Whereas the strictly modern home relies on a clean palette of stainless steel, sleek surfaces and polished stones, the modern farmhouse look needs to mix these up with more natural finishes.Ĭombining the contemporary materials with weathered finishes adds that farmhouse character and warmth that you're looking for. A few touches of pastel pinks and sage greens can add a feminine touch, while still allowing the modern scheme to stay strong. It’s no surprise that shades of green, or darker blues are very often used in countryside settings, they feel at home and give a certain grounding to the overall scheme.'Īnother way of letting your personality to shine through with color is by looking to softer shades. 'We like to experiment with denser natural greens, blues, pinks or terracottas, both on walls or in terms of accents such as tiled splashbacks, colors of handles or even internal cabinet materials. 'The best colors for farmhouse spaces are colours that blend well with their vernacular and natural setting,' advises Irene Gunter of Gunter & Co. Interior designer Kate Lester points out: 'Don’t forget the black! Adding pops of black doesn’t make a space feel darker, in fact, it’s the opposite! Black is the perfect juxtaposition to the crisp white and creates a perfectly balanced backdrop for rugs and furnishings.'Īs well as blacks, look to inky blues, emerald greens and charcoal grays for wonderful hints of modernity and personality in your modern farmhouse. Part of the key in adding the 'modern' into modern farmhouse is adding in contrasting colours to the neutral backgrounds. Take inspiration in mixing neutrals from this modern farmhouse kitchen, which uses the warming Mushroom on the wall and crisp, contemporary Flint on the units both paints from Little Greene. French Grey, Slaked Lime, Portland Stone and Rolling Fog are just a few of the neutral colour families in this collection that would work beautifully in a modern farmhouse.' Consider the use of graduated tones of a colour – for example our Little Greene 'Colour Scales' collection offers our most popular colours within families of four graduated tones made using the same pigments just in different strengths. 'Using different neutral tones from the same colour family allows for layering and seamless shifts from room to room giving a sense of consistency with subtle nuances. 'To avoid a room looking stark, an off white or pale neutral is always a good approach to take,' advises Ruth Mottershead Creative Director, Little Greene. By sticking to a largely neutral scheme, you're adding that contemporary freshness which the style requires. One of the easiest ways to start building up this look is by layering whites, creams and soft grays. When you think modern farmhouse, think neutrals. The relationship between the old and the new must be considered and work in tandem with one another – the harmony is essential.' What are the best modern farmhouse style neutral colors to use? With these kinds of projects our studio is always careful to celebrate the history and include a little patina while being mindful of our client’s modern lifestyle. Anna Beeber, Partner at Champalimaud Design explains: 'Today, the modern farmhouse is a celebration of the historic form, updated with interiors that embrace a contemporary design perspective.
Modern farmhouse also celebrates the historic, reminding us of simpler times, without forcing us to give up any of the contemporary lifestyle elements to which we are accustomed. While the fresh design aesthetic is still prominent and desired, adding more personality, warmth and charm into the home speaks to how we're all feeling at the moment. Where once stark minimalism in the home provided a welcome clean sanctuary from the outside world, as we spend more time in the house, we're craving something a little more comforting.