Design Styles 101: Farmhouse

Jun 4, 2019 | Beginner's Guide, Design Styles

Inspired by the simplicity and the airy vibe of the countryside, the Farmhouse design style is one that will remind you of freshly baked pies, special family recipes and the feeling of living among the best offerings of farmlands.

The Farmhouse design style is one that focuses primarily on comfort and functionality over aesthetics and luxury. This is why homes designed as per the Farmhouse design style can make you feel right at home – even if you’ve never been to the countryside before.

After we released our guide on the Industrial design style, we were asked some questions about the farmhouse design style and how it can be used to transform suburban homes. Thus, we came up with a beginner’s guide to the Farmhouse style.

Without further ado, here are some tips to help you design your space based on the Farmhouse design style.

#1 Use a Combination of Neutral Tones

The ‘Farmhouse’ look is best achieved when the colors used are earthy, neutral tones that blend well together. The whole idea of the Farmhouse design style is based on bringing the outdoors inside your space and nothing works better than using colors that are naturally seen as part of the outdoors like shades of grey and brown.

In addition to this, we also recommend bringing in some indoor plants or succulents, that will help add a tinge or nature’s green to your space.

#2 Wooden Furnishings

When trying to decorate as per the Farmhouse design style, it is essential that you choose to include furnishings with exposed wooden surfaces, especially when it comes to larger pieces like dining tables, shelves or kitchen islands as these will help you achieve the farmhouse look with ease.

To know the latest trends in solid wood dining tables, read our popular blog – Top 5 Dining Tables.

#3 Reclaimed Wood? Yes!

Reclaimed wood or Recycled wood is used to make pretty much any furniture article these days. From larger dining tables and chairs to small accessories and décor pieces, reclaimed wood does the trick. The great thing about pieces made from reclaimed wood, like the Tempel coffee table is that they typically exhibit an amazing grain pattern and have a primitive look to them – perfect for a Farmhouse style interior!

#4 Open Shelving

The beauty of the countryside lies in its airy vibe full of openness. One way to create this illusion of openness at home is by using open shelves instead of closed-door cabinets. If you absolutely must store items behind closed doors, try finding a light stained (or painted) wooden display cabinet with glass doors, like the Lawson.

#5 Plan a Central Gathering Space

If you’ve ever been a part of countryside living, you already know that it’s all about the gatherings (…and maybe the bourbon). To facilitate these gatherings and to imitate that perfect countryside vibe, we recommend considering an open concept kitchen or dining area that can accommodate a party.

If your kitchen doesn’t already have one, consider a kitchen island like the Columbia, which is uber-functional and has the potential to be the go-to hang-out spot in your kitchen when paired with a couple of stools.

#6 Go Beyond Furnishings

Giving your space a complete ‘Farmhouse’ look will require more than just furnishings, especially if you have a home amidst the city. We recommend hardwood flooring, shiplap walls, exposed beams, and other artificial farmhouse inspired accents you can procure. If you’re on a tight budget, we recommend starting with shiplap and wooden flooring in certain areas of the house.

#7 Antiques and Heirlooms

One of the most comforting things about the farmhouse design style is that it doesn’t require you to put the antiques away just because they seem eclectic in a space full of contemporary designs. Farmhouse style homes are all about preserving history (or at least being transparent about it) and if you’re wondering whether that Victorian drawer chest that was passed down to you from your ancestors deserves a spot in the open, the answer is – Most Definitely, Yes!

#8 Plush Fabric Seating

For living rooms, we strongly recommend going with neutral-toned fabric sofas or sectionals that are comfortable and have a relaxed look and feel. A tuxedo style, diamond stitched fabric sofa like the Kolstad works wonders if you’re trying to design a contemporary-farmhouse common room.

#9 Pay Attention to the Dining Room

Dining in the countryside has always been considered a grand affair and this aspect in our opinion is a simple one to implement in your space and has a huge impact on the aesthetics. We recommend getting a solid wood dining table like the Barrett and pairing it with a mix of seating. For example, if your table is large enough to seat six, consider using a couple of armchairs or Parsons chairs at the head in addition to a matching bench and two cross-back or upholstered side chairs on the side.

Don’t know what to buy? The Mercana Marketplace now has Dining Sets based on the Farmhouse design style that you can purchase as a collection.

#10 Décor & Accessories Inspired by the Countryside

The easiest and the most budget-friendly way to complete the farmhouse look for your space is by including a few accessories and décor pieces that are inspired by the countryside. From an oversized statement piece from the Equestrian Scenes series to a pair of bookends from the Youngstown series, the Mercana Marketplace is home to a plethora of accessories and décor pieces that will help you complete the Farmhouse look and add a touch of ‘country’ to your space.

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The short answer

Neither shape is better on its own; the right one depends on your seating layout, your traffic flow and how you use the room. A round coffee table suits compact rooms, sectionals and busy households, while a rectangular coffee table suits a long sofa and rooms that need extra surface.

Shape is one of the first decisions our design team makes when a coffee table moves from sketch to sample, because it sets how a seating group feels and functions. Below is how we think it through, and how designers and stagers can apply it to a real floor plan.

When a round coffee table works best

Choose round when the room needs softness, easy movement or a centre point for seating on several sides.
- Sectionals and L-shaped seating. A circle reaches every seat equally, so no one sits facing a corner.
- Compact or square rooms. With no corners to walk around, a round top keeps pathways open in condos, dens and reading nooks.
- Busy households. Rounded edges are kinder to shins in high-traffic rooms.
- Rooms full of straight lines. A circle breaks up a rectilinear sofa, rug and media console.
The Shima Round Coffee Table brings this idea to a generous 45-inch circle in solid wood, with arched cut-out legs that keep the base visually light. For a smaller footprint with natural stone, the Rumer Coffee Table sets a 36-inch round of veined white marble on dark brown hardwood legs.

When a rectangular coffee table works best

Choose rectangular when a long sofa anchors the room or when the table has to work hard.

A standard three-seat sofa. A rectangle echoes the sofa's length, so every seat can reach the surface.
Long, narrow living rooms. The shape follows the room's proportions instead of fighting them.
Function first. More usable surface for trays, books, games and serving, plus room for shelves or storage below.
Formal or symmetrical plans. A rectangle reads as structured and balanced, ideal for facing sofas.

The Tabor Coffee Table wraps recycled pine in a black oak veneer waterfall frame for a clean, architectural rectangle. For collectors, the Arelius Rectangular Display Coffee Table pairs a glass-topped shadowbox with a black metal base, turning the centre of the room into a place to show treasured objects.

Oval and square: the in-between shapes

If you want the reach of a rectangle with the ease of a circle, choose oval; if your seating forms a square, choose square.

Oval gives a long sofa full coverage while removing the corners, which makes it a strong choice for families and tight walkways. The Shima Oval Coffee Table measures 48 by 28 inches in solid mango wood and arrives fully assembled. The Terra Oval Coffee Table adds a fluted base that conceals a lift top and storage.

Square suits a deep sectional or four chairs arranged around a central table. At 48 inches square with a 3-inch reclaimed wood top, the McArthur Coffee Table anchors large seating groups. The Lucas Coffee Table scales white marble down to 30 inches square for condos and paired-chair corners.

Sizing and clearance guidelines

Whatever the shape, scale matters more than style: a well-sized table makes a seating group feel intentional.

Guideline	Rule of thumb
Length (rectangular or oval)	About two-thirds the length of the sofa
Diameter (round)	About half to two-thirds of the sofa length; larger for a sectional's corner
Distance from seating	14 to 18 inches, close enough to reach a cup
Height	Level with the seat cushion or 1 to 2 inches lower
Walkways around the table	30 to 36 inches where people pass

When a room is between sizes, a round or oval table usually gives back more circulation space than a rectangle of the same surface area.

Pairing shape and material with your sofa

Contrast is the simplest rule: pair a heavy, square-armed sofa with a softer shape, and a curved sofa with cleaner lines.

With a dark brown or leather sofa, avoid matching the tone exactly. White marble, light wood or a metal base adds the contrast that keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy. The Rumer and Lucas coffee tables both bring white marble into that palette.

Is marble still in style? Yes. Natural stone continues to anchor both modern and transitional rooms, and veining means no two tops are alike. Look for surface-tested finishes if the table will see daily cups and glasses.

With a light or curved sofa, a darker table in wood or blackened metal grounds the room, and an oval or rectangle adds structure.

Explore the collection

Browse Mercana coffee tables in round, oval, square and rectangular shapes, across Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Transitional, Industrial and Farmhouse styles. Each piece is designed in-house and specified with full dimensions, materials and clearance details.

For interior designers, stagers and retailers: register for a trade account to view wholesale pricing and availability. Shopping for your own home? Find a Mercana retailer near you.

Is it better to have a round or rectangular coffee table?

Round is better for sectionals, compact rooms and high-traffic homes. Rectangular is better for a long sofa, narrow rooms and when you need more surface or storage.

Does a round coffee table work with an L-shaped sectional?

Yes. A round table reaches every seat in an L-shaped layout and leaves an open path around the corner.

What size coffee table do I need?

Aim for about two-thirds the length of your sofa, 14 to 18 inches from the seat, and level with or slightly below the cushion height.

What coffee table goes with a dark brown sofa?

Choose contrast: white marble, light wood or a metal base keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy.

Is an oval coffee table a good compromise?

Yes. An oval offers the reach of a rectangle along a long sofa without hard corners.

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