Bringing the farm to the city. How to transition you décor to urban farmhouse style. It's a cosy, casual hybrid which blends traditional & contemporary style with a neutral colour pallet & a mix of metals and natural elements.
Urban Farmhouse – what's that?
Well, it's exactly what it says on the tin – a home decorating style that brings the farm to the city! It's a cosy, casual hybrid, which blends traditional and contemporary style with a neutral colour palette and a mix of metals and natural elements. Joanna Gains made this casual, yet edgy style popular through her 'Fixer-Upper' television series. Together with her husband Chip, Joanna flawlessly transforms tired old homes, into airy and orderly urban farmhouse retreats.
Urban farmhouse for contemporary city life
Not every city dweller is a fan of the ultra-modern, glass everywhere, polished concrete design elements that contemporary buildings boast. Many people who have set up home in the city for work reasons, crave the cosy and relaxed farmhouse feel at home but feel it looks a little at odds with modern city life. That's exactly how urban farmhouse style was born!
Urban farmhouse-style design ideas
The good thing is that the urban farmhouse style can be incorporated into almost any style of decorating. It's possible to achieve a home from home nostalgic farmhouse feel that blends in with city surroundings and doesn't look out of place.
So how do you get the urban farmhouse look? Well, here's my take on this relaxed, cool, country look.
10 Easy ways to get the Urban Farmhouse look you crave
1. Material Mix
Natural elements bring warmth to any room. Mix a sleek wooden farmhouse table with spindle back, bistro or rattan chairs in black or tan. Leather cushions provide a contemporary twist to the mix.
2. Material Contrast
Onyx and marble provide a cool modern contrast to the warmth of woods and fabrics. If you don't want to splash out on new kitchen worktops, marble or onyx accessories, coasters and table platters will also do the trick.
3. Contemporary Mix
High gloss elements and lustrous metals in contemporary styles. Try adding traditional accessories in modern shapes, like these lovely metal and glass lanterns.
4. Botanics & Nature
Botanical and animal prints are right on trend and can be found in every shape or form to suit every budget.
Whether real or faux, adding plants a-plenty is par for the course in achieving urban farmhouse style in your space. Pilea is very popular and easy to grow (and keep alive;) making it the ideal partner for urban living. Other plants which fit into the urban farmhouse style could include the ever-popular fiddle leaf fig, olive tree and herbs of every sort.
If you're the type of person who forgets to water, then succulents may be the way to go. The soil needs to completely dry out between each watering session.
If you're the type of person who tends to over water, an option for you could be the Papyrus plant. If the roots of this plant are constantly sitting in water then it will be very happy indeed.
5. Make a statement
Wallpaper is back and it's back big time. Whether you just want to fake the ship-lap look or make more of a statement with a whole wall mural, you won't be lacking for choice. If you're someone who likes to change things up a lot, removable wallpaper like the ones below may be a better alternative for you.
Rustic rugs and antique patterns are also trending right now and are perfect for creating the urban farmhouse look.
6. Blend it in
Whitewashed wood is a typical element of farmhouse style. To create more of an urban farmhouse look, you could try mixing it up with wrought iron door/cabinet pulls or accessories.
Choose colour schemes which reflect life on the farm – earthy tones and the colours of eggs, hay, sky and grass are all perfect for the urban farmhouse look.
7. Switch out your lighting.
A wooden framed chandelier or light features which incorporate natural reclaimed wood, rope and twine or a mix of metals would be the way to go here.
8. Textures
Make sure your pillows and throws are full of gorgeous texture. Leather, wool, sheepskin, fake furs and velvet are what you need to achieve the urban farmhouse look. You can see examples of this in the posts 'How to welcome autumn into your home' and 'How to create a peaceful home with Hygge'.
9. Accessories
Fill bowls with acorns, leaves and pine cones. Fill jugs and vases with flowers or feathers and decorate your home with freebies courtesy of mother nature. Take a look at the post Easy 5-minute low budget home decor to see how easy this is.
For the kitchen choose wire baskets, open shelving and large glass jars for ingredients. Plain or striped aprons in grey or natural tones will complement the urban farmhouse kitchen.
10. Furniture
You can choose weathered or reclaimed wood pieces, go all out rustic or a more contemporary shaker style!
You can always up-cycle pieces you already have to achieve the look you want. Take a look at my coffee table makeover to see exactly how I did that myself. Another really easy way to change the look of your furniture is by swapping out the hardware. Infuse new life by adding new pulls in porcelain, wrought iron or wood.
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In an urban Farmhouse style kitchen, the island is being replaced by the use of tables instead. Space is of a premium and furniture usually has to serve multiple purposes. Worktop, dining table, a desk for homework or working from home. There are some gorgeous tables out there that are small enough but which won't have you compromising on style. Typically kitchen worktops would be made from materials like wood, marble or polished concrete.
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Of course, no post on farmhouse style of any kind would be complete without a nod to the farmhouse style sink. However, in the urban farmhouse. materials for this extend way past the use of ceramic to various metals like copper, or to concrete, stone and composite granite.
Well, that's my take on achieving the urban farmhouse style in your home. Do you like this style? Have you already incorporated these elements in your own home? If so, do you have any other tips we could add to this list? Let us know in the comments below.
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Amanda says
LOVE! I have zero sense of style not love this look! Will definitely have to give it a try!
Jayne Westerholt says
I'm so glad you like it Amanda. I love it too, it's such an easy, relaxed style that takes the edge off city life!