Is Modern Farmhouse Style Finally Losing Its Appeal?
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These days, the fashion industry is characterized by trends that come and go seemingly overnight; interior design seems to now be following suit, albeit at a slightly less blistering pace. Architectural styles and aesthetics that in decades past may have defined a generation now seem to cycle in and out on a monthly basis—this is thanks in some part to social media, which throws a new, enticing bevy of “inspo” at us every second of every day. Who wouldn’t want to remodel?
One of the recent victims of this here-today-gone-tomorrow mentality is modern farmhouse, a style that’s been seemingly everywhere in the 2010s—until now. So is the once-popular look really going out of style, or does it still have gas left in the tank?
What Is Modern Farmhouse?
Getty / PC Photography
Modern farmhouse’s main ideas are nothing new, which is perhaps why it’s proven so popular—it has a sense of coziness and familiarity. From an architectural perspective, the look consists of gables, large windows, natural wood beams, and black and white hues.
The interior design follows a similar material and color palette, with maybe a splash of light or dark greens and blues. The look, after all, is about making a farmhouse aesthetic a bit more contemporary, so there’s typically an even mix of more rustic and modern design elements.
History
Modern farmhouse skyrocketed in popularity in the mid-2010s. The term first entered the zeitgeist in 2016 via a New York Times story. The piece profiled Tara Mangini and Percy Bright, interior designers who were in the process of renovating a tiny, 1920s-era cabin in Canaan, New York. Their process involved adding “Shaker-style kitchen cabinets” and dressers from local flea markets to the space—their mix of contemporary and old-school interior design language had made them stars on social media.
The term “modern farmhouse” perhaps made more sense in this context, but it’s now applied to homes across the country of all shapes and sizes—not just pint-sized, picturesque cabins in the woods. The progenitor, though, remains the same: A potent cocktail of design-world stardom and social media.
Indeed, modern farmhouse owes much of its success to Chip and Joanna Gaines, who crisscrossed their hometown of Waco, Texas, converting a bevy of homes into the celebrated modern farmhouse style. Other influencers have added fuel to the fire, like Shea McGee, whose take on modern farmhouse skews slightly more contemporary, with a dash more brass and white walls.
Modern Farmhouse Is Falling Out of Style
Getty / Aliyev Alexei Sergeevich
In 2023, The New York Times dubbed modern farmhouse “today’s McMansion,” an unflattering comparison that likens the architectural style to the cheaply made, cookie-cutter homes that were everywhere in the 1980s. “The style has become overly commercialized and ubiquitous,” says Jordana Maisie, founder of Jordana Maisie Design Studio. “It’s lost its unique appeal as it became a mainstream trend and is seen in so many new builds and renovations.” Perhaps all of those HGTV shows resulted in overexposure in the end.
In addition, one of the biggest recent home trends is a growing sense of individualism. Interior designers have noted time and again that clients are looking for homes that reflect themselves and their interests rather than what everyone else has already seen on social media. Since modern farmhouse seems to be just about everywhere on Instagram feeds and Pinterest boards, it stands in direct opposition to this sentiment.
Alternatives
If modern farmhouse isn’t for you, then there are a few burgeoning styles that are similar and hit the same notes, but can be tailored more to individual tastes. Consider these a starting point when mulling a renovation.
Japandi
OWIU
Japandi is very similar to modern farmhouse—you could even argue that its likeness is a contributing factor in its recent popularity boom. As its name suggests, Japandi combines elements of Japanese and Scandinavian design, and borrows some elements from minimalism, including a less-is-more ethos and a clean, muted look.
Where Japandi feels most similar to modern farmhouse, though, is in its color palette and materials. Like modern farmhouse, Japandi prioritizes organic materials and brown, white, and black hues. The main difference? You’re more likely to spot a Carl Hansen chair than an Adirondack seat.
Minimalism
Minimalism is as much an organization philosophy as it is a design aesthetic, and it’s experienced a steady rise in popularity as people look to simplify their homes and lives. Like modern farmhouse, most minimalist homes will feature a neutral color palette—unlike modern farmhouse, minimalism often features less furniture, décor, and any other objects that might be perceived as “clutter.”
Quiet Luxury
Brian Wetzel
A broader term, quiet luxury refers to a home that has beautiful, luxe materials, but isn’t too noisy. This translates to things like plush upholstery, sumptuous rugs, and elegant brass light fixtures. Since it can apply to many different aesthetics, it’s an apt—and timely—update to the tried-and-true modern farmhouse theme.
Biophilic
MARVIN
Ask any interior designer what trend is big in 2025, and biophilic design is bound to be somewhere on their list. The idea is simple: Bridging the gap between the indoors and out with natural materials, houseplants, and plenty of sunlight. In its simplicity and nature-inspired elements, at least, it’s not so different from modern farmhouse.
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