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Design 101
A Guide to Decorating a Modern Farmhouse Dining Room
December 05, 2024
The modern farmhouse style has taken the interior design world by storm, combining the welcoming warmth of rustic charm with the clean lines and simplicity of contemporary design. A modern farmhouse dining room is the heart of this aesthetic, serving as a gathering place that reflects both comfort and elegance. Here’s how to style a modern farmhouse dining room to create a space that’s both inviting and stylish.
What Is the Difference Between a Modern Farmhouse and a Farmhouse?
Modern farmhouse and traditional farmhouse designs both celebrate country living, but there are a few key differences.
Function is the name of the game for a traditional farmhouse. Heavily inspired by rural farms, this style uses rustic, often locally-sourced materials. A classic farmhouse living room might feature a stone fireplace, a chunky wooden coffee table, and a bookcase made from reclaimed wood. These durable materials are charming yet practical, making you feel as though you’ve just wandered inside after a long day on the ranch.
A modern farmhouse updates this rustic aesthetic with cleaner lines and more contemporary materials. Think of this style like an elegant cousin to farmhouse style — still cozy and practical, but a little more polished.
For example, a modern farmhouse dining room may include an industrial-style chandelier, a minimalist wood table, and contemporary metal or upholstered chairs. This combination of old and new gives the classic farmhouse look a fresh twist without sacrificing its rural roots.
These styles have different decor, too. Traditional farmhouse homes typically include plenty of vintage decorations, such as antique clocks, distressed wooden signs, and hand-me-down artwork. Meanwhile, modern farmhouse designs lean more toward minimalist decor, with a handful of items like throw pillows with floral designs and wooden trays.
Modern Farmhouse Dining Room Color Palette
A refreshing color palette is the foundation of your modern farmhouse dining room. We recommend creating a base of clean, neutral colors such as whites, creams, soft grays, and beiges. These hues create a calm and serene backdrop that highlights the room's rustic elements while allowing contemporary touches to shine.
Accent Colors
While neutrals dominate, don’t be afraid to add pops of color through accessories and decor. Consider more pigmented hues that still adhere to the nature-inspired color palettes like navy and blues, forest green, earthy brown, and even soft blush tones to infuse warmth and personality without overpowering the space.
Furniture With Character
Furniture in a modern farmhouse dining room should be a blend of rustic and modern elements. Look for pieces that are both functional and stylish, with an emphasis on natural materials.
Dining Table
The dining table is the centerpiece of the room, setting the tone for the rest of the room. To add character to your dining room, we recommend leaning into the farmhouse part of modern farmhouse. Look for a dining table made of reclaimed or weathered wood, one with an earthy, distressed finish. A sturdy, long wooden table with a natural or whitewashed finish works perfectly. The tactile and textured look will add a dose of natural, rustic charm to an otherwise clean space to keep it from looking too sterile.
Dining Chairs
Now it’s time to add the dose of modern style to our modern farmhouse dining room. Pair your weathered wood dining table with more modern, sleek chairs to create some visual interest. Add some edginess with industrial style metal chairs with a distressed finish that celebrate modern forms while still looking cohesive as an ensemble with the similarly weathered dining table. Or add upholstered dining chairs with a more mid century modern sensibility for a sophisticated yet soft flair. Another versatile option is to add a bench on one side of the table, mixing and matching the seating for a more whimsical and eclectic vibe.
Modern Statement Lighting
Lighting is crucial in setting the ambiance of your dining room. Here’s how you can provide illumination, while adding a soft and inviting glow, with fixtures that complement the modern farmhouse aesthetic.
Chandelier or Pendant
A large, statement chandelier or pendant light above the dining table can serve as a focal point. Because the modern farmhouse aesthetic is fairly subtle — with its naturally inspired design elements and muted neutral color palette — we recommend looking for fixtures that can bring some drama. Add your “wow factor” to the modern farmhouse dining room with an industrial chandelier with Edison bulbs or a contemporary pendant made of wrought iron or metal with an aged finish to provide contrast against the light color palette.
Layered Lighting
Professional interior designers are big fans of layered lighting because it can create a cozy, inviting atmosphere to any room. Create this effect by peppering in additional lighting — preferably at different heights — to add layers of light from the wall scones, table lamps, and maybe even candles at the dining table. This will heighten the moodiness and make sure your space is well-lit without ever looking overly bright and sterile.
Soft Textiles
Touches of soft and plush fabric play a significant role in bringing warmth and comfort to a modern farmhouse dining room. Here’s how you can incorporate textiles into your practical and functional modern farmhouse dining room.
Mathis Home
One Kings Lane
Area Rug
A large rug under the dining table can anchor the space, add texture and softness, and even add a bit of style. If you’re looking to enhance the rustic farmhouse vibe of your dining room, consider natural fibers like jute, sisal, or a wool rug in a neutral tone. To dial up the modern cool aesthetic of your dining room, we recommend a minimalist rug with a simple and striking geometric pattern or illustration on it.
Table Linens
Incorporate table runners, placemats, and napkins in natural fabrics like linen or cotton. Simple patterns, such as stripes or checks, that complement the color palette work best for the subtle modern farmhouse style.
Personalized Decor
Accessories and decor items are where you can infuse your personal style and bring the room to life. Because the modern farmhouse style is simple and minimalist, make sure your space never gets cluttered as you go about accessorizing the dining room. Add artful touches of decor to the walls and tables with the following elements.
Wall Decor Ideas
In order to add a bit of visual interest without looking too cluttered, we recommend one oversized piece of wall art hung in your dining room as the central focal point — instead of scattering smaller frames throughout à la gallery wall. Consider a boldly contemporary abstract painting featuring your favorite accent colors.
Plants and Greenery
Bring the outdoors in with fresh or artificial plants. A large vase with eucalyptus branches, a potted plant on a sideboard, or a collection of succulents on a windowsill can add a touch of nature and vibrancy to your modern farmhouse dining room.
Stylish and Functional Storage
Effective storage solutions are essential in maintaining a neat and organized dining room. Keep your modern farmhouse space looking clean, fresh, and uncluttered with these common storage designs.
Cabinets and Buffets
The right buffet or sideboard can provide ample storage while adding to the aesthetic. For a farmhouse look, choose storage pieces with a distressed finish and plenty of drawers and shelves that can hold dinnerware, linens, and decor while complementing your dining table’s rustic style. For a more modern flair, look for clean, architectural lines that maximize storage space while also adding a dose of elegance and sophistication to your dining room.
Open Shelving
Floating shelves and other open shelving are key to a farmhouse look — while also providing a place to store and display your favorite dishes, glassware, or decorative items within reach. A popular option is adding floating shelves that are made in a more rustic, weathered or distressed wood to enhance the natural beauty of the modern farmhouse dining room.
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