Is Modern Farmhouse Going Out of Style? 5 Interior Styles to Say Goodbye to in 2025

by Evelyn Long|Jan 28, 2025

A modern farmhouse living room with shiplap walls, reclaimed wood furniture, barn-style lighting, and a neutral beige and white color palette. Sunlight streams through large windows, creating a cozy and timeless interior design.

Looking at interior designs in 2025 means easing into timeless and functional styles. The trends of early 2020 are now starting to get outdated, and with many homeowners rethinking their design choices, people are more than ready to leave them behind.

Among the debated trends is modern farmhouse design — a fan favorite for over a decade. Is it finally losing its charm?

Is Modern Farmhouse Going Out of Style?

A modern farmhouse living room with botanical wallpaper, a beige sofa, a wooden coffee table, earth-tone accents, and potted greenery. Sunlight streams through large windows, showcasing a cozy and updated farmhouse design.

Shiplap panels, reclaimed wood, barn-accent lighting and white paint are hallmarks of the modern farmhouse, which first emerged in 2016. It’s been a go-to design aesthetic for years, beloved for its welcoming and cozy elements that add rustic charm to contemporary homes. However, designers say the trend is evolving.

Is it now outdated? Yes… and no.

The consensus is that the modern farmhouse look is not entirely out of style. Certain elements just feel cliche and overdone. The ubiquitous “Gather” signs, all-white color schemes and overly distressed decor have made the style all too formulaic.

For fans of this interior design style, don’t worry. It’s possible to modernize the look to keep it fresh and 2025-ready.

How to Update the Modern Farmhouse Aesthetic

Interested in refreshing your modern farmhouse home? Here are some top ideas to consider.

1. Emphasize Authenticity

Faux distress decor is out, and authentic aged furniture is in. It’s time to invest in well-crafted, timeless pieces like solid wood tables or spindle-back chairs. Opt for vintage furniture and decor as the authentic aging adds character — compared to them, the predistressed ones look cheap.

2. Incorporate Deep Colors and Botanical Patterns

A farmhouse-style living room with deep blue walls, botanical wallpaper, natural greenery, and wooden furniture. Sunlight brightens the space, adding depth and warmth to the interior.

To contrast away from the blinding whites, the easiest way to add depth to a farmhouse-inspired space is to embrace colors and patterns. Add botanical wallpaper and paint the walls in soft earth tones or deep hues such as blue or green.

Extend the interior color choices to the home’s exterior to tie them together. Adding a pop of color to a home’s front door, garage door, or window shutters can leave a positive impression and significantly enhance curb appeal. Not only does this establish a more cohesive aesthetic, but it also raises home value.

3. Reimagine the Farmhouse Sinks

A modern farmhouse kitchen featuring a white farmhouse sink, quartz countertops, navy blue cabinetry, and a colorful backsplash. Natural lighting enhances the clean and updated farmhouse look.

Keep the wide farmhouse sinks, as functionality will never run out of style. Add a new spin by surrounding them with updated materials like quartz countertops or colorful cabinetry. A bold navy blue color creates an unexpected twist to an otherwise neutral kitchen.

4. Upgrade Accessories

Along with omitting the faux distressed decor, ditch the trendy “Live, Laugh, Love” signages and go for antique landscape prints instead. Swap the traditional buffalo print throw pillows with the more timeless plaids. These changes are more suited to 2025 design trends without leaving the farmhouse feel behind.

Other Interior Trends Making Their Exit

Modern farmhouse design may be surviving the shifting tides but some trends are not as lucky. Here are seven other styles designers predict will finally phase out this year.

1. “Greige” Minimalism

A cozy living room with warm earth-toned walls, natural wood floors, and wainscoting. Sunlight streams through large windows, highlighting timeless furniture and inviting decor.

Gray and beige are officially taking a backseat. Designers argue that gray floors look unnatural — as the color doesn’t exist in nature — and lack the welcoming warmth of a home. Once popular among millennials, an all-beige interior is now labeled sad beige, which means it’s time for it to go.

Add plain white interiors to the list. Many are saying that they’re starting to feel cold and uninspiring. The rise of soft earth tones and warm nature hues are replacing the stark whites, if not textured coverings like wainscoting or beadboard.

2. Over-the-Top Maximalism

Maximalism isn’t necessarily disappearing, but it’s becoming more refined. Gone are the days of chaotic pattern-on-pattern rooms. Instead, designers recommend quiet luxury — curating a space with bold and neutral elements that speak intimately to the owner yet are still harmonious rather than just mindless maximalism.

3. Open Kitchen Shelving

Open shelving looks stunning in styled photos, with books, vases and travel knick-knacks thoughtfully arranged for all to see. While the accessibility once felt practical, in reality, it’s the most high-maintenance shelving option out there. Maintaining tidy displays of pretty dishes and unique serving platters away from dust and real-life chaos is turning many homeowners away. Closed cabinets are making a comeback for their functionality and ability to hide everyday clutter.

4. Squiggly, Wavy Decor

A modern living room with clean lines, timeless furniture, neutral tones, and natural light from large windows. The design is sleek, functional, and up-to-date.

The playful abstract squiggles and wavy designs dominated all of 2020 as people looked toward their homes to add some whimsical touches. From mirrors, furniture legs and accent pieces, these quirky shapes are now replaced by cleaner lines and more enduring forms. People are gravitating toward classic and functional designs — both of which squiggly, decorative furniture lacks.

5. Everything New, Fast Furniture

A warm living room with vintage wooden furniture, layered textiles, intentional decor, and natural sunlight flooding through large windows. The space reflects a functional and timeless aesthetic.

The era of cheap, mass-produced and quick-to-assemble furniture has gone. Consumers are growing more eco-conscious and have realized that powdered wood kept together with glue won’t last as long as real wooden furniture. Homeowners are now ditching the “everything new” mindset, opting instead for durable vintage finds, upcycled pieces and furniture investments that will last a lifetime.

Functional, Personal and Timeless Design in 2025

The overall tide in 2025 is turning toward functionality and timelessness. The key is to focus on quality instead of quantity, mixing trends with more intention and allowing the home to reflect one’s style. These mindful updates will surely make any space authentic to the owner’s taste, no matter the trends.

Ready to dive deeper into the hottest design trends of 2025? Don’t stop here—explore our full guide on the Top 25 Interior Design Trends for 2025 to stay ahead of the curve.

Want to turn your design ideas into reality? Download the DecorMatters app to create stunning interiors, play design games, and transform your space with ease. Get inspired and start designing today!