4 Beautiful Elements for Modern European Farmhouse Style

I love many aspects of many different styles, but once I found European Farmhouse I knew it would become my main inspiration for home decor.

I recently decided to nail down my preferred decorating style.

If you’ve been following along, you know from my unexpected discovery post that I didn’t learn that one magic word that describes my personal design style.

However, I did learn more about it.

Today I wanted to share with you my favorite aspects of European Farmhouse Style.

What is European Farmhouse Style?

European farmhouse style is a casual kind of beautiful.

It’s the beauty that is found in simple and livable design decisions.

I’ll talk about some of these in greater detail later in this post, but open shelves, wall racks, pot racks, exposed beams, and natural stone are all things you might find in a European farmhouse style home.

It doesn’t try to hide the fact that people live here, but rather it takes those details and makes them a focal point of the style.

Now, I want to be perfectly clear.

I’m still learning from this style.

It’s almost like a history lesson.

But instead of learning about dates and people, I’m learning about home decor and gardening from years past.

I’m by no means a master in the design elements and aesthetics that create the exact European Farmhouse home.

As time passes, I’m finding books and articles that help me gain a better understanding of this style and the history and culture that surrounds it.

That being said, I thought it would be fun to share some of the things I’ve learned so far.

How do I get a European Farmhouse look?

1. European Farmhouse: Authentic Vintage Pieces

I love the way this style feels so cultured.

It has a lot of character stemming back many years.

You might even call it old-world charm.

This is something I began loving when I fell in love with American Farmhouse.

Knowing how much I love flea markets, antiques, and thrifting, it might surprise you to learn that I once dreaded being dragged through an antique store.

My husband and his family were the first to introduce me to this form of shopping and I absolutely H-A-T-E-D it.

I would get through the entire store before they finished the second booth!

The funny thing is, these days my husband is the one waiting on me haha!

There is simply something comfortable about being surrounded by pieces that exude old-world charm.

For me, their imperfections allow me to rest at ease.

I know this is getting a little sentimental about old stuff but bear with me.

An authentically vintage item seems to give me that old familiar hug.

It’s a silent statement that I can sit down and not worry if I can’t find a coaster for my coffee cup because the coffee table is already stained with cup ring marks.

So what’s one more from a good friend during a good conversation?

This is one of my favorite elements of the European farmhouse style.

2. European Farmhouse: Practical/Functional Decor

I learned at a young age that EVERYTHING in the house must have a “home”.

My grandpa on my Mom’s side was in the Navy, so I think that military mindset seeped into his daughter and then into me.

Both my Mom and I can’t stand things just sitting around with no place to call home.

That being said, I don’t have a lot of tolerance for decor for the sole purpose of decor.

Obviously, a few items are okay, but those items should 100% not affect our everyday life.

Some of my favorite ways to turn everyday items into decor are found in the kitchen/dining area at my house, and their inspiration came from old European farmhouses.

Hanging Pots & Pans on Wall

I recently built a wall rack for our new copper pots and pans.

This is without a doubt my favorite design element in our kitchen area.

When it started, I did it simply because I couldn’t stand the constant banging and clanging of the pots and pans when I would take them out of the cabinet.

But when the project was complete I realized, I hadn’t simply created a way to store our pots and pans, I created a visually interesting focal point for the room.

It became the most gorgeous part of the space.

This is something you’ll see all over European farmhouse decor.

I truly don’t know the history behind it, but I wonder if it’s related to the cost?

In my time researching and studying this style, I’ve seen simple wall racks in nearly every room performing a function.

They aren’t just on the wall to create visual interest.

They are there to hold the everyday items that need a place to call home.

Open Shelves for Everyday Dinnerware

I believe American farmhouse has helped popularize this, but I’ve seen it all over the cultured and aged European farmhouses from years past.

Again, I can’t tell you precisely why this is, but I wonder if it’s because throwing a shelf up on the wall was simpler and cheaper than crafting cabinets and hanging them?

Regardless, this is another one of my favorite elements!

I love displaying our everyday dishes and cups on our European cottage-style open shelves.

Honestly, I’ve found myself annoyed with opening the cabinet door that hides our tupperware haha!

But that cabinet and door must remain.

Does anyone else struggle to keep that cabinet organized?!

3. European Farmhouse: Timeless Simplicity

From what I’ve learned, European farmhouse steers clear of the trends and fads.

It seems to stick with a tried and true form of design.

Now, this doesn’t mean that I want to uninstall the modern plumbing system in my house, but I love aesthetics that can’t be put into a certain time in history.

There is also a simplicity to it.

I found this excerpt from a book titled “Timeless Simplicity: Creative Living in a Consumer Society” by John Lane and I feel like it perfectly captures the feeling that timeless simplicity in home decor creates.

“The industrialist was horrified to find the fisherman lying beside his boat, smoking a pipe.
‘Why aren’t you fishing?’, said the industrialist.
‘Because I have caught enough fish for the day.’
‘Why don’t you catch some more?’
‘What would I do with them?’
‘Earn more money. Then you could have a motor fixed to your boat and go into deeper waters and catch more fish. That would bring you money to buy nylon nets, so more fish, more money. Soon you would have enough to buy two boats even a fleet of boats. Then you could be rich like me.’
‘What would I do then?’
‘Then you could sit back and enjoy life.’
‘What do you think I’m doing now?’”

John Lane

Timeless simplicity is choosing elements for the home that won’t constantly need to be changed in order to keep up with the ever-changing trends.

By doing this I’m able to rest more in my home and not feel like I need to constantly be changing things. Collected

This is such a fun aspect of the European farmhouse style.

Since I’m a very YOUNG 32-year old, I don’t have the luxury of being able to purchase beautiful “sets” of much of anything.

I’ve simply collected pieces through the years, not to mention the heirloom pieces that have been passed down to me.

The only thing I have that is a set are a couch, love-seat, and chair we purchased from Menards on Clearance during an 11% rebate sale haha!

Ohhh….and our new copper pots and pans!

4. European Farmhouse: Collected

To me having a collected home adds to the comfortable feeling you experience when you walk through the door.

It’s not perfect by any stretch, but something about that makes it feel safe.

Seeing a home that showcases the beauty of the imperfect pieced together collections, makes me feel welcomed as a fellow imperfect piece.

My favorite pieces of decor are the ones that accidentally look beautiful together.

Even though you can obviously tell they were not created to sit side by side, they are great together.

For me, this absolutely means mixing old with new!

Collected Tells a Silent Story

If you read my vintage glass bottles post then you know I can’t pass up a good story.

When I was little I loved listening to the stories of my grandparents, and this really hasn’t changed much.

I once used an old recorder to record my grandpa sharing some of his stories.

(I wish I had recorded more stories!! If only I had the small amount of wisdom as a child as I do now as a young adult haha!!)

It’s a kind of nostalgia I love in my home.

Turning a 2000’s Suburban Ranch into A European Farmhouse

You’ve seen me sharing some of the ways we are beginning to turn our little ranch home into a European farmhouse, but it’s definitely not the easiest thing.

There are design elements that seem to fit European farmhouse but not 2000’s ranch and vis versa.

But one thing I’ve learned on this journey is this:

If you love it then it fits your home.

Not everything I do in my 2000’s European Farmhouse Ranch will be exactly what you would do with your 2000’s European Farmhouse Ranch, and I love it!

I love that even the same style in two different homes can be so different.

It’s what makes your home, your home!

As I share my family’s story, I encourage you to be courageous to do the same for your family!

It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

It should be the perfect reflection of you and your family!

I can’t wait to continue to share our story in our home!

Pin for later!

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Also, make sure you follow along on Pinterest to check out all the other European farmhouse decor ideas I’ve been pinning!

Have a great week! XoXo

Open Your Doors,
Aliya

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