Farmhouse style has stood the ultimate test of time and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, anytime soon – but what is it about the modern farmhouse charm that has such a firm hold on our hearts and homes?
A brush-up on the history of the classic farmhouse style – where did it originate?
Farms and homes have both existed in mutually beneficial relationships for hundreds if not thousands of years. But the idea of the farmhouse style as we know it today didn’t come into being until around the 16th and 17th centuries, first in Europe and then on to America.
For most of its existence, farmhouse style wasn’t something created with an aesthetic purpose. It was more of a type of home that served a specific purpose – to provide shelter and warmth to farmers and their families.
Materials and practicality
These farm family homes were usually quite modest and were built with the idea of sturdy stability in mind, as opposed to the other more frivolous styles that can be found through history like victorian, neoclassical, or baroque.
The raw and rough materials that are all still the main theme of the farmhouse decor trends seen today are there for a reason. For years, farmhouses were built with materials that were readily available and study like wood and stone from nearby fields and mountains.
Life on the farm was tough and the families that lived in farmhouses, were busy day in and day out, which didn’t afford them much time for things like decorating the walls. Explaining why the modern farmhouse decor that we see today has notes of minimalism and simplicity. Because the farmhouse dwellers of the past were the original minimalists.
The home was a safe haven at the end of a long hard day, as people would gather around the farmhouse table and rest
Finally, although farmhouses weren’t known for their elaborate decor or fancy delicate furniture, they were known for their warmth and coziness.
A large fireplace was necessary for keeping the whole house toasty on cold winter nights on the farm, and the kitchen had to be large enough to prepare meals for the whole workforce; A.K.A, all the family members. Hence why modern farmhouse style today often centers around the kitchen as the jewel of the home.
What does modern farmhouse decor look like today?
Around the end of the 20th century, a more stylized farmhouse style trend began to appear not only in farmhouses themselves but also in urban dwellings as well. Things like red and white checkered curtains, rustic signs, farm animal figurines, and rich red tones began popping up in homes left and right.
But today, farmhouse style is a bit closer to its actual roots. Simplified, natural, and minimalistic.
Wooden floors, incorporated stone or iron, neutral-toned walls, cozy rugs, and hand-made or antique-looking furniture like the popular Farmhouse Table, are all key elements of the modern farmhouse style we know and love today.
Why do we still love the modern farmhouse style today?
It’s an interesting phenomenon that as the world grows more technologic, fast-paced, and seemingly chaotic, the style trends revert to a more simple, comforting, and nostalgic place.
Farmhouse style brings our living spaces closer to nature and back to our roots so to say. The Farmhouse Table shot into popularity as the pandemic hit the world with full force, proving that in times of chaos, people crave comfort and an escape from our modern and often cold world.
Bonus tips on how to incorporate modern farmhouse style in your own home
Keeping things in line with the authentic farmhouse style of years past, wall decor, and color schemes should never be overpowering. Simple framed photos or paintings can be added to walls, but too much clutter or too many bold wall hangings defeats the purpose of the quaint and modern farmhouse look.
Walls don’t necessarily need to be all white like you see in so many “rustic” home renovation shows on TV, but keeping things neutral, simple and bright, is a key element of the modern farmhouse charm.
A great way to add the perfect eye-catching pop of color to an otherwise muted pallet is by incorporating a rustic and handmade Farmhouse Table.
The Farmhouse Table has customizable styles, tabletops, and colors for easy incorporation into all kinds of homes. Decorate the Farmhouse Table with fresh flowers, placed in a glass jar, antique milk jug, or any other well-loved and rustic-looking vase, to top off a well-curated farmhouse dining room.