How I Added Farmhouse Style

Once upon a time, when one of my kids was getting in trouble they wanted clarification about what "by accident." meant. They called it "on accident." It was "on purpose or on accident" in our house. They wanted a quick reminder which of the two phrases got them in trouble.

I think I've added farmhouse style to our home "on accident." 

I started adding more and more white a few years ago. 

White can lean a couple either farmhouse or shabby chic. 

I love both but I got better reviews when a project leaned more farmhouse than shabby.

As I started down a lighter and more neutral path, I quickly learned which things got a thumbs up from Bill and which got a thumbs down. 

   

#1. White Walls

I've painted almost every room white.

Layering texture to an all white room is pretty key.

I've added board and batten to our walls in the laundry room.

I've added beadboard to other spaces.

Old shutters add texture as well.
Bill has admitted that he loves how calm white is.

#2. Neutral upholstered furnishings are a must.

Leather sofas or chairs work great.

If you want to tone down their "brownness" toss a throw over them. 

The rest of our upholstery has no pattern.
I have compulsively recovered all of our furniture over the course of the last three years. 

 I have made ours but slipcovers are readily available if you don't sew. 

#3. Painted furniture. 

Some of your furniture needs to be painted.

This can be scary.

My husband noticed at dinner one night that I painted the little desk we bought at auction during our first year of marriage.
He noticed it about the time I took a bite of my chicken breast and my half of a baked potato.
(That is about all we eat these days.)
It was an intense moment until he breathed and resumed eating his chicken breast and other half of the baked potato.
Whew.
I thought I would choke on my chicken.

#4. Turn your books around. 

All the different colors of book bindings take away from the neutral look.

Your family might make fun in the middle of a Christmas gift exchange but don't worry, you know you are on point!

#5. White Accents

White dishes in the form of pitchers and bowls are iconic farmhouse features. 

Some of ours are antiques but some came from local stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond and Walmart. 

You don't need to be an antique aficionado achieve this look.

#6. Farmhouse style accent fabric

Ticking or grain sacks add a pop of color and interest in the form of pillows and table runners. 

All fabric stores will have pillow ticking.

#7. Something from a barn. 

 You have to have a few things that look like they were just pulled out of a barn.  

#8. Galvanized anything

 This is one of my favorite ways to add farmhouse style. 

I love stuff that is galvanized.

It is readily available everywhere. 

Walmart, Target, Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Supply. 

It's darling and can be used in any number of ways. 

It's also cheap! I love cheap!

We've been very blessed that throughout our marriage there has been a style of decorating that allows us to incorporate old junk into our interiors. 

My parents started collecting antiques when early American was the style. 

I'm blessed to have some of their things but I also have stuff from my grandparent's house and my mother in law's house as well. 

It all works.
I love this style of decor. 

 Katie