5 Hacks to Bring More Farmhouse Character to your Home

Today’s post is from the wonderful Fifi, a fellow homes and interiors blogger who has a huge love of the modern country style and country home decor. Read on to find out her 5 favourite hacks for your farmhouse country home. Enjoy!

Hi Love Chic Living readers, Fifi here. I write a country living blog called www.fifimcgee.co.uk. Like most of you reading Jen’s blog, I’ve been an avid reader of Jen’s homespiration-fuelled posts for years, so I’m delighted she has welcomed me to share ways to bring some farmhouse home decor to your home, whether it’s a new build that you live in or your home is steeped in period features.

If you find yourself looking around your living room, dining room, kitchen or bedroom feeling like it lacks character when you’ve got your heart set on a home freshly cut from Country Living magazine, then a good place to start is to brainstorm a few outside-the-box changes you could make to your house that goes beyond painting the walls and laying wood flooring.

Whether you are about to embark on a home renovation, or you’re buying a new home to decorate as your cosy, country escape, I hope that this post gives you a few unexpected ideas to create real farmhouse focal points in every room and make the most of the potential your home has.

These are also my favourite ways to bring character to a new build!

So, let’s begin. Here are my 5 home hacks to consider if you’d like to bring farmhouse character to your home.

1. Lay a Stone Floor

When you think about having country home decor what scenes do you picture? Cosying up in a tartan blanket with a cuppa? Stomping home in muddy boots while the dog shakes off the dirt from your walk in the countryside?

The things you have in your home need to be practical as well as character filled, and there’s nothing more “Cotswolds Cottage Life” then a textured limestone floor.

The more irregular it’s laid, the better. Not only is it super practical for cleaning, it will instantly add a soft country focal point to a hallway, utility room or kitchen.

Stone floors don’t need to be costly or high maintenance. Opt for a porcelain tile in an irregular stone shade for a much more affordable and zero maintenance look.

2. Install a Picture Rail

Does the room you want to decorate feel “boxy”? Is it lacking features? Are you living in a new build that’s in need of some identity? Creating a country home decor space is easier than you think.

While picture rails may sound dated, the moment you fix on a strong colour scheme for the ceilings and above the rail and all the walls, you’ll realise what a strong injection of character you bring to the room having one installed.

All country-look living rooms have detail and character to them, often achieved with accentuating period features – decorating with picture rails is no exception.

If you don’t have period features, then a picture rail (or dado rail if you prefer) will instantly give a period charm to your decoration.

3. Install Wood Panelling

This country decoration hack is for the very brave among us. When there’s times wallpaper feature walls just aren’t enough, cladding one of your walls in a warm, rustic wood is a brave and oh-so-farmhouse feature you can bring to any home.

Add some wood panelling to your country living room, farmhouse kitchen or the dining area. It’s easy to DIY and one of my go-to answers when asked, how to bring character to a new build.

If you like the concept but want a more subtle vibe, perhaps tongue and groove panelling is better suited to you. The perfect option for bringing a little more farmhouse charm to bathrooms in particular.

4. Remove Featureless Doors [Do this instead]

I always think there are 2 ways you can give a house your own stamp, the first is changing light sockets and switches for a “more considered” polish like chrome or brass.

The second is swapping plain white doors that might lack character for something more reclaimed. Scrap yards are a farmhouse lovers treasure trove.

Reinvent, sand, stain and oil old doors ready to hang in your home and you’ll not only bring rustic features to the house, but I bet you’ll have a story for every piece you find. It’s fun to experiment with which doors work in which rooms.

In the 1930s house I am renovating (it’s a city home, but modern farm charm) I’ve installed traditional oak doors throughout, and my downstairs toilet door is an old stable door. Odd, but cute.

5. Build a False Chimney Breast

This idea is particularly good to consider if your living room is long, doubles up as a dining room or if you want to introduce period features to your building. Fireplaces don’t have to be original to the house you live in.

If you want a decorative fireplace, you can have it. If building regs and your layout allows it, you can even install a real wood burning stove too.

Faux chimney breasts are remarkably easy to build for a reputable builder in your area. It will bring a focal point to your living room, giving you alcoves to install traditional shelving, and something to position your sofas around for a sociable layout.

I hope this post has given you some creative ideas on the opportunities you have within your 4 walls and if you’ve tried any already, leave us a comment below – we’d love to hear the plans you have and have tried.

Good luck!

Fifi

This is a guest post written by interior blogger Fifi McGee. Fifi was born and raised in the stunning Sussex downs and is currently renovating her city house to become her country escape. Follow her home progress at www.fifimcgee.co.uk