Made popular as the star of home design shows, the modern farmhouse is seen in neighborhoods across the nation. However, several design industry reports show that interior design trends are changing direction, and homeowners are looking for a fresh take on the farmhouse. Transitional, contemporary and traditional aesthetics align more closely with emerging priorities for homeowners, that include bold expression, sustainability and personally meaningful decor.
This presents a design dilemma for current and would-be modern farmhouse owners, of which there are many. Houseplans.com reports that the farmhouse is their best seller by a wide margin and continues to grow as a percentage of the overall sales. Its pragmatic design and scalability sustain the popularity of the floor plan, despite a shift in interior design trends.
How can homeowners keep the warmth of the traditional modern farmhouse, while embracing current trends? Is a full remodel for existing homeowners, or choosing another floor plan altogether for new home buyers necessary? The solution is simpler than you might think.
Here are some suggestions on how to easily modify design and decor to create a transitional farmhouse aesthetic, versus modern farmhouse.
Swap Out Distressed Decor for Authentically Vintage
While modern farmhouse decor includes rustic, vintage pieces, they are often deliberately distressed or weathered, as opposed to offering authentic patina from age and experience. In that sense, the farmhouse aesthetic can be perceived as manufactured, whereas true vintage pieces have a unique quality that elevates and personalizes your decor.
It’s even better if the vintage pieces come with a backstory as a family heirloom, to forge deeper emotional connection. This subscribes to other current trends: designing for joy and nostalgia.
“To make your aesthetic more tangible and long lasting, look at it from a comfort sensibility. For example, look for things that are meaningful to you, items you grew up with, or family pieces, as those always have a sense of comfort and belonging,” says designer Andrea Sinkin of Andrea Sinkin Design,
Create Visual Texture
A staple of the farmhouse aesthetic is matching finishes, particularly with trim, fixtures and hardware. There is a lost opportunity to add texture here visually, which is being reintroduced with the mixing metal trend.
The modern farmhouse usually has all-black, matching fixtures and hardware. Swap these out and mix metals for rich color and texture. Sinkin suggests brushed brass, aged nickel or satin nickel, for a less shiny look.
For additional visual and tactile texture, “Bring in different finishes, textures and materials, and mix organic materials like grass, cloth, raffia, rope, wool and cotton, and then also have different variable depths of textures, like spongy blankets and linens,” she says.
Replace Barn Doors
Having doors to close off space is an important design detail, especially in an open-concept floor plan, or if you have a home office or flex room where privacy is required. In the modern farmhouse aesthetic barn doors do double duty, playing a decorative function, in addition to separating space.
There are a number of options to update this look. Replace barn doors with pocket doors, concealed when not in use. If privacy isn’t necessary, think about removing them altogether for a minimalist look, or reconfiguring doorways and walls where the barn doors hang for a half-wall, a hybrid between open and closed space.
Bring Bold Color Into the Kitchen
In addition to introducing mixed metal hardware for color and texture, embrace bold colors in your kitchen design. Modern farmhouse kitchens tend to be all white, while colorful kitchens are one of the strongest kitchen trends currently.
If you don’t have time or budget to do a full kitchen remodel, look to cabinets and appliances for bold splashes of color. Consider repainting cabinets or refacing or replacing doors if you’d prefer a different, sleeker cabinet front, from the typical farmhouse shaker style .Kitchen appliances are available in a broad range of exciting colors, and make beautiful focal points.
Remove Shiplap
Shiplap definitely had a moment over the last decade, but this iconic piece of farmhouse decor is out. It was featured prominently on accent walls.
Accent walls are getting refreshed in unexpected ways in 2025, so replace shiplap walls with textured wood tiles, fluting, colorful wallpaper or even greenery with a living wall.
Remove Hand-Painted Signs And Curate Artwork
Every room in a modern farmhouse likely has a hand-painted sign or two, usually on barnwood or distressed wood, featuring inspirational quotes.
Sinkin advises homeowners to remove those signs and curate art and accents from “antique stores and garage sales, for art that isn’t new. Look for old paintings that are aged with patina to mix into the modern farmhouse,” she says.
Beyond framed artwork, Sinkin suggests textiles for a unique look. “Change out throws on the couch, with textiles that are timeless, or include tapestries or rugs.”
Here are other some easy ways to refresh your modern farmhouse in context of current trends:
Keep wood but change the finish. Rough-hewn woods abound in farmhouse style. Go for treated woods with polish, for a more modern look.
Update lighting. Farmhouse lighting tends to be industrial looking, with cage and globe fixtures prominent. Update fixtures with contemporary choices, or look for other, textured materials, like rattan or wood.
Get rid of open shelves. Open shelves are popular farmhouse accents for displaying treasures. However, concealed storage and clutter-free is trending in kitchen design. Remove shelves and create more storage, out of sight.
Replace apron sink. An apron sink is definitely modern farmhouse style but replacing it with a multi-purpose undermount workstation sink will update your kitchen and improve functionality.
Focus on furnishings. Change out oversize, rustic furniture for more compact designs that embrace silhouettes, curves and contemporary lines
