Transition Away from Farmhouse Style Without Chasing the Next Trend

Farmhouse became the style when Instagram exploded. We all started designing our homes around the inspiration we were seeing. But what I’m starting to hear from a lot of people right now is, “I used to be farmhouse, but now I want (fill in the blank), the next thing.”

If that sounds like you and you’re getting tired of your farmhouse look, I want to urge you not to just jump on whatever the next trend is. The key to having timeless style is to develop your own style.

That sometimes takes a little more time to figure out. It’s not something that happens overnight. But if you’re ready to move away from a trend-driven look, here are a few swaps you can make one at a time to figure out what your timeless style really is.

What makes a style timeless is that it’s not the trend. It’s something that speaks specifically to you and that’s why it lasts.

Start with One Inspiration Piece

Whatever room you want to work on, start by finding one thing in the room to really pull your inspiration from.

I’ve seen this in countless designer homes. I recently watched a luxury home tour where the designer built her entire dining room and kitchen around a single bench.

If there’s something you really love. It doesn’t have to be a bench, use it as your anchor piece. It could be a piece of furniture, a rug you found that you really like, a piece of art, or even a fabric that makes you think, “Ooh, I really love that.” Let that inspiration piece help drive the whole look of the room.

Commit to a Color Palette

Something else I hear a lot is, “I don’t know if these things go together.” Choosing a color palette is a great way to solve that. That doesn’t mean everything has to be the same color, it just means that if your pieces work within the same palette, they can work together in a room even if they’re different styles.

The Swaps: Give Your Room a New Look Without Replacing the Furniture

One good thing about farmhouse style is that the furnishings are pretty neutral, a lot of white or off-white sofas and chairs so they can work in almost any style. It’s an easy thing to transition away from. Here’s what to swap out:

1. Start with the Rug

A lot of farmhouse spaces had very neutral rugs with little to no color. Think about finding a rug that has a color palette in it one that helps you commit to a direction for the room. A rug is one of the easiest and most impactful places to start.

2. Take Down the Word Art

If you’re tired of the farmhouse look, word-based artwork is one of the biggest things that screams it. Swap it out for something visual. And it doesn’t have to be something you absolutely love right away.

I know a lot of people feel like they have to wait until they find that perfect piece. But there’s a lot of inexpensive art out there. You can thrift it, find it on Etsy or Wayfair. Get something you like, knowing you can always replace it later. Just make it something that isn’t words.

3. Swap Out Accessories for Something in Your Color Palette

This might be a combination of throw pillows, a throw blanket, vases, glassware, or picture frames anything in the room that echoes the color you’re establishing.

If you’re not sure how to mix and match patterns for pillows, Etsy actually has pre-curated pillow combinations that take the guesswork out of it. I also have a post on how to combine fabrics that might help.

4. Replace the Coffee Table

A lot of farmhouse living rooms have really rustic wood coffee tables. Swapping to something less rustic is an easy and inexpensive way to change the feel of the room.

Think brass with a glass top, a tufted fabric coffee table just something that reads a little less rough.

5. Add Some Paint

Choosing a wall color that isn’t white can completely change the feeling of a room. Paint can be a quick transformation especially if you do it yourself. Just make sure the color you choose works with your color palette. I love using Samplize (paint samples you can order and stick on the wall) to see what a color looks like in your specific room at different times of day before committing.

6. Replace the Window Treatments

Most farmhouse window treatments are white or cream. Try using a fabric that isn’t — something with a little color or pattern. Draperies are a wonderful way to add texture and warmth to a space, and they make a bigger impact than people often expect.

7. Update the Accent Lighting

A lot of the lighting in rustic farmhouse spaces tends to be black. Think about swapping in some accent lighting with a warmer tone, brass lamps or something with an interesting shade shape. It can really shift the whole feeling of a room.

8. Swap the Metal Finishes

Along those same lines, a lot of farmhouse rooms lean heavily on black hardware, black drapery rods, and black frames. Try replacing some of those with something that has a warmer tone, like brass. It doesn’t have to be everything, even a few swaps make a difference.

You Don’t Have to Do It All at Once

None of these are the most expensive things to change in a space. Depending on the rug and lighting you choose, you could make this whole transformation for under $1,000 and a lot of it can be thrifted.

But more importantly: you don’t need to switch everything out at the same time. Find a rug you love and live with it for a bit. Order some fabric samples and put them with the rug so you can think through what pillows might work. Try not to rush all the changes at once. Take your time and make them one by one, that’s actually what gives a space a more timeless feel, because you’re spending the time designing it yourself.

So before you jump on the next trend train, think about finding your own timeless style instead. It’s worth it.