If you have tuned into any home design channel lately or have scrolled through Instagram or Pinterest you have seen it: beautiful spaces with clean lines, neutral color palates, layers of texture and seemingly effortless pops of color and interesting accent pieces. What is this stylish trend you find yourself longing for in your own home? A mixture of contemporary and country, it is more commonly called modern farmhouse. So how can you incorporate this look into your own home? Consider these ideas below:

Opt for a neutral color palette:

When I think of modern farmhouse, I think of clean, bare neutrals that allow the architectural details of a space to stand out. This does not mean your space has to be colorless, rather, you can anchor your rooms with a neutral paint color to give it a clean background. When choosing a paint for your home do not be afraid to choose a white or cream palette. If you use a flat white paint on your walls and then a semi-gloss white paint on your trim or woodwork you will still get some definition in your space. Nothing looks more modern farmhouse than white painted shiplap walls! Some whites to consider: Simply White, Chantilly Lace and Cloud Nine from Benjamin Moore.

 If you are seeking a little more color, then choose a light natural linen or gray tone that will still give your space a neutral backdrop. One rule I recommend is making 60% of the space one color such as your wall color, 30% of the space another tone such as your wood flooring, and the final 10% a pop of color. These colors are great options:  Pale Oak, Edgecomb Gray, Revere Pewter from Benjamin Moore.

Consider Contrast:

One main feature of modern farmhouse design is contrast. Modern farmhouse is sleeker than traditional farmhouse design. Don’t be afraid to add black elements as well. Adding a black metal stair railing is a great way to lend a more modern touch to a traditional home. Black windows contrast nicely with neutral or white walls creating some drama in a space. Consider patterned black and white mosaic tiles for a laundry room floor or a backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom. You can give traditional subway tile an update by opting for a darker grout color that contrasts with the field tile.

Embrace Natural Wood Tones:

Another way to give your home a modern farmhouse look is to add some warmer, natural wood tones to your space. If you are renovating or building a new space consider wider plank, lighter color wood floors. If you are updating an existing space and cannot redo your flooring, consider adding wooden elements to other areas of your room such as beams in the ceiling, a reclaimed wood fireplace mantle or even adding a kitchen island or exhaust hood in a wood finish. In your bathroom consider one of MirrorMate Frames Cherokee Rustic frames to finish your builders grade mirror. They offer six different reclaimed looking wood tones so you can update your bathroom in minutes by adding a frame to your mirror. You can also adopt a modern farmhouse look by adding natural wood tone furniture such a reclaimed wood dining table, a vintage wood coffee table or bench in your entryway.

Cherokee Rustic Barnwood by MirrorMate

Layer on the Texture:

An additional element of modern farmhouse design is lots of layers and textures but this does not mean clutter! Modern farmhouse is a more refined look. In your living room or dining room choose window treatments that soften your space such as woven linen panels. Choose soft vegetable dyed area rugs with subtle patterns that do not visually overwhelm your space. Add chunky knit toss pillows or felted wool pillows to your favorite sofa. Make up the bed with luxurious blankets and quilts. Each space should be approachable and comfortable.

Incorporate Industrial Elements:  

One hallmark of modern farmhouse design is the use of industrial elements such as a barn style door hung on a metal track. This is a great way to add a modern farmhouse touch to your space without having to completely remodel. Barn doors are a fun way to enclose a space such as a laundry room, mudroom or office. They also work well to hide televisions in a built-in, unorganized open shelving or toy storage. Don’t shy away from metallic elements either. Choose less shiny metal tones such as galvanized metal, matte black iron, or hammered copper. Add galvanized metal sconces to your walls in your bathroom or hallway. Choose a matte black faucet for your kitchen or a black iron lantern for over your dining table to add a hint of modern farmhouse. A hammered copper sink in your kitchen or powder room will make an instant modern farmhouse focal point.

Don’t shy away from stone, concrete or brick:

Modern Farmhouse interiors have a cleaner look than traditional farmhouses. Consider adding concrete counters in your kitchen or bathroom for a sleek surface that contrasts nicely with warmer wood tones. Add stone or slate to your fireplace. These surfaces contrast nicely with the softer textures elsewhere in the space. Create an accent feature in your space by exposing a brick wall. This adds a touch of texture and a rustic element that is common to modern farmhouse interiors.

Mix Old with the New:

One of the most exciting elements of modern farmhouse design is mixing new, clean line items with reclaimed, vintage or found objects. This how you really add your own personality to your modern farmhouse space. Ideally, a room should look like it was collected over a period of time and that each item is a treasured object. Instead of having matching dining room chairs, add slip covered host chairs to the head of the table and mismatched Windsor or bistro chairs as the side chairs. Add a vintage metal side table next to your sofa and pair it with a seeded glass lamp. Frame a collection of antique botanical prints or postcards for personalized wall art with a vintage feel. Showcase a collection of glass bottles on a window sill or tabletop. Use rattan baskets to organize shelving while adding a rustic element to your space.

Modern Farmhouse is a wonderful style to embrace because it combines classic elements like neutral wall colors and warm wood tones with exciting mixes of metals and textures. There are some common elements such as sleek stone and cement surfaces, ship lap walls, wood accents and barn style doors. However, there are also some unexpected elements such as the items you mix in to add your own personality. No matter what your take is on modern farmhouse, it is surely a design trend to enjoy for years to come.