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DESIGN: KATIE HODGES, PHOTO: AMY BARTLAM
Redecorating gives you the ability to transform your atmosphere, no matter where you're located. Case in point: You don't need to own a farm to enjoy the welcoming, charming décor of one. From weathered wood tables to the inviting spindle-back chairs, nothing says home sweet home better than a farmhouse dining room.
Here's how to incorporate the lived-in charm and welcoming vibe of the farmhouse style into your dining room like a pro.
Keep It Airy
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Design: Katherine Carter, Photo: Tessa Neustadt
Real farmhouses are filled with fresh air and tons of natural light. Keep things light and airy via blonde wood details, bright white walls, tons of windows, and delicate details.
If your home is lacking natural light, paint your walls a warm white paint color, which will brighten up your space and mimic the sun's glow.
Incorporate Natural Materials
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Design: GreyHunt Interiors, Photo: Christy Kosnic
Living on the farm inevitably incorporates as many raw materials inside the house as it does outside. This dining room displays a perfect mix of wood, iron, and brass.
Shop For Antiques
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Design: Moore House Interiors, Photo: Grace Laird
There's nothing more charming than pieces passed down for generations. This dining room set gives this modern space an old-world charm that only antiques could.
Go With Spindle-Back Chairs
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Design: Moore House Interiors, Photo: Grace Laird
Spindle-back chairs like the ones in this dining room are a quintessential farmhouse addition. The black finish paired with the iron light fixture, and white shiplap is dining-room perfection.
Try A Weathered Table
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Design: Moore House Interiors, Photo: Grace Laird
A great place to source furniture for your farmhouse dining room is local thrift stores and flea markets. Seek out pieces that boast natural weathering or try your hand at a DIY project that mimics a similar look.
Strike A Modern Balance
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Design: Katie Hodges, Photo: Amy Bartlam
When redesigning a space, consider striking a balance between trendy elements, like shiplap, subway tile, and floating shelves with farmhouse influences like industrial lighting a reclaimed wood.
Load Up On Textures
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Design: Emily Henderson Design, Photo: Tessa Neustadt
Finishing touches make all the difference in any space. While farmhouse might be at the core of this design, textural elements elevate the look to new heights. The exposed wood beams, layered table settings, long curtains, upholstered seating, and a medley of fresh blooms make this dining room blend comfort and sophistication with ease.
Try An Achromatic Color Palette
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Design: Emily Henderson Design, Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Farmhouse decor can be approached in so many ways, creating a totally unique look in every setting. While some may choose to do farmhouse in a rainbow of hues, this achromatic approach proves to be equally gorgeous. The black and white color palette, accompanied by wooden accents proves to be chic, but still rustic at its core.
Utilize Your Kitchen Space
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Design: Emily Henderson Design, Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp
We're big fans of a formal dining room, but this kitchen setup is what farmhouse décor dreams are made of. The white marble countertop contrasted by the industrial-inspired stools is inviting—just how the farmhouse style was designed to be. And don't even get us started on the color of those cabinets.
Try A Moody Approach
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Design: Studio Tack, Photo: Read McKendree
While we love the bright, airy approaches to farmhouse living, this dark, moody, and almost-masculine dining room is giving those light spaces a run for their money. The deep green color on the walls and ceilings pairs brilliantly with the rich oak dining set.
Play With Pastels
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Design: Jersey Ice Cream Co., Photo: Beth Kirby
We love how a fresh coat of paint can transform a spindle-back chair into a fresh addition to your farmhouse-inspired space. This powder blue paint is an unexpected finishing touch that ties the entire dining room together.
Go With Mismatched Items
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Design: Kara Mann, Photo: Douglas Friedman
In your search through flea markets and thrift stores, don't get too hung up on finding items that are part of a set. This dining room is proof that mismatched items can still look cohesive in a space together.
Embrace Exposed Beams
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Design: Kara Mann, Photo: Richard Powers
If you're lucky enough to have exposed beams in your dining room, give them the attention they deserve. Stain them in a dark shade or paint the ceiling white for a contrast. If you don't currently have exposed beams, they're only a contractor call away.
Play Up The Earth Tones
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Courtesy of Studio McGee
If ever there was a most appropriate time to play up the earth tones, it's in a farmhouse setting. This gorgeous dining room is loaded with earth tones in all materials from wood to twine, and concrete—and the result is nothing short of a country escape.
Be Mindful Of Seating
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Courtesy of Studio McGee
Using mismatched chairs at the dining room table is such a farmhouse décor move. We love how this dining room features two varieties of chairs that share the same blonde wood tone. It feels cohesive, but not too uniform.
Evaluate Your Lighting Situation
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Courtesy of Studio McGee
The dead giveaway for an inauthentic farmhouse style is hanging right above your dining room table. Most homes have ceiling fans preinstalled in the dining room, but switching to a simple wrought iron fixture will make all the difference.
Don't Be Afraid To Go Glam
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Design: Pure Salt Interiors, Photo: Jessica Alexander
The beauty of the farmhouse style is it has a certain eclectic undertone—anything goes when it comes to decorating. This statement chandelier hanging above the dining table is usually designed with luxurious seashells, but this rope version feels equally glamorous, and looks right at home in this farmhouse-inspired space.
Tie It Together With Textiles
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Design: Pure Salt Interiors, Photo: Jessica Alexander
We love the natural materials often found in farmhouse décor, but don't forget to offset woods, steels, and metals with textiles. The full curtains, pillows on the seats, circle-shaped rug and overhead lighting makes the space feel much more inviting.
Don't Be Afraid To Go Small
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Design: Pure Salt Interiors, Photo: Jessica Alexander
Mile-long dining tables are gorgeous, but never underestimate what a four-person dining room set can do for your space. It creates the perfect vignette for intimate meals and doesn't have to sacrifice on style.
Bring In The Greenery
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Design: Pure Salt Interiors, Photo: Vanessa Lentine
No farmhouse space is complete without greenery or fresh fruit on the table. It gives the illusion of that farm-to-table lifestyle, even if you live in a bustling city.