kitchen.
Furnish with true antiques
Antiques are the perfect ingredient for real shabby chic, country house appeal. Avoid “distressed” replicas in favor of authentic pieces that show true signs of lived experience. In a farmhouse, patina is your friend.
An antique chair with ticking fabric makes for an elegant corner in an Upstate country house guest bedroom. Design: Billy Cotton / Photo: Steven Kent Johnson
Accessorize with primitive decor
Simple, streamlined accessories with textures of unfinished wood, wabi-sabi pottery, or primitive enamel pitchers in neutral tones give unpretentious visual pleasure to countryside interiors. For styling inspiration, see From clutter to collection: How to style your decor.
Neutral accents like imperfect antiques, natural materials, and even collected rocks give integrity to a country house kitchen. Design & Photo: Cassandra Ellis
Turn up the texture factor
Layer natural fabrics like blankets and rugs for coziness. Go for artisan-made or vintage textiles like Persian or Moroccan wool rugs, cashmere or linen throws, and sheepskin pelts that reflect timeless traditions.
Layered neutral textiles in linen and wool create a feeling of comfort in a lakeside cabin whose walls are lined with salvaged wood. Points for the juxtaposition of a modern ceiling light. Design: Jo and John Morfoot for Settle / Photo: India Hobson of Haarkon
Simplify your color palette
Pare down colors to create soothing calmness. Try Shaker style furniture and simple classic shapes to create a visually relaxing atmosphere.
Simple designs like primitive furniture, a vintage Turkish rug, and Danish swing arm lamp are limited to a neutral color palette while emphasizing texture and shape. Design: Elizabeth Starks and Jacob Sackett / Photo: Christian Harder
Use nature for decor
Look to your yard, nature trails, or seaside for natural decor of foraged pieces like branches, twigs, field flowers, or rocks and shells that you can display on tabletops, floor urns, or bud vases. For more ideas, see my post, Fresh ways to bring the outdoors into your home.
Sheathes of wheat add height and texture to a streamlined living room style. Design: Nikki Amodio / Photo: Joyelle West
Preserve salvaged fixtures
Try to retain original fixtures like antique plumbing products, old door hardware, and other architectural details to imbue your space with unapologetic imperfection.
The outside of an antique claw-footed tub was smartly left unpainted in a Hudson Valley home. Design: Amanda Pays / Photo: Rebecca Westby
Make the ordinary extraordinary
Don’t be shy about making your space looked lived in. Displaying your everyday utilitarian wares in an attractive fashion, such as on a rustic peg rail or in a handmade basket. For more tips on on storage and organization with a design eye, read Why your storage should double as decor.
Cleaning equipment and outdoor gear are attractively displayed out in the open in a vacation bungalow. Design: Tamar Barnoon / Photo: Laure Joliet
Need helping making your farmhouse style look authentic?
Time & Place Interiors specializes in combining traditional with modern to make your home come alive with character and good taste. To explore ways of making your design project look authentic, use the link below to schedule a free 20-minute information call with founder Ksenya Malina.
