Modern Farmhouse and 3 Other Popular Designs

Modern Farmhouse

The warm, simple, neutrally-colored, rustic style of the American turn-of-the-century farmhouse gets an airy and clean-lined update in this super-popular style. Joanna Gaines brought this style back in a big way and now it’s easy to find accessories and furniture in the color and style of the modern farmhouse.

The basis of modern farmhouse design is rustic wood, metal, and brick. Wood look tile is the perfect choice for this style, especially in favorite neutral gray-based colors.

Aside from its rustic qualities, modern farmhouse design includes unique, personalized details and the simple lines of modern design. It’s a no-nonsense and calming look that can be worked into virtually any design.

Great room open to the kitchen with vaulted ceiling, fireplace with gray tile, tile flooring that looks like wood, gray kitchen island and countertops.

Modern farmhouse living room with herringbone wood look tile flooring, shiplap look porcelain fireplace and black metal vaulted ceiling.

Modern farmhouse bedroom with floor tile that looks like wood, beige fuzzy rug under bed, gray wood furniture, and copper cage pendant.

Traditional Design

Traditional design enjoyed a long tenure as the most popular style. It’s a style that focuses on luxury and comfort and tends to lean to warmer colors, with cream and beige as its favorite neutrals.

Wood and metal are also key elements for traditional design. Usually in rich browns and warmer metals like copper and bronze, wood look and metal look tile is an excellent choice to achieve traditional style.

Granite countertops with heavy graining in brown tones are the hallmark of a traditional style kitchen or bathroom. Classic white marble is another way to go for lighter color schemes. Both offer luxury and enduring style for traditional designs.

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Living room with gray terrazzo-look floor tile, blue sectional sofa, picture windows, wooden steps to kitchen with countertop and backsplash of marble-look porcelain slab.

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Contemporary Design

Having today’s style doesn’t mean that ten years down the road, your design will feel dated. Contemporary style puts forward cutting-edge style while embracing timeless design principles that will keep it fresh for many years.

Contemporary design can be many things, but it’s generally clean-lined and geometric. Colors tend to stay very neutral, and gray is the favored base color. High contrast is often a hallmark of a contemporary design. Picture Scandinavian style and you’ll have a pretty good grasp of the general concept.

Designs that are contemporary lean toward smooth textures, airy-ness, and monochrome. Simplicity and the understated charm are the standards for contemporary design.

Floating bathroom vanity with bold cream & black backsplash, round mirrors with integrated lighting, white quartz counter, natural wood cabinets.

Modern kitchen with black & white hexagon backsplash, white countertop, white cabinets, island with glass stove top & hood vent.

Transitional Design

Transitional design happens at the crossroads of traditional and contemporary design. It blends elements from both into a unique style where personalized accents define the space.

Taupe and greige are favorite neutrals for transitional design. They are blends of gray and beige that easily straddle the fence between traditional and contemporary. Transitional often uses textures and shapes more liberally than either traditional or contemporary styles. Curvy lantern shapes and highly textured fabrics are building blocks of this style.

Pops of color are most at home in transitional design. Something bright or bold is welcomed. Even black accents here and there look great in transitional design. Keep transitional designs carefully harmonized or they can begin to look eclectic.