Making your landscaping match your home can be one of the most rewarding parts of the design process. When it comes to design for farmhouses, getting the style just right might be challenging. Whether your house is out in the country, or closer to city limits, working with what you’ve got is important. From respecting a rural feel, to integrating modern touches to a suburban home, farmhouse design can fit anywhere.
When doing outdoor design for a farmhouse, take several things into account. Picking the right plant will help the authenticity of your space. However, getting carried away can make your yard look overgrown. Striking a balance, choosing the correct colors, and taking cues from your home's architecture is a recipe for success.
Keep reading for some of our favorite farmhouse design tips.
Choose Local Plants
Traditional farmhouse design reflects the natural environment around it. For this reason, choosing local plants will help you create a cohesive outdoor look. Local plantings are not only traditional, but they look great, too.
Plantings vary greatly by region. What works for a farmhouse in one area of the country may not be successful in your yard. To find the plants that are right for your space, hop online. Websites like Native Plant Finder can help you determine what kinds of plantings will thrive in your space, and what to avoid.
Planting Style
Once you’ve decided which plants to use in your space, determine how you will plant them. Modern design takes its cues from straight lines. Farmhouse design is more organic. Instead of trying to plant in very controlled lines, let things grow more naturally. Use the curves of a farmhouse style roof and architecture as your guide.
Considering plants that grow to a larger size will help you fill room without breaking the bank. Plants like hydrangeas are great for filling space, while bringing in color and visual interest. After planting, let your garden intertwine to fill in any empty space. This provides a fuller coverage look to your space and gives a relaxed, farmhouse feel.
Incorporate Color Correctly
Part of designing in any style is choosing the right color palette. Farmhouse design is more naturalistic. For this reason, choosing the right colors is important to achieving the desired overall effect. Stay away from colors that are too harsh, or bright. Both in hardscaping materials and in elements like paint, think natural.
Soft greens, browns, yellows, and deep reds are great in plantings. In paint, think white, soft grays, and naturally finished wood. The idea is to highlight the environment, rather than contrast too starkly. Pops of color can be incorporated through native flowers or outdoor rugs or pottery. No matter what you choose, making sure your color pallets flows will draw the eye through the space smoothly.
Natural Materials For Farmhouse Design
Outdoor design for a farmhouse should take a more natural path. This is true when considering materials as well. If you are considering adding more living space outside your farmhouse style home, choose materials carefully.
Paved patios can look great, but rather than choosing more modern finishes, look to natural stone in muted colors. Avoid staining decks too dark, and try to avoid materials like brick that may look out of place. Flagstone walkways or stacked stone walls add visual interest while keeping with the rustic feel.
Hardscaping isn’t the only way to incorporate natural materials. Vertical structures can be a great design choice as well. Adding an arbor or a pergola with vining plants can soften harsh lines and add depth to your space. Talking with your local contractor about what materials are best for your space can help you make the right choice.
Take Cues From Your Home’s Architecture
Just as you are taking cues from the local environment, take cues from your home’s architecture. An outdoor space should be an extension of your home. This means that you should try to make your yard feel like a natural progression from your home’s design. Take into account the lines, design, and materials used in your farmhouse. Then, begin to imagine ways to mimic these elements in your space.
If your home has classic wood siding, and a swooping roof, mimic these lines in your backyard design. Curve planting beds. Create pathways that meander from one area of the space to another. If your farmhouse is painted white, or a soft blue, choose materials that compliment this color.
The goal is to make your outdoor living space feel as natural and rustic as your actual house. If the two spaces feel disjointed, this is a cue you may not be using similar design styles. If you’re struggling to bring elements of your farmhouse design to your backyard space, talking to a professional designer or landscaping team can help.
Fencing
Fencing is a great way to bring more traditional farmhouse design to your outdoor space. Not only do fences look great, but they are practical as well. While your farmhouse may be situated on a good amount of land, a little extra privacy never hurt anyone. Classic American style calls back to the white picket fence. While your fence doesn’t have to be white, choosing a natural, wood material is important.
If you do choose to install a fence, ensure it is done correctly. Improperly installed fencing can easily buckle, wear, or age poorly. Sealing your fencing from the elements can help longevity. Not all areas of your property need to be fenced. Many homeowners may choose to integrate a fence into the front of their property, and leave the back untouched.
When considering how much of your yard to fence, consider the pros and cons. If fencing your backyard means losing a sprawling view of the countryside, it may not be worth it. However, if building a fence will block out nosey neighbors, then it may go a long way to keep the calm, natural feel of your space.
Furniture
Whether you're furnishing a porch, deck, or patio, choosing the right furniture can make or break a space. Farmhouse style is traditional and laid back. That's why when choosing a patio set, avoiding anything too modern is important. Plastic or stainless steel will look strange in a space emphasizing natural materials. Instead opt for woods, or natural fabrics.
Porch swings, adirondack chairs, farmhouse tables, and built in benches look great in a farmhouse space. Opting for natural lines doesn’t mean losing functionality. Benches can be equipped with hidden storage, and elements like barrels can hold outdoor equipment to keep it out of view.
Optimizing your furniture to hide elements of your space that don’t fit is a great way to get the most for your money. Hiding harsh but necessary equipment like air conditioners or waste bins will help keep the natural style of the space throughout.
Farmhouse Design Decor
No space is complete without the finishing touches. Dressing up a farmhouse backyard can be as simple as adding some flair through decor. One of the best ways to incorporate a bit of style or fun is through vintage outdoor pieces. Unlike some other design styles, wear and tear on vintage pieces can add more character to a farmhouse style space.
Finding fun elements like wagon wheels, watering cans, planters, hanging baskets, and even trellises will add visual interest while keeping with the theme. Many of these pieces can even be found on a budget. Wholesale stores, thrift stores, or antique markets all sell pieces that fit great in a farmhouse space.
When purchasing, keep in mind where you will put the piece. Something may fit well into your yard in theory. However, when you get home you may realize you do not have a good space for it. Bringing pictures of your yard can help you imagine where decor will fit.
Farmhouse Design is Timeless
When a style endures for more than a century, you can almost guarantee it will be timeless. If you are the proud owner of a farmhouse home, designing an outdoor space to match is important. Thankfully, keeping simple things in mind will help you create a seamlessly beautiful space.
Choosing natural materials, native plants, and rustic decor will add to the farmhouse feel of any backyard. Avoid man made materials, sleek lines, or harsh colors. The best yards look like natural extensions of the home. This is especially true in farmhouse design. If you are struggling to create a space that makes sense for your home, looking to an outdoor designer can help make your dream a reality.