Why I Refuse To Put Farmhouse Decor In My Home

Hear me out. Because I know that title is very, “Well, aren’t we up on our high horse today?” Haha!

Can I tell you that I adore rustic farmhouse decor down to the very last cotton stem? Can we still be friends now?

Okay. Whew! I was worried.

Why I Refuse To Put Farmhouse Decor In My Home | blesserhouse.com - Why following the farmhouse decor trend could diminish your home, why following a trend isn't always the best answer, and why decorating is always worth it.

If you’ve been following this little ol’ blog of mine for a while, you might have noticed some things that have been really different lately. Some of y’all have even sent me messages about it like “What’s the deal?”, so I thought it was time we had a chat.

Since Robert, Olivia, (and Lola) and I moved into our new-to-us 1960 colonial revival house this spring, I’ve decided not to decorate it with rustic farmhouse decor. And it’s not because I hate the farmhouse trend. It’s because I felt like I’d be trying to make our home something it’s not.

Why I Refuse To Put Farmhouse Decor In My Home | blesserhouse.com - Why following the farmhouse decor trend could diminish your home, why following a trend isn't always the best answer, and why decorating is always worth it.

It’d be like giving an already beautiful girl a ton of plastic surgery past the point of recognition. Why? When she’s already so beautiful exactly the way she is?

I knew when we bought this house that not a stick of shiplap would be nailed into these walls. A roughed up Farmers Market sign would feel really out of place in our kitchen. And tons of rusted galvanized metal, reclaimed wood, and livestock art just suddenly seems to stick out like a sore thumb.

It’s not that there won’t be anymore farmhouse decor at all (since of course there’s still hints of it our living room, breakfast nook, and master bedroom so far), just less of it.

Don’t get me wrong; I still won’t be letting go of some of my absolute favorites like our reclaimed wagon bench anytime soon.

Why I Refuse To Put Farmhouse Decor In My Home | blesserhouse.com - Why following the farmhouse decor trend could diminish your home, why following a trend isn't always the best answer, and why decorating is always worth it.

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In our last house, we did the farmhouse thing because it was a total blank slate. It had literally 0% charm. So I guess, that’s the beauty of builder grade. You can do whatever you want!

At this point, I feel like I’m in uncharted territory. I’m excited (and a tad intimidated) to try new things and explore more of what suits my (and Robert’s) tastes because I want to do this house justice in a modern-meets-traditional-meets-city-with-still-a-touch-of-the-farmhouse-style-that-I-still-love kind of way. A bit more polished and refined and a bit less rough and raw.

Why I Refuse To Put Farmhouse Decor In My Home | blesserhouse.com - Why following the farmhouse decor trend could diminish your home, why following a trend isn't always the best answer, and why decorating is always worth it.

So antique gold is happening. Subtle wallpaper is making appearances. And I’ve unintentionally gone ga-ga for marble and dark wood.

This house and I are still getting to know each other, but I’m really loving what it’s teaching me about opening my mind to new ideas and following my own path. Maybe things will get weird. I dunno. But it’s worth walking down this road to see where it takes me.

And, of course, even though staying on a tight budget is a LOT more challenging in an older house that needs a whole big list of updates, keeping it all affordable is still my ultimate goal.

Why I Refuse To Put Farmhouse Decor In My Home | blesserhouse.com - Why following the farmhouse decor trend could diminish your home, why following a trend isn't always the best answer, and why decorating is always worth it.

In all of this, maybe there’s a lesson, the kind that we were always told as kids. “Don’t do something just because everyone else is doing it.” Don’t follow others if your heart feels pulled in a different direction. And don’t try to be something you’re not, or in this case, what your house is not.

I hope all of our DIY adventures help you in some way, and I hope you know that by having you cheer me on and give me feedback with comments and messages on this new wild ride of ours gives me the courage and motivation and direction I need. The fact that you are reading this means that you are the reason I wake up excited to do what I do with this blog. I can never thank you enough for allowing me that.

At the end of the day, it’s not even the decorating I care about. (Because, seriously, the fact that we all even have a roof over our heads is reason enough to rejoice, right?)  In the grand scheme of things, decorating is so trivial. But it’s the feeling of accomplishment, discovering more about yourself, challenging yourself to things you never ever thought you could do, THAT is worth celebrating. And that, ultimately, is what this whole DIY blogging journey is all about.

So can we still be friends? Are you totally heartbroken and/or ticked off that the farmhouse stuff won’t be quite as front and center? I promise you, it’ll still be around, just in smaller, less primitive doses.

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116 Comments

  1. Well said! Your blog and writing style always make me feel like we’ve been friends for years and because of that, I’m always so excited to see what my friend has beautifully accomplished.

    Awesome decision to “listen” to the house rather than the current fads. You’re already doing amazing things in your new home and I can’t wait to see what you’ll do next!

  2. I’m glad you’re going in a different direction. Farmhouse is nice buts it’s everywhere and overdone.

  3. This article spoke to me! I love Farmhouse but I feel it isn’t for me! I ogle and drool over the pics and decor for sale but can’t see it here so I appreciate from afar. I do love rustic, but more European , French, Tuscan or actually Our own U.S. Southern style rustic. I don’t feel the need to paint a rustic pine china cabinet gray or white but enjoy the warmth of the wood against the white plates and transfer wear. I just need you to pull it together!! Love that picture of your foyer! Just my style!

  4. Lauren, you are singing my song! Your talent is inspiring and I so love this post! I find total absorption in “farmhouse” style is becoming tiresome. Each room, each space, can speak to us in a unique way and the rustic touch of farmhouse, the soft touch of country and the elegance of formal can play beautifully together. Your vision is a lovely one..can’t wait to see how you proceed in your beautiful home!

  5. Well said…FINALLY someone thinks like I do!! I’ve had these feelings all along and did not want to follow the trend of soooo much farmhouse decorating. I live with others that do not care for the farmhouse décor, so you have to be mindful of others opinion as well. Besides, it does not fit the style of our home. I cannot wait to see what you do to this beautiful new space…I know it’s going to be amazing!!