Decorating Farmhouse Style
Originally, farmhouses were decorated with whatever was handy and practical. These days more thought goes into decorating “farmhouse style”, but practicality is still an important factor. If you are a flea market and yard sale aficionado, you can hunt for and find many treasures. Combine your vintage and new treasures and it all comes together. When you buy new, don’t match anything.
For instance, don’t get a couch and matching loveseat. Pair your new couch or loveseat with a couple of vintage side chairs upholstered in a print fabric. Casual and practical, slipcovers can help lend a relaxed and soft feeling to a room. They’re not necessarily cheaper than reupholstering pieces, but the advantage is that you can take them off and wash them whenever you need. You can also put slipcovers on wood dining chairs to create a soft new look. Styles and materials can be all mixed up; that’s part of the charm.
Wood floors always look better with an area rug. These days, many new area rugs come with a faded look that helps create that vintage look. Or, peruse those swap meets, someone out there is replacing an area rug that will look great in your house!
Using reclaimed barn board is a great way to add some history and character to a home. It can be used on floors, walls, shelving—the list goes on. Butcher block counters are great in farmhouse kitchens because they keep the look relaxed. They have a great rustic quality and will stay in good shape as long as you treat them regularly. If all butcher block is too much, consider an island. A no-brainer for country kitchens, apron sinks practically scream farmhouse. Mix them with some shaker-style cabinets and you’re guaranteed a farmhouse look.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when decorating in farmhouse style is ‘don’t rush.’ Charm and character can’t be bought in a day. Don’t buy just for the sake of buying, but instead peruse, meander, and collect. Decorate with things that have meaning, whether they’re brand new or decades old.
