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Check out our guide for modern farmhouse kitchen design. This trendy style is gorgeous, and easy to use in your home. Check out these farmhouse kitchen decorating ideas for more.
An Updated Classic
This style is perhaps the most famous variation of farmhouse style. Part of that is because of it’s excellent aesthetics, and part of that is how accessible the style is.
Because it’s so popular, finding cheap, modern decor is a simple task. That makes it easy to utilize in your home, even if you’re current design is more traditional.
It’s also a style that appeals to almost everyone. The mixing of modern and traditional sensibilities means that there’s aspects of the style that are suitable for all tastes.
Depending on your personal preference, you can go super minimalist, or lean more towards French country. You can even take it in an industrial or primitive direction. The choice is up to you and your tastes.
To learn more about modern style, check out our guide below.
Hallmarks of Modern Design
It’s easy to get an idea of what farmhouse style is like, but what about modern style? In order to update the traditional aspects of your design, you’ll need to know what makes modern so appealing.
Here are all the major hallmarks of this style:
Simple Lines
One of the main points of this style is its simplicity. In both architecture and décor, this style prefers clean and simple lines, almost to the point of minimalism.
What that basically means is that you want to choose things that don’t have a lot of decorative elements. This means avoiding all the carvings, patterns, and engravings typical of traditional design. Additionally, any heavy ornamentation doesn’t pair well with this style.
Instead, go for squares, circles and other basic shapes. These are going to help keep that simplistic feeling this style is best known for. In general, the simpler the better.
Simple Colors
In keeping with that simplicity, try to stick to basic color schemes. Black, white, and grey are the preferred colors for this style.
You can certainly throw in gentle pops of color, but don’t get crazy. Stick to a single accent color. And try not to do one that’s too bold. Avoid things like jewel tones, which tend to be very dramatic.
Unfortunately, the downside of this is that the color scheme can start to look too boring or plain. In order to combat this, it’s important to be smart about how you use textures.
Contrasting Textures and Materials
In order to keep this style visually interesting, it’s important to change up the textures and materials you use.
With modern styles, you want to stick to smooth textures where possible. Soft and rough textures can be used as accents occasionally, but they shouldn’t be the majority of the design.
Instead, focus on contrasting the materials. Mixing things like plastic, stone, glass, and metal is a great way to create contrast. Although they are all smooth, the overall variation in texture and material will generate more visual interest.
Metallics
Along with the color scheme and texture, metallics are an important aesthetic point. You want to play up the metal accents, specifically those that are shiny and dramatic. Metals like copper, bronze, silver, and gold are all popular choices.
Obviously, it would be expensive to fill your kitchen with precious metals, so feel free to use fakes. Coated stainless steel or painted plastic are both viable alternatives.
You’ll want to use these as little pops of contrast throughout the space. They can provide some color, texture, and even a little glam to make the design look more complex.
Open Spaces
Lastly, the architectural hallmark of this style is keeping rooms open and airy. Rooms need to feel large and spacious, in order to emphasize the simplicity of the design.
Unfortunately, not everyone has a big kitchen. And not everyone has the renovation budget to create one either.
To that end, make sure you’re using plenty of white throughout the space. This will make it look larger, even if you haven’t actually widened the space.
You also want to make sure that you limit the décor and items that you have. Keeping the counters clear and free of clutter will also make it look like there’s a lot more room.
To that end, be smart about storage. Use organization techniques where possible. You may also want to get multi-functional appliances, so that you can free up counterspace.
Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Decor Ideas
If you’re interested in trying out this style, here is another great example to consider. It represents the possibility for fun contrast in this style.
But remember, this type of style is very flexible. Take what you like from any example, and mix it with your own creativity.
Updated Traditional
This kitchen has a perfect blend of traditional and modern styles.
The color scheme is a great example of this. It has plenty of white and silver metallics throughout. However, the flooring, countertops, and window treatments add in plenty of brown tones.
These touches of brown are what give it a warmer, more traditional feel. Yet the majority white color scheme keeps things looking more updated.
The same is true for the materials in the space. There’s plenty of wooden accents, like the walls and shelving, that add in a more rustic touch. However, there’s also a lot of metal and smooth textures to help offset that.
Of course, this kitchen also includes a white farmhouse kitchen sink. In this case, that added white fixture helps to keep the room from looking too dark. There is still a lot of darker tones in the design, but they’re not overpowering because of additions like these.
Overall, the contrast in this room offers the best of both styles. You get all the warm, traditional aspects of farmhouse style, paired with the simplicity of modern design.
Changing up Your Style
If you’re looking to change up your style, this one is an excellent one to consider. Even for people who may not be design savvy, it’s easy to attempt.
With its blend of multiple styles, it’s also a very forgiving choice. The hallmarks of this style are easy to follow along with. In that sense, it’s not too difficult to pick out appropriate décor.
And even if you end up with something too traditional, or a little too updated, it will still look good. You can be confident that at the end of the day, you’ll have a great farmhouse kitchen.
So if you want to try something new with your kitchen, consider going with a modern farmhouse look.
