We’ve talked about the farmhouse style and farmhouse colors in my past blogs, and for a good reason! The farmhouse style has been widely adopted in recent years, and it’s taken on a life and energy within the design community. I doubt farmers living 100 years ago could have predicted it! But, how do you incorporate farmhouse exterior colors onto your home?
To briefly revisit the philosophy of farmhouse style and colors – it’s essential to keep in mind that it’s all about authenticity, practicality, warmth, and honestly. Farmers didn’t have fancy works of art or austere items to decorate their homes with, so they worked with what they had.
Glass jars, tin signs, reclaimed woods, barrels, and wooden chests are staples of the farmhouse style. A home has successfully emulated the farmhouse style if it strikes the perfect balance of functionality and beauty. Remember, farmers didn’t run out and purchase all these goods; they pieced together what they already had to decorate. Blending eras, old and new, is a significant component to creating a successful farmhouse look and feel to your home or guest house.
As an exterior paint color consultant, I will share some tips and strategies so you can update the exterior of your home to exemplify what beauty farmhouse exterior colors can achieve!
You won’t find violets, pinks, and oranges in farmhouse color palettes. Farmhouse exterior colors are about an effortless beauty that is practical, not overly attention-driven. That is why it’s choice to choose a pallet that embraces darker neutrals, creamy off-whites, exposed woods, and accents with a spark of color here and there.
White, Black, and Rustic
A beautiful and striking way to present a modern home with farmhouse exterior colors is to use powerful contrasting colors, accented with rustic, earthy tones. Picture a single-story ranch with white siding, black trim, and verticle Barnwood slates dressing the porch and exterior accent wall. Simple, beautiful, and practical – a color consultant’s dream.
Stone, Grays, and Greens
Homes with exposed stonework are fortunate to take advantage of the natural beautiful earth tones. Textured stone featured against gray siding, with deep green trim, is an excellent color palette arrangement that simultaneously looks modern but also timeless and stoic.
Warm woods, Green and Red
Going with farmhouse exterior colors doesn’t mean the accent colors of the home cannot pop. A lovely example of this is the front entrance of the house and front door. I love to picture a rustic cabin on a frozen lake, the exterior is warm, rich dark wood, and the front door is a deep forest green or striking cardinal red. Dark red or dark green are also traditional colors for the windows in the farmhouse style.
One of the features of any home with a farmhouse feel is a home with lots of texture and wood elements. We assume that we should be painting the shutters, but what if we don’t paint them and stain them as wood? It would add to the home’s rustic feeling and add color in front of the white facade. Wood adds texture, contrast, and more than anything, it adds warmth to your home.
Wood can also come in the form of a wood ceiling, stained wood floor, and even wood columns on the front porch. It is more than just an untreated product, it might be lightly stained or even a saturated color, contrasting beautifully with the sleek farmhouse style, new or old!
If you like the presence, philosophy, and colors of the farmhouse style, it’s best to think about opportunities that would exonerate your home’s features to work with farmhouse design.
Not everyone has an early 20th real farmhouse in the Berkshires or cabin on a lake in Alaska to work with. Still, suppose you desire the farmhouse look. In that case, there are ways to incorporate the colors, design elements, and accent pieces into your home’s exterior, even if you don’t have the architectural features of a classic farmhouse.
For example, a contemporary home can use neutral grays and olive tones for the exterior shingles and trim while leaving the front patio columns exposed, showcasing the beauty of natural wood. Instead of an electric garage door, opt-in for wooden barn style doors.
Instead of paving your driveway with asphalt, lay down cobblestone or crushed bluestone. Use overhanging Edison bulbs and imitation kerosene lamps to illuminate your walkway, not colder in-ground LEDs. There are opportunities all over your home’s exterior to use farmhouse exterior colors and design elements; don’t be discouraged if you don’t own a farmhouse or barn.
Do you love the farmhouse style? Is it a timeless look? Or just a fad? As a color specialist, I’d love to hear your opinions!
