Modern Farmhouse Decor: What to Copy and What to Skip

My living room had that “rental beige” look no matter what I tried — until I figured out it was the curtains. I was stuck in a modern farmhouse rut, thinking I needed all the shiplap and barn doors to get the look I wanted. Turns out, a lot of what’s pushed as “modern farmhouse” is either overpriced, impractical, or just plain tacky. I’ve spent years trying to make my small suburban home feel cozy and stylish without breaking the bank, and I’ve learned a lot about what works and what absolutely doesn’t, especially when it comes to this popular style. So, let’s talk about what parts of modern farmhouse are actually worth bringing into your home and what you should skip entirely.

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Modern Farmhouse: What to Copy

The core appeal of modern farmhouse, for me, is the comfortable, lived-in feeling. It’s about warmth and functionality, not a museum display. And thankfully, you can achieve that without a complete overhaul.

Textiles: The Unsung Heroes

This is where I saw the biggest difference in my own home. Ditching the flimsy, sheer curtains I thought looked “airy” and replacing them with substantial fabrics changed the whole vibe of my living room. I went with the IKEA MAJGULL blackout curtains, $35 a pair (for the 57×98 inch size). They’re not linen, but the thick, slightly textured polyester drapes beautifully and instantly made the room feel more grounded and expensive. They come in several neutral colors — I chose the gray-beige — and they actually block out light. Crucial for a room that gets a lot of afternoon sun. My previous curtains were from Amazon, a set of two for $25, advertised as “room darkening,” but they were so thin you could practically read through them. Don’t cheap out on curtains; they frame your biggest windows.

Another textile win: chunky knit throws. I picked up a couple of cream-colored ones from HomeGoods for about $20 each. They add instant texture and coziness to a sofa or armchair. Skip anything overly patterned here — keep it solid and textural. These are easy to swap out with the seasons too, so it feels fresh without buying new furniture.

Warm Wood Tones (Not Distressed White)

A big part of modern farmhouse is natural materials. And while everyone thinks “distressed white everything,” the warmth comes from natural wood. I invested in a simple, solid pine console table from a local unfinished furniture store for $150 and stained it myself with Minwax Dark Walnut. It looks ten times better than the fake distressed particle board console I bought from Wayfair for $90 that chipped within a month. Real wood lasts and adds a rich, inviting element. Look for vintage or second-hand pieces you can refinish. You don’t need a professional — a little sanding and a can of stain go a long way.

Even small wood accents like cutting boards leaned against a kitchen backsplash or a wooden bowl on a coffee table make a difference. Target’s Hearth & Hand with Magnolia line often has good, affordable wooden bowls and trays that actually feel substantial, usually in the $15-$30 range. Just avoid anything that looks too manufactured or mass-produced with a fake “weathered” finish.

Functional Lighting

Good lighting is essential for any style, but especially for modern farmhouse. Instead of going for elaborate chandeliers, focus on practical, warm light. I replaced my builder-grade boob light in the entryway with a simple, flush-mount drum pendant from Lowe’s for $60. It has an oiled bronze finish and frosted glass, which diffuses the light nicely. For task lighting, I picked up two simple black metal table lamps from TJ Maxx for $25 each. They have a basic shape and clean lines, perfect for adding light without competing with other decor. Skip the overly ornate “farmhouse” chandeliers with exposed Edison bulbs — they often cast a harsh, yellowish light and feel more like a prop than actual lighting.

Modern Farmhouse: What to Skip

This is where things can go wrong fast and turn your home into a “themed” restaurant rather than a cozy dwelling.

Shiplap Overload

I almost caved and put shiplap on an accent wall. Thank goodness I didn’t. While a little shiplap can be charming in a specific area, covering entire rooms or multiple walls in it makes a house feel like a barn — and not in a good way. It’s also a pain to clean and can feel very dated very quickly. Plus, if you’re not doing real wood shiplap, the MDF versions look cheap and can damage your walls when removed. Instead of shiplap, consider a simple board and batten wall treatment (using thin MDF strips — much easier to install and remove) or a rich, solid paint color for an accent wall. Sherwin-Williams “Dovetail” is a fantastic deep gray that gives a lot of depth without being overwhelming.

Barn Doors (Unless Absolutely Necessary)

I know, everyone loves barn doors. But unless you genuinely have an awkward doorway or a need to save space that only a barn door can solve, skip them. They rarely provide good sound privacy, they often leave a gap, and they can be incredibly heavy and cumbersome. I saw a friend install one for her bathroom, and it was constantly rattling and didn’t offer any real privacy. Plus, the hardware alone can be $100-$200. For most interior doors, a standard swinging door is more practical and offers better functionality. If you want to incorporate some rustic hardware, look for simple black pulls or hinges on existing doors or cabinets, not an entire sliding system.

Overly Themed Decor

This is the biggest offender. Signs that say “Live, Laugh, Love” or “Farm Sweet Farm,” fake galvanized metal buckets used as purely decorative items, or anything that feels like it belongs in a craft fair. My biggest mistake here was buying a set of “distressed” white ceramic canisters for my kitchen counter. They looked cute in the store, but they were a pain to clean, weren’t airtight, and just collected dust. They cost me $40 for a set of three at TJ Maxx. I eventually replaced them with simple glass jars from Target ($5 each) that are actually functional and look cleaner. Focus on practical items that have a simple, timeless design rather than things that scream “farmhouse.” A woven basket from Marshalls ($15) is great for blankets, but a fake metal chicken wire basket is just clutter.

Resist the urge to buy every “farmhouse” item you see. A truly well-decorated home has layers of different textures and styles, not just one theme repeated ad nauseam. It should feel personal, not like a page out of a catalog.

This weekend, pick one area of your home, like your living room windows. Measure them — twice! Then, head to IKEA or a similar store and buy one pair of substantial, neutral-colored curtains that are long enough to just kiss the floor (or puddle slightly if you like that look). Hang them high and wide — about 4-6 inches above the window frame and 6-12 inches past each side — to make your windows appear larger. It’s a small change that makes a huge difference in anchoring a room and making it feel pulled together.