I don’t know about you guys, but every time January rolls around I get the urge to change up every room in our home. It’s commonly known as “Rearrange-All-The-Things-Syndrome.” I was diagnosed years ago and through extensive research I’ve found that there is basically no cure. Either you have it or you don’t. There’s no changing it. Well I have a pretty severe case, as you probably know by now, so every January, like clockwork, I get the urge to move anything that isn’t nailed down. Well I recently changed a few things up in our from room. It was nothing major, but just enough to give the room a fresh look. And as I was putting everything back together, I realized that it’s actually very simple to give any room a cozy, farmhouse style vibe. It can literally be done in a jiffy with the right accessories, so that’s what I’m going to share with you fine folks today–how to give any room farmhouse style in just a few minutes. Now, let’s start with a photo of how the room was looking after I got things rearranged.
Ok. So there are two things I want you to notice about this room. 1) The neutral foundation. I mentioned in this post that one of the key ways to get farmhouse style decor in your home is to establish a neutral foundation with your big pieces. I’ve done that here with the furniture, paint color, curtains, and area rug. It’s the first step in the process. 2) The room looks super cold and barren, right? I definitely wouldn’t call it cozy or warm, both of which are major players when it comes to farmhouse style. So my goal was to not only warm up this space with accessories, but to also give it more of a cozy, farmhouse vibe. I grabbed a few of my go-to favorite items and got to work. Here’s the after:
So much better, right? This literally only took me about 15 minutes to throw together. But isn’t it amazing how the right accessories can totally change the vibe of a room? Now this is much more cozy and inviting, like you just want to grab a cup of coffee and hang out for a while.
So it only took a few things to give this room lots of cozy, farmhouse vibes. Here’s what I used:
- Throw pillows. I can’t say enough how throw pillows play a key role in making a room cozy. They’re just so darn important. And you can literally change the style of any room with different pillows. For this look I went with neutral pillows with lots of texture.
- Greenery. Either real or faux, greenery gives any room so much more warmth and life. Before this room was looking a bit cold and sterile, but with a few potted plants and that fiddle leaf tree, the room has more texture.
- Layers: I rarely style any living space without at least two throw blankets. Adding in a few layers of cozy blanket is an easy and fast way to warm up the room.
- Whites & Woods: I used color sparingly here to keep the neutral vibe. Instead I focused on a lot of different shades of white mixed in with a lot of chippy wood and antique furniture to give the room more of a vintage look with character.
- Candlesticks & Old Books: My favorite extras to use are old books and candlesticks. I seem to have them in every room in our home!
That’s it! Easy peasy lemon squeezy. I tell ya, accessories really made all the difference in this room. It has so much more life and personality now compared to the before shot. And it only took a few minutes to take it from cold and sterile to warm and cozy, which is what farmhouse style decor is really all about. Well I hope this gives you a few ideas for your own home. Be sure to check out my other posts on farmhouse style:
3 Quick Tips to Get Started with Farmhouse Style
Beautiful & Affordable Farmhouse Style Area Rugs
Farmhouse Style Ticking Stripe Pillows
Affordable Farmhouse Style Sofas
Fiddle leaf fig trees:
My favorite faux greenery:
Textured throw pillows:
Others sources in the room:
Check out these other posts on farmhouse style:
3 Quick Tips to Get Started with Farmhouse Style
Beautiful & Affordable Farmhouse Style Area Rugs
Sarah,
I love what you do with the faux greenery! One of my fav things too!
I am starting the project on making the drop cloth curtains. I am excited. Question: Is it important to wash the drop cloths or would giving them a few tumbles in a dryer with dryer sheets work?
Keep up the fabulous design tips! I’m inspired.
Thanks so much! 🙂
I made the drop cloth curtains about a month ago!! I LOOOOVE THEM! I was so excited to get them up that I didn’t wash them, (I know Sarah said she washed them) just took them out of the package and ironed them! It got out all the wrinkles and lines from the package. They turned out great!! You will be saying to yourself, why didn’t I do these sooner!!!!!! Thanks again Sarah!!
Oh yay, that is so great to hear Stephanie!! I’m so glad you like them!
I did wash mine but you totally don’t have to! You can just iron them and put them up! And that will save you a lot of time too. Good luck!!
Hello and Happy New Year to you and your family. I love that clock and live simply sign in your living room. Can you let me know where you got those items. Thanks.
Hi Tammy! The clock is from World Market (you can see it here: https://rstyle.me/n/cwbmf6b6hgf) and the sign is from The Painted Nest.
Happy New Year!
Thank-you for inspiring me to add some new touches to my home.
Happy new year to you too Brenda! Best wishes to you in the new year. xoxo
Oh I love how you showed this from start to finish!! The transformation is cool to cozy warm! Love your style!!! Keep bringing us creative design elements that will transform our spaces.
Aw thanks sweet Pam! xoxo
Hi Sarah – I love your easy examples of how to warm up a “sterile” room. Quick question: the white crocheted afghan looks handmade. Did you make it? I would love to find a pattern for it. It’s the blanket on the left hand side of the screen and has a small ruffle around it. Thank you. I hope you and your family are fully recovered from the flu!
Hi Donna! I actually found that at a thrift store a while back (I did wash it!). I think it was handmade. You might check on Etsy for a pattern.
That was a lucky find, Sarah. Good for you!
I was looking at your IG account and noticed that you changed things up (first thing I noticed was the bookcase was in a different spot), then you have a whole post on it! LOL. Always inspiring as ever.
Yes ma’am. You know me. Must. Move. All. The. Things. 🙂
Are your books just random books and you removed the covers? Love the look!
Yep, for the most part! Just rip the covers off if you don’t like the color.
Thanks Stephanie for answering the question I had on the drop cloth curtains. 🙂
I fell in love with Sarah’s idea for them. Just perfect for me.
I just moved into my new ‘nest’ and starting everything over. (Decorating). Just realized I need a small step ladder…forgot mine when I moved. Would help! 😀
Sarah, so happy to hear everyone is feeling better. Happy New Year too.
Thanks 🙂
Love the transformation you showed! Accessories do make such a big difference. I am always amazed at the warmth that greenery adds to a room. My little green plants from Ikea are basically my fav, haha.
Oh those are my favorites too. In fact, I just thought to myself this afternoon, “I should order more of those Ikea plants from Amazon”. I HAVE A PROBLEM.
I rearrange my home ALL THE TIME… I LOVE IT! It does drive my family a little crazy, but they have come to the realization that I will never stop…lol
I’m happy to her I’m not the only one who enjoys this. I just love stuff and shop consignment shops often. I have a hard time not purchasing something that I love ( that I can afford) so I put it aside for one of “those” days. 🙂
where did you purchase the chairs in these pictures?
I was thinking the same. Love those chairs. Are they from Walmart like the recliners you shared recently?
Where do you buy drop cloths without seams? I’ve bought some t
With and the next one’s had seams! Difficult to use in large projects. Thanks and always, we love your posts!
Dang, I’ve been hearing that more and more lately, but I’ve never come across any drop cloths with seams! I guess I’m getting lucky, I don’t know. I always get mine from Home Depot. And I even bought another set about 2 months ago now. So sorry!
I noticed the change in rugs often throughout your posts is that just for the photo shoot or do you really change out the rug that often? P.s. love your style
Such a great post! Just wondering if you painted your olive buckets or bought them? If you bought them, can you let me know where?
Thank you!
I bought them from a local shop but I see these little olive buckets in the dollar spot at Target sometimes! They’d be so easy to paint or spray paint.
Hi Sarah,
I love the curtains! Where did you find the?
I’m just starting out with the transition to Farmhouse Chic, and desperately need new curtains.
Thanks for all you do! I look forward to all your posts.
Alexandra