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The farmhouse style: where natural meets rustic charm

Home: a place where you feel safe and can leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind. The country house style, also known as farmhouse style, perfectly emulates the peace and serenity of rural life. It creates a homely atmosphere that makes you fully relaxed and feel at ease - no matter where you live.

A living room with two facing white BACKSÄLEN armchairs against a backdrop of grey HAUGA high cabinets framing a fireplace.
A living room with two facing white BACKSÄLEN armchairs against a backdrop of grey HAUGA high cabinets framing a fireplace.

Escape, relax, breathe deeply: these things come naturally in the countryside. Thanks to the farmhouse style, you don’t have to change your address or go on holiday - the country style transforms any home into a rural idyll. By effortlessly blending rustic elements with modern accents, the farmhouse style creates a welcoming home full of warmth, naturalness and character. The result is an inviting overall look that works equally well in both urban and rural settings.

The core elements of the farmhouse style: natural and rustic charm

Influenced by the traditional European farmhouses of the 17th and 18th centuries, the farmhouse style underwent a renaissance and modernisation throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Stylish elements such as rustic shiplap wall panelling and an industrial barn look were added to the functional furnishings, while the addition of accents helped enliven the neutral colour palette. The modern farmhouse style now combines the original warmth and simplicity of natural materials like wood and stone with contemporary design elements. Here, we reveal the characteristic features of the country style so that you can start to create your own stylish farmhouse.

A white-and-oak-veneer DANDERYD drop-leaf table with two DANDERYD chairs stand in the middle of a light, spacious living room.
A country-style dining area with flowers on the table.
A farmhouse-style hallway with green walls and an acoustic carpet on the floor.
A black KRAGSTA nest of tables

The ideal interior design for your country style home

Open-plan layouts with flowing transitions between kitchen, dining and living areas are the hallmark of farmhouse style interiors. You can create these effects through optical illusion in any building by using clever tricks such as light wall and furniture colours and the use of mirrors. The same applies to high ceilings and large windows. They allow plenty of natural light into your home, while wooden shiplap wall panelling creates a rustic yet modern aesthetic. Shiplap is a decorative element made of wooden panels fitted horizontally at regular intervals. Here's a useful tip: with the right materials, you can even create shiplap wall panelling yourself. Perhaps you'll find some inspiration at IKEA?

Modern country-style furniture for your own farmhouse

Solid wood furniture made of spruce, oak or pine in robust, simple shapes is a hallmark of the farmhouse style. The addition of traditional, understated decorations such as the coffered look or turned elements are also popular. Vintage pieces and furniture with an antique look help add character to your rooms, while functional furniture such as farmhouse cabinets, apothecary chests and trunks offer practical storage space in a rustic style.

From rustic-rugged to natural-soft: materials the help create a country house style

Untreated natural materials such as wood, stone and metal form the foundation of the farmhouse style. Surfaces with a distressed look or shabby chic style help create a vintage aesthetic. Reclaimed wood with visible grain and recycled materials bring authenticity to your home, while linen and cotton textiles add a natural and cosy feel.

An extended DANDERYD drop-leaf table festively set with IHÅLLIG seagrass place mats, DYRGRIP wine glasses and decorations.
A part of a festively set table with a grey GLADELIG plate, DYRGRIP glasses, GAMMAN cutlery and decorations.

Decoration and details in country house style: charming and rustic

Vintage-look accessories such as milk churns, enamel bowls, chests and suitcases evoke bygone times and help add character to your home. Fresh flowers in rustic vases, herb gardens on the windowsill and lush green plants bring even more life and colour to the farmhouse style. Candlesticks, lanterns and wall art with landscape motifs create a warm, cosy ambience.

To decoration
To decoration

The best colours and patterns for your farmhouse style interior

The colour palette of the farmhouse style mainly comprises neutral tones such as white, beige, grey and black. Natural earthy colours like olive green and terracotta help add tasteful accents. Checked and striped patterns, floral designs, borders and lace are often found on textiles, further emphasising the rural charm.

Simple cream upholstered sofa with yellow storage trolley, flatwoven rag rugs and rattan pouffe with storage in a farmhouse deco style living room.
A light beige MALINDA chair cushion

How to embrace the country house style: the foundation for your farmhouse look

Whether you're aiming to design individual rooms in the farmhouse style or furnish your entire home in it - by using a blend of tradition, function and modern, natural designs, you can create an inviting ambience and space that's simply good for the soul.

Farmhouse deco style bedroom – calm and cosy

White, cream, warm grey – these are the light neutrals found in farmhouse deco style bedrooms. As their centrepiece, the bed combines graphic black cast iron with crisp white bedding and cushions in slubby, natural linens and bold, monochrome ticking stripes. Walls are minimally dressed – think a single feature wall hanging and/or smaller gallery picture collection. In the farmhouse-style bedroom, less is more.

Black wrought iron bed in traditional deco style bedroom with a white bedding set, ticking stripe cushions and black wooden bedside table.
A handmade/banana fibre natural IGELSTORP wall decoration

Farmhouse deco style bathroom – crisp and clean

Nature is a big feature in the farmhouse deco style bathroom, together with clear-cut or fluted glass, and sanitary ware and bathroom textiles in crisp white. Taken together, it all feels fresh and clean.

White farmhouse deco style bathroom sink set against white metro-tiled wall, with curved washbasin mixer tap and mirror cabinet with doors above.
Close-up of metal storage trolley with farmhouse deco style soap dispenser and sprigs displayed in rippled glass vases.

Farmhouse deco style kitchen – fresh yet functional

In the farmhouse deco kitchen, the light woods of this style appear as accents in functional essentials such as cooking spoons, chopping boards and washing-up brushes. These sit against light and simple backdrops, freshened with growing herbs and green plants, and softened with raw linens, both plain and striped.

Farmhouse deco style kitchen sink with dual control mixer tap in front of windowsill with large ceramic vase of cut flowers and wooden serving bowl on it.
Close-up of black metal wall rail with hooks hung with white enamel colander and glass measuring jug, with potted herbs and wood chopping boards nearby.

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Farmhouse style room by room: inspiring ideas for your home

Ready for a taste of relaxed country house flair? Let's start in the modern cottage-style living room: a bright bookshelf with a coffered look immediately catches your eye. In front sits a sofa with a natural linen or cotton fabric cover alongside a rustic wooden coffee table. A vintage-look floor lamp, decorative cushions with checked patterns and a cosy knitted blanket complete the farmhouse style. From here, you see into the dining room with modern country-style furniture: a rustic wooden table with matching benches forms the eye-catching centrepiece, set against the subtle light-coloured wooden wall panelling. Metal hanging lamps provide atmospheric lighting, while a solid wood chest of drawers provides functional storage for traditional crockery. Continue through the inviting farmhouse-style hallway. A metal or dark wood coat rack above a storage bench creates a modern, industrial ambience. A vintage-look lantern and framed black and white photographs add further personality to the space. The bedroom door is open, and you can already feel everyday stress slipping away. A huge, soft rug lies before the sturdy bed - perhaps in a shabby chic style. A vintage-look chest of drawers or a robust metal wardrobe provides ample space for clothes. Nearby, an armchair with a linen cover awaits your favourite book. Take a look around this page, wander through other rooms in your mind, get inspired and create your own personal farmhouse paradise. If you have any questions or need inspiration and help, our Interior Design Service is always available.