Farmhouse living room ideas don’t need you to live in an actual farmhouse. This is a state of mind, not an invitation to move to a rural area. Appreciation for the current farmhouse decor trend isn’t fading anytime soon, and we can see why. Relaxed, unfussy and inviting, this contemporary take on country style fits into almost any home – from new build and architect designed homes to historic buildings and modernist homes.
Neither overly decorative nor overly minimalist, this fresh update on farmhouse style combines rustic touches with an understated aesthetic. These living room ideas eschew ornate details in favor of more practical nods to rural interior design. The look draws heavily on laid-back California style, allowing mid-century furniture to feel right at home in a modern farmhouse living room, as do bold stone fireplaces, vintage textiles, and Shaker-inspired designs.
Commune Design’s Santa Anita project, featured below, successfully distills the essence of the trend into a tiny woodland home outside of LA. “We aim to bring together a variety of inspirations and references such as historic American cabins, traditional chalets, shakers and Japanese design, all within the framework of utility and function,” explain the designers.
To give you a better look at the trend, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite farmhouse home ideas guaranteed to inspire, plus a few insider tips and tricks from designers, architects and industry experts.
Farm living room ideas
1. Balance old with new
(Image credit: De Rosee Sa)
When London-based architects De Rosee Sa renovated this Edwardian house, the brief was to design a large rear extension that would complement the house’s original period details and character.
Inspired by current living room trends for Scandinavian and Californian interiors, the architects created a no-frills but inviting open-plan kitchen and living area. A generous window seat overlooks the garden, while the wood-burning stove, ceiling beams, and mid-century furniture give the space a cabin-like quality.
“Using a warm color palette and a structured aesthetic, the final scheme beautifully balances the old and the new,” say the architects.
2. Present collected treasures
(Image credit: Laura Fenton / Living Small)
We fell in love with interior designer Glenn Ban’s cozy East Hamptons cottage after spotting it in Laura Fenton’s book live small It is an intricately layered, country-style living space. In keeping with the beige living room trend, the taupe sofa keeps the white walls from feeling modern or austere.
‘I am always a collector, my home is full of treasures that I have amassed over the years,” says Glenn. “The chair and antique crate I use as a side table are antiques and the coffee table is a mid-century design by Adrian Pearsall. I anchored the room with a linen sofa and striped rug, and hung a collection of vintage photographs and paintings on the walls.
3. Embrace wood paneling
(Image credit: bed threads)
“This isn’t our permanent home, although sometimes I wish it was,” says designer Simone Haag of her Phillip Island weekend home.
The Anglers Shack, as it is known, was originally owned by her in-laws and has been lovingly transformed by the celebrated Australian interior designer.
“The spaces have remained pretty much the same,” says Simone, who wanted a “not-so-beachy” look for the renovated 1970s home, combining color and texture and channeling Californian cool for this cozy living room. Key to the cottage’s modern-rustic appeal are the pine paneling boards that have been fitted to the walls and, in the case of the living room, have been stained black for added depth and drama.
4. Upgrade the chimney
(Image credit: Adrian Gaut)
INNESS is a beautifully landscaped country retreat surrounded by rolling fields in upstate New York.
Designed by Post Company and Taavo Somer, the hotel features 28 cottages and a central 12-room farmhouse that overlooks the mountains and surrounding organic farm.
Pictured here is the lounge area in the hotel’s convivial restaurant, where a prominent fireplace extends to the timber-clad pitched roof.
“Design elements like vintage rugs, exposed beams, and a roaring fireplace give this inviting space a sense of familiarity,” say the designers, who wanted to create a space that felt like staying at a friend’s house.
5. Experiment with color
(Image credit: Turner Pocock)
“We strive to create spaces that are fun and comfortable,” says Emma Pocock of design studio Turner Pocock. “While more muted tones certainly have their place, especially when working with natural materials, we tend to stick to our TP aesthetic,” adds Emma, referring to the colorful coziness at this French mountain home.
Here, a bold shade of blue was used for the wall paneling. Accents of green and yellow nod to a mid-century palette, while the white-painted ceiling keeps the space from feeling cramped. Sofa trends for bold patterns can still be used in farmhouse living room ideas – just keep the print to two or three colors at most. Exposed beams, a chunky end table, and hardwood floors help keep the space on the right rustic.
6. Draw from tradition
(Image credit: Stephen Kent Johnson)
LA-based Commune Design drew on a variety of references to redesign the interior of this California hideaway in the Angeles National Forest.
“These included historic American cabins, traditional Swedish and French chalets, as well as Shaker and Japanese design,” according to the studio. “We chose a vintage Borge Mogensen daybed in original fabric and a vintage Bruno Mathsson armchair and a Shaker-inspired pole bar to keep everything off the ground. We wanted the interior to be unique and artisan, but not cliche in any way.”
The result of choosing this sober living room furniture is an understated and functional space that allows the original features of the cabin to shine.
7. Combine contrasting materials
(Image credit: Lisa Romerein)
San Francisco design firm Jute Home took inspiration from the surrounding wine country to furnish this newly built ranch in Sonoma County. “We tried to add texture and warmth without taking the eye away from the view, which is the real focal point,” says designer Alison Davin, who combined rustic wooden antiques with custom metal pieces and durable textiles like woven leather rugs.
“Here, the steel frame doors added a linear quality, so we designed a custom circular light fixture to balance the scheme,” explains Alison. “The console is an antique workbench that we repurposed to make the space more approachable.” This neutral living room idea easily translates to the rest of the home and makes a very livable scheme.
8. Bring nature indoors
(Image credit: Sean Airhart)
“We designed retractable wall panels for this home that protect the windows from torturous winter storms,” says Joe Herrin of Heliotrope Architects, the studio behind this contemporary oceanfront home that sits on a windswept shoreline in Washington’s Salish Sea.
‘Nevertheless, when the weather is nice, the house opens up completely to the outside, allowing the owners to fully interact with the landscape and the view.’
A prime example of natural daylight, light floods through the window walls, highlighting the detail and wood grain of the interior carpentry, all made from local woods such as Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar.
9. Renovate compassionately
(Image credit: Jonny Valiant)
“Our goal was to create a sense of lightness in the building,” says Tina Schnabel, interior designer at New York studio BarlisWedlick Architects, who remodeled this 19th-century barn in Ancram, Columbia County.
“During the design process and when choosing the finishes and paint colors, we wanted to avoid strong or abrupt contrasts,” she adds. “The idea was to create smooth, intentional transitions between the color surfaces, the natural wooden beams and the volumes of the millwork, as well as the furniture and textile choices for the main open-plan living area. A neutral, textured palette brings warmth to the space without sharp contrasts.’
No living room window treatments were used to ensure the space’s connection to nature through the view.
10. Go through with white
(Image credit: Amy Neunsinger)
When interior designer Leanne Ford renovated this 1920s hunting lodge in LA, she chose to paint almost all of the surfaces white to brighten and unify the space. Floors, walls, ceilings and interior fittings all received the whitewash treatment, which refreshes the interior of the wooden building and helps this white living room instantly feel more spacious.
“I toyed with the idea of leaving the wood natural, but who was I kidding?” says Leanne. “A painter must paint!” The renovation transformed the living area into a calm and airy space that benefits from the sunlight streaming through the cabin’s large picture window.
What defines a farmhouse living room?
A neutral color palette and plenty of texture is a surefire way to master the modern rustic living room look, so tactile materials that age well — like wood, stone, coir, and leather — are your top choices. That said, don’t be afraid to throw in a bit of color and pattern if that’s your thing.
The joy of country style lies in its breadth and variety, so you don’t have to be afraid to put your stamp on your space. “Muted tones certainly have their place, especially when working with natural materials, but we tend to stick to our signature aesthetic,” says Emma Pocock of design studio Turner Pocock, who has designed interior designs for a number of country homes. “Colors and patterns help us create spaces that are fun and comfortable,” she affirms.