You have that kind of experience when you enter a room and immediately feel like at home? This is what the farmhouse bedroom decor does to you, it embraces you in the warmth and comfort as your favorite blanket. I have been infatuated with this style over the years, and to be honest, this style never goes out of style. Rustic and modern comfort should go together, and it does.
You may be working with a blank slate or just doing a little redesign of your existing bedroom, but these 15 ideas of the farmhouse decor will turn your bedroom into the dreamy home you always desired. Believe me, your bedroom will be grateful to you 🙂
Reclaimed Wood Headboards: The Heart of Farmhouse Style
There is nothing that says farmhouse like reclaimed wood headboard. I was in love with mine as soon as I caught sight of it–all those worn planks which record the histories of barns and old houses. The perfection is in the flaws: each knot, scratch and worn edge gives personality.
Authentic reclaimed wood can be found at salvage yards or you can also distress new wood on your own. Pro tip? Lightly dust the wood and put a transparent placard over it to seal it without taking away that rustic appearance. These natural color variations give it visual interest which can never be matched by the manufactured furniture.
Want something unique? Search the old barn doors or fence pickets used as headboards. These work as talking topics and center-pieces that stand out in the entire design of your bedroom.
Vintage Quilts and Textiles: Comfort Meets Character
One of the questions that have been in your mind is why farmhouse bedrooms are so comfortable? It is all about the textiles that are layered. Vintage quilts, including quilts with traditional designs such as wedding ring or log cabin designs, add an immediate farmhouse style to any bedroom.
I search in estate sales and antique stores to find the real quilts. The fact that the colors are slightly faded, and the details are hand-stitched, is quite authentic and could not be found in the shops. Top them with neutral bedding so as to add depth and visual interest to them.
But do not confine yourself to quilts. Huge pillows of grain sacks, linen (the throws and even old feed sack fabrics) are all great. The trick is to combine the textures and patterns and maintain the color scheme.
Textile Layering Tips
- Start with neutral sheets in white, cream, or soft gray
- Add a vintage quilt as your main focal point
- Include 2-3 throw pillows in complementary patterns
- Finish with a chunky knit or linen throw at the foot of the bed
Mason Jar Lighting: Simple Yet Stunning
Mason jars are no longer used to can but rather create an amazing light source currently radiating farmhouse style. I have mason jar pendant lights on both sides of my bed, and they provide the right ambient light to read.
You can make them yourself (with a good understanding of Electrical, please) or you can get ready-made fixtures on the internet. The light coming through the glass is soft, diffused, which makes the interior appear warm and cozy and can never be compared to harsh overhead light.
To make a do-it-yourself project, fill mason jars with battery-operated fairy lights. Quick bedside lights that do not demand any electrical installation. This is particularly effective with renters, who are not able to do permanent modifications.
Shiplap Walls: The Classic Farmhouse Element
Alright, I have to admit it I was rather sceptical about the entire shiplap trend. However, since it has been installed as a wall accent behind my bed, I am a complete convert. Shiplap provides the space with texture and interest without dominating the space.
You do not have to cover all the walls. There is one accent wall that is made behind the headboard that forms a beautiful focal point. It can be painted in pale white or left untouched to give it the appearance of an old farmhouse.
Unable to make permanent shiplap commitments? Peel and stick ones perform surprisingly well and do not ruin your walls. They suit renters or any person who prefers varying things at a certain frequency.
Antique Furniture Pieces: Character in Every Detail
Farmhouse style glorifies the history and imperfection. Those old fashioned dresser with a patch of chipped paint? Perfect. The old nightstand with incongruent hardware? Even better.
I have discovered some of my best at flea markets and estate sales. Find solid wood furniture that has good bones – you can always repaint and refinish it to suit your taste. The trick is to select pieces of furniture that are genuine and not those that are being produced in the market as distressed.
Blend wood colors and finishes. This gives the aged-with-time appearance that farmhouse style is so attractive.
Shopping for Antique Furniture
| Where to Look | What to Expect | Price Range | Best Finds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estate Sales | High quality, fair prices | $$ – $$$ | Dressers, nightstands |
| Flea Markets | Negotiable prices, variety | $ – $$ | Small accessories, chairs |
| Antique Shops | Curated selection, higher prices | $$$ – $$$$ | Statement pieces |
| Online Marketplaces | Convenience, wide selection | $ – $$$$ | Everything |
Natural Elements: Bringing the Outdoors In
Farmhouse style identifies with nature and thus the use of natural elements is important. Fresh flowers, potted plants and natural wood accessories all serve to add to that organic, lived in quality.
I have a little potted lavender on my night stand, she is pretty and smells great. The use of cotton stems in an old pitcher does not conflict with other decorative elements as it does not add too much height and texture.
Do not overlook such natural textures as jute rugs, woven baskets, wood bowls. These details make the space sound and do not make it too precious or stylized.
Neutral Color Palettes: The Foundation of Farmhouse Design
The color scheme of the farmhouse focuses on a muted palette of soft colours and produces a natural and relaxing effect. Imagine the creamy whites, warm grays, soft beige, and the touch of pop of sage green, or dusty blue.
I have learned this lesson I am a painter and I painted my bedroom walls in a bright blue colour and this totally killed the farmhouse vibe. I am now using Benjamin Moore Cloud White on the walls with natural wood and cream finishes throughout.
Such neutral shades form an eternal background that will not become outdated in 5 years. In addition, they also enlarge small bedrooms and make them look larger and more open.
Vintage Signs and Wall Decor: Personality on Display
Vintage-style wall decor is the only thing that brings personality. I have been gathering old farm signs, old advertising prints and even reclaimed architectural pieces over the years.
The trick does not lie in going too far. Select a few (2-3) pieces of meaning instead of wall coverages. A giant antique Fresh Eggs board above the dresser or a grouping of old milk bottles on floating shelves is characterful but not messy.
Find items of natural patina and wear. Reproductions also work well as long as they are of good quality and suit your individual taste.
Cozy Reading Nooks: Creating Personal Retreats
Nothing is better than sitting in your bedroom and reading a good book. A reading nook is the best way to transform your bedroom into a real retreat.
An easy chair before the window where the natural light is good is ideal. Include a fluffy throw, small side table to place your cup of coffee and a basket to place books. My wooden box is as a footrest and storage.
The trick is to make it so that it does not sound fussy. It ought to be a place where you do desire to spend time, and not a place that only looks nice in pictures.
Exposed Beams and Architectural Details
And be glad if you have some ceiling beams showing! They are the last farmhouse architectural element. No beams? The same effect is produced by faux wood beam which is in fact very simple to install.
Additional architectural features that add to the farmhouse style are board and batten wainscoting, picture rail molding and older type ceiling fans. These accentuate plain rooms with character and visual interest.
There is no need to know every detail though. Use one or two elements of architecture to emphasize it and not clutter the space.
Layered Rugs: Comfort and Style Underfoot
The idea of layering rugs can be difficult and complicated to hear, yet this technique is very simple when it comes to how to add warmth and texture to farmhouse bedrooms. To create an aesthetic and comfortability I overlay a bigger jute rug with a smaller vintage-style rug.
Natural fiber carpets such as jute, sisal or seagrass are also ideal base mats. Thicken the floor with a more comfortable rug – consider Persian-style rugs or braided rugs.
This method is particularly applicable to really big bedrooms where one rug may look out of place or too small.
Farmhouse Lighting Fixtures: Setting the Mood
Other than mason jars, farmhouse bedrooms enjoy the warm and ambient lighting. I mean wrought iron chandeliers, antique style sconces and table lamps with cloth shades.
Avoid severe overhead lighting at any cost. The various heights of the light sources are more welcome. LED candles in lanterns are battery operated and are not fire hazardous.
The idea is to be able to light up in a way that you want to take your time in the room rather than hurry to complete your bedtime chores.
Storage Solutions with Style
The farmhouse storage is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Vintage trunks at the foot of the bed, wicker baskets at nightstands and old wooden crates as floating shelves all offer storage without interfering with the look.
I store my clothes in an older armoire as my primary storage unit, it is more interesting than a conventional closet and provides the room with a sense of height. Galvanized metal containers are perfect with smaller products and they bring the industrial farmhouse look.
It is all about having a storage that is not an afterthought. Each work must be a part of the whole design.
Fresh Flowers and Greenery: Life in Every Corner
Fresh flowers and plants are the best thing that can make farmhouse style come to life. I also have flowers on my dresser which are seasonal and I have found out that their stems of cotton can be kept in months without the presence of water.
Minimal arrangements are the easiest to make – consider wildflowers in mason jars or eucalyptus branches in old pitchers. Snake plants or pothos are also potted plants that bring life with minimum care requirements.
Even withered flowers and branches carry on the natural element into the various seasons. Dried lavender, pussy willows and wheat stalks can all be used.
Personal Touches and Collections
Great farmhouse bedroom narrates a story by significant personal collections. Perhaps it is old books or old bottles or old photos in old frames.
On floating shelves I have on display my grandmothers collection of buttons in small glass jars. It is intimate, engaging and ideal farmhouse. The trick is to edit your collections – display your favorites and not all of your collections.
These intimate details turn your bedroom into a place that belongs to you even though it is still in keeping with the values of farmhouse where simplicity and authenticity prevail.
Window Treatments: Soft and Natural
Simple, natural treatments, which do not pile up against architectural effects, are needed in farmhouse windows. Linen curtain, bamboo curtains, or even old fashioned lace curtains are all good.
I like the filters that do not block out light but confine the light. The farmhouse style requires natural light, which brings out the textures and gives us that open airy look that we want.
Do not use lengthy, formal dress. The window treatments must be able to add to the space, not to take over the space.
Bringing It All Together
The process of building the ideal farmhouse bedroom does not mean purchasing everything at a time and being dictated by fashion. It is about making decisions about the objects that resonate with you and creating the environment that is authentically comfortable.
Begin with one or two of the most important details – perhaps that reclaimed wood headboard or old quilt – and work up. Farmhouse style is beautiful because it is not perfect and has personality.
Do not forget that the finest farmhouse bedrooms are lived in, and not museums. Wear clothes you love, and it is alright to break some rules in the process. And the most attractive rooms in farmhouses are those which are somewhat of a mirror to their owners:/
In your newly farmhouse-fabulous bedroom, sweet dreams!