How to Bring Modern Farmhouse Style to Your Home: Part 3, Bring The Outside In
The next slice of the Teaselwood Design home makeover pie? Bringing the outdoors into your home. No, we’re not advocating inviting wild animals in or birds, bugs and the like – unless you’ve always wanted to be a zookeeper of some sort, then, hey, have at it – we’re thinking more along the lines of natural materials and textures. Take a hint from Mother Nature, the most amazing designer of them all, and use her exterior resources to beautify your interior space.
What kind of natural materials and textures work best? How about a handful of the following:
Fresh Flowers: Liven up any tabletop, mantle or room in general with a stunning bouquet. Flowers are so simple and yet add so much to an otherwise banal tablescape. It doesn’t get more natural than that.
Greenery: Plants not only purify the air for you – take that, seasonal germs – but they bring that much needed natural vibe to your home. They literally look great anywhere, too – just don’t forget to water them and give them adequate lighting according to their individual needs. Oh, and maybe talk to them once in a while? The jury’s still out on that.
Use Nature for Accessory Ideas: Pick elements found in nature for accessorizing your home. Remember the old “sticks and stones” adage? Well, they will likely break bones, but more importantly, what the poem doesn’t say is that they’re a fantastic natural touch in your farmhouse. Who says bouquets MUST be in flower form? How about gathering some cool looking birch wood or knobby twigs from your yard and displaying them in a glass vase filled with pebbles? Think outside the traditional décor. Literally.
Optimize Your Natural Light: Let light in! Throw open those windows and French doors and forget thick, heavy, evil-fortress-like curtains! It’s a scientific fact Vitamin D does wonders for body and soul, and moreover, mood. Sunshine is one heck of an essential accessory in any home, let alone a spiffy modern farmhouse like the one you’re working so diligently on.
Choose Patterns Found in Nature: Let your farmhouse be inspired by the outdoors by incorporating faux bois patterns (think: imitation wood/wood pattern), floral fabrics and other natural textures.
And, while we’re talking natural materials and textures, here’s a handy dandy list of some fantastic ones to work into your décor:
- Linen
- Wool
- Cotton
- Wood
- Marble
- Soapstone
- Bluestone
- Slate
Have other ideas about bringing the outside in and incorporating nature into your farmhouse? Please share them here! We hope you find the tips offered here to be super helpful and we’re always open to new ideas.
Keep your eyes peeled for Part 4 “How to Bring Modern Farmhouse Style to Your Home” topic: Mixing Old and New and Using Unusual Materials.
XOXO,
Charity
Images unless noted are by Alice G Patterson Photography for Teaselwood Design