It May Finally Be Time To Transition Away From Modern Farmhouse Decor. Here's How To Do It

One trend that has been very popular for the past few years is modern farmhouse decor. Characterized by its rustic charm contrasted by modern decor choices, this trend hit its peak during the 2010s. Popular HGTV stars have been providing modern farmhouse design inspo to help make the modern farmhouse of your dreams, and many people still love their modern farmhouse decor. However, with the trend seeming to lose popularity, you may be wondering if it is time for a change. House Digest spoke exclusively with Design Historian Sarah Bilotta about her thoughts on this trend and ways to transition away from this home decor style.

According to Bilotta, while the modern farmhouse trend isn't completely disappearing, parts of the trend are not as popular as they used to be. Well-admired looks like bold backsplashes, modern shaker cabinets, and woodwork featuring light neutral colors have been losing their pull on the general public. Instead, homeowners are looking for more color in their spaces and a variety of different textures and patterns scattered throughout different rooms. This more maximalist style creates a warmer, more inviting space. For some inspiration, look to interior design experts who reveal how to incorporate maximalism in your home. 

However, this doesn't mean that everything modern farmhouse is no longer wanted. "What's not going out of style are super traditional rural motifs that have decorated American and British country homes for centuries," Bilotta explained. "A Windsor chair will always be at home at a cozy, rustic kitchen table, just like a display of wrought iron candlestick holders will always bring a bit of rustic charm to a cozy living room sideboard." 

If your home is still following the modern farmhouse decor trend and you no longer love the look, you may be looking for some simple ways to transition away from this style. Although transitioning your home's decor can be both time consuming and costly, there are simple ways to begin this shift. When House Digest spoke exclusively with Sarah Bilotta, she provided some tips on how to begin to transition your space.

Bilotta's biggest piece of advice is to start small. Rather than making any major, expensive changes to your home right away, like ripping out tile and kitchen cabinets or even repainting your walls, think about the more minor ways that you can incorporate a more maximalist style into your home. "Start incorporating pops of color in table decor, serving ware, upholstery, curtains, and wall art," Bilotta recommended. This will help you get used to the new design trend and ensure you like it before making other major steps. You can also change out the lighting to include amber lights, which, according to Bilotta, can make a space feel less cold.

When you are feeling more ready to try out more intensive changes, try using some peel-and-stick wallpaper to test out your new decor ideas. You can also incorporate a furniture centerpiece in each room of your home. "Choose one large piece of furniture for each room, which flows with your new color palette, theme, and lighting," Bilotta said. "If you're choosing to stay in a rural/rustic mindset, look for classic pieces, like a cozy wingback chair in a rich, colorful, fun floral upholstery."

Of course, if you are ready for a more major change, it may be time to consider switching up your style entirely. During House Digest's exclusive interview with Sarah Bilotta, she shared some new trends that would allow you to use some elements of your farmhouse decor to create a whole new look. For instance, she suggested considering the Japandi style. "A little bit East Asian and a little bit hygge, this style can be easily incorporated into a home that previously leaned hard into the modern farmhouse vibe," Bilotta explained. "Keep all the natural wood accents, but lose anything painted in a cool-toned white. Replace, instead, with warm creams and browns."

You could also try an industrial style, which leans into some of the modern touches in the modern farmhouse decor. Bilotta suggested keeping any matte black hardware and weathered wood accents, and replacing the other farmhouse elements with sleek edges. The ultimate guide to industrial decor can help you decide what might work best for you. Finally, Bilotta recommended the eco-chic style. "Biophilic design is coming back in a big way, so now is the perfect time to bring the outdoors indoors and start transforming your modern farmhouse into a woodland oasis," Bilotta said. "Keep natural woods, potted plants, textiles made from unadorned natural materials like jute and cotton, but lose painted wood accents, plastic decor, mass produced furniture. Opt instead for fun, unique textiles, upholstery, and one-of-a-kind pieces made by artisans or repurposed from thrift shops." Most importantly, no matter the decor trend you choose to follow, make sure it makes you happy and fits your lifestyle!