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9 Simple Ideas to Decorate a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

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Looking to give your modern farmhouse style kitchen a refresh?  Let’s take a look at the elements of how to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen along easy ideas to give it a little glow up in 2025!  Get tips for decorating a modern kitchen to keep the farmhouse feel in a way that fits current trends while keeping an inviting atmosphere for the heart of the home!

Do you love watching HGTV home shows?  Admittedly, I am super picky about them because, honestly, it can feel discouraging to feel like the only way I’m going to get a refresh in my kitchen is by knocking down walls and spending tens of thousands of dollars.

That being said, I do love to think of creative ways to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen (how I’d describe my current kitchen) that makes it feel fresh.

After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home and most of us spend a LOT of time in our kitchens.  Why not decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen that we love and that helps our space feel cozy and inviting?!

Thrifting With the Gals

​Before we start decorating our kitchens together, let me introduce you to Thrifting With the Gals this month!  Each month, I love joining some of my blogging friends to share our favorite thrifted finds and decorating ideas with you.  Since my kitchen is full of vintage finds and even some yard sale finds, I thought it would be perfect to share today along with the ladies’ thrifted treasures!

​At the end of this blog post, you can see a sneak peek of what each of them are sharing this month and get a link straight to their thrifted decor inspiration!

What defines a farmhouse kitchen?

Before we jump into some specific decorating tips and ideas to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen, let’s take a moment to think about the term “modern farmhouse design” and what the modern farmhouse look means for a kitchen.

The farmhouse style, in general, is all about a highly functional space that evokes a warm feeling of nostalgia.  It is a space where family gathers and dinner is simmering on the stove.  It is much less about the actual design elements and a lot more about the feeling.

As more modern design styles have sought to keep that feeling while updating the overall look, the modern farmhouse kitchen design has become popular over the past decade.  Many of us will probably always think of Joanna Gaines as synonymous with the modern farmhouse style kitchen.  Really, though, designers like Joanna Gaines really just gave average homeowners permission to update their kitchens with timeless, practical designs and add their own updated twist to “Grandma’s kitchen.”

Popular design elements and key features of the modern farmhouse style kitchen often include clean white tile, wood accents, open shelving, natural materials, and a generally neutral color palette.  Extra accents like barn doors and wooden beams are the icing on the cake for a rustic modern farmhouse kitchen space.

What trend is replacing modern farmhouses?

In more recent days, modern farmhouse kitchen ideas have taken on a transition to the cottagecore decorating style with a nod to French or English country.  In that case, we are right back to the farmhouse style kitchen, aren’t we?!

The great news is that if you invested in a modern farmhouse kitchen 10-15 years ago, you do not need to gut your kitchen and start over in order to help your kitchen feel on trend.  Why?  Because the main elements of the farmhouse style have been around for generations and aren’t going anywhere anytime soon!

You can give your kitchen an updated “cottagecore” style while keeping the beautiful, more permanent, elements of modern farmhouse kitchen design.

While the basic elements of the modern farmhouse style kitchen are easily transferred to newer trends of cottagecore and English country, there are many fun ways that you can add more whimsical, vintage, rustic kitchen ideas to update and decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen.

To me, this is one of the reasons that the modern farmhouse style kitchen is such a great design.  It includes many elements that stand the test of time and allow the homeowner to enjoy small updates here and there without major renovations or expensive changes.

So, let’s take a look at what the modern farmhouse kitchen design looks like and simple ways to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen to blend with the aesthetic of your home.

​9 Simple Ideas to Decorate a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

1. Classic Design Elements to Decorate a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

The modern farmhouse kitchen is really a great balance of the warmth of the quintessential farmhouse kitchen and the simple, clean lines of a highly functional space, suited to the lifestyle of modern families.

When I think of how to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen, I immediately think of Joanna Gaines and the first few seasons of Fixer Upper on HGTV.  For me, this is where I really started to love the look and design style of the modern farmhouse kitchen.  

Watching the shows, you can see key features repeated in every episode, meeting the definition of the modern farmhouse style kitchen.  At the same time, Joanna Gaines brought in warm, personalized elements that made each kitchen feel unique and perfectly suited to the family living there.

Some of the key features you will find to design and decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen are:

What I love about these elements is that they truly are timeless.  Take white subway tile, for example.  It has been around seemingly forever, dating back to the early 1900’s when it started becoming a popular choice not only for train stations, but also for homes.

There are many variations on this classic, but white subway tile remains a staple in the interior design world and is used in many different decorating styles.

Looking at this list of key elements, you can see that the modern farmhouse design style really provides a clean and simple backdrop for whatever decorating style you want to incorporate!

2. How to Choose a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Color Scheme

One of the first things you’ll want to do when thinking about ways to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen or even to update your kitchen decor is the color scheme.  This applies to everything from the color of the kitchen walls to the kitchen cabinets and from the cabinet hardware and color of your kitchen towels.

While the modern farmhouse kitchen decor color scheme is all about a neutral color palette, you can definitely bring in pops of bright colors with accents and accessories.  Personally, I love a pretty white kitchen and bright white cabinets.

However, one of the growing trends of updating the modern farmhouse design is to paint the lower cabinets with different colors. Deep, rich colors such as dark green or blue-gray can commonly be found on the lower kitchen cabinets to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen.

Different cabinet colors can add beautiful visual interest to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen.  If you want to keep your white kitchen or wood cabinets, though, you can still bring in cottagecore or English country updates to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen.

The most important thing, in my opinion, is to keep a cohesive look with the rest of your home.  Especially if your kitchen has open space to other rooms of the home, you’ll want to carry your color scheme throughout the open spaces.  This can be simply done with a touch of color in the accents and accessories, such as a throw pillow, rug, or piece of wall art.

One of my favorite ways to bring in the cottagecore style is with natural materials and pieces that give a nod to simpler times.

Here are a few of my favorite accessories to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen with the more recent trend of cottagecore decor style and even a touch of neutral colors:

These are just a few of my personal favorites that I have incorporated myself.  There are so many more vintage and vintage style decor pieces that you could bring into the space to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen with updated style.

3. How to Decorate a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Island

There is a big difference between bringing in pieces to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen and decorating a modern farmhouse kitchen with functional pieces that you are already using.  One of the key features of the modern farmhouse kitchen decor style is to decorate with functional items.

When you decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen, you want to clear out the clutter and keep the decorative accents to a minimum.  The great thing about using functional pieces to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen is that you can bring in beautiful, functional, practical kitchen accents that serve double duty for function and beauty!

Here are a few of my favorite functional, yet decorative, accents that you could incorporate into kitchen island decor:

Over on THIS blog post, I share some of my favorite ways to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen island.  You’ll notice accents that are definitely purely decorative, such as my large vintage scale.  However, in general, I tend to keep my kitchen center  island fairly clear and clutter free, with ample space for food preparation or even extra counter space for homework with the kids.

Before you decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen island, you’ll want to consider how your kitchen island is used on a daily basis and only add decor and accessories that are helpful and/or not in the way of daily use and function.

Here are a few tips to decorate a kitchen island:

  • Determine the priority functions.
  • Establish work zones, just as you do for the rest of your kitchen.
  • Incorporate a pretty spot, even if it is simply a small tray, flowers, and candle.
  • Use beautiful accessories for functional purposes, like a pretty vintage basket to hold fruit or an antique scale to hold a potted herb that you use for cooking.
  • Establish “rules” for no-clutter on the kitchen island and set a routine to clear it at the end of each day.  It feels good to start each day with a clean (or at least relatively clean) kitchen!

To create a pretty spot with cozy decor on your kitchen island, try following this formula:

  1. Tray, flat basket, or flat bowl to hold everything.
  2. Taller item, such as a vase or pitcher of flowers
  3. Medium item, such as a seasonal figure (think a cute bunny for spring!)
  4. Smaller item, such as a pretty candle or bowl of fruit

Essentially, you are following the same steps as you would to style an accent table.  You can find my fail-proof formula for coffee table styling over on THIS POST!

5. How to Decorate a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Sink

To decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen, start first with your sink area.

What products do you want to have out all of the time?  Then, choose pretty containers to place beside your kitchen sink.  I like to use a small pedestal to keep mine corralled neatly.  A little tray would also work great.

Here are some ideas for functional decor for your sink area:

6. How to Choose Light Fixtures for a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

​Light fixtures are a great way to bring visual interest and your personal design style to help decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen.  Of course, light fixtures need to be first considered for their function and ideal location.  Then, you can focus on the perfect choice of lighting to set the design tone for the entire kitchen!

Size and scale are very important to consider.  Pendant lights are a great option to hang over pretty apron front sinks or over a peninsula that offers extra cooking space.  These areas need to be well lit and pretty pendant lights are a perfect choice to add style and function.

​If you have a kitchen island, pendant lights are also a great option to give functional “zone” lighting for the kitchen island area.  I also think of this lighting as a fun opportunity to add character and interest to the entire space.

Here are some great options for lighting to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen:

7. How to Decorate a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen or Dining Table

Many homes have done away with the traditional kitchen table in exchange for a kitchen island.  However, if you are lucky enough to have both, that is amazing!  In our home, our kitchen is open to the dining room.  Like many modern kitchen designs, we enjoy an open concept space and that works best for our family.

Whether you have a dining room table that is open to the kitchen, a kitchen table that is in your actual kitchen space, or just want to create a cohesive look between. your kitchen and dining room, the centerpiece you choose for the table is a great way to tie the spaces together.

I love incorporating seasonal decorations to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen or dining table.  It is a great way to incorporate a fresh look for the season and help the entire kitchen or dining space to feel new again, even with just a simple idea for a table centerpiece.

Creating pretty tablescapes and table centerpieces is one of my favorite things and I have several different blog posts with a variety of my favorite ideas to decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen or dining table for the seasons.

8. How to Incorporate Storage Space in a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

One thing that makes any kitchen better is to have great storage space.  When you decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen, you’ll want to keep storage space toward the top of your priority list.  To me, a kitchen renovation that looks pretty but doesn’t function well for my family is a huge fail.  In order to have a successful flow to any kitchen space, you need to optimize storage space.

One way to incorporate storage space as you decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen is to use decorative pieces that also serve as functional storage.

On THIS blog post, you can get some of my favorite ideas for organizing a kitchen, including making the most of your storage space!  This is an important way to help you decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen with pieces that serve double duty!

Here are a few favorite decorative accents that can also double as storage for a kitchen:

9. How to Add Other Elements to Decorate a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

​The modern farmhouse kitchen design can have many other beautiful elements that are more permanent.  If you are planning a kitchen renovation or even want to invest a little bit into some modern farmhouse additions to help decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen, here are other great ideas to consider:

As you can see, a modern farmhouse kitchen can take on many different looks since you can decorate a modern farmhouse kitchen with such a variety of accents and accessories.

While the general design of modern elements will be found in various ways in any modern farmhouse style kitchen, I love that you have so much freedom within the modern farmhouse style to make your kitchen all your own!

If you already have a modern farmhouse kitchen and are looking for a little refresh, you may enjoy incorporating a few cottage elements into the space and see how beautifully the modern elements of the farmhouse kitchen can combine with the cottagecore style for a warm, inviting, and cozy space.

After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home!

You can browse some of my favorite kitchen decor, carefully curated HERE on my storefront!

Before you go today, make sure to check out the other Thrifting with the Gals posts.  You’re going to love their fun finds and all of the ways they have styled thrifted decor into their homes!

Rachel from The Pond’s Farmhouse

Ann from Dabbling and Decorating

Lora from Create and Ponder 

Brooke from The Junk Parlor

You may also find these home decor blog posts helpful for the vintage cottage farmhouse decor style:

Get in the know

You’ll always hear it from Robyn’s French Nest first. My passion is helping you create a haven for you and your loved ones!

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Blessings,

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