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This post is all about how to create a stunning modern farmhouse bathroom!
If you have been reading the blog for some time, you know that I am a huge fan of modern farmhouse decor. It’s the perfect combination of charming and sleek, making for very contemporary but timeless interiors!
Modern farmhouse design is all about choosing high-quality pieces that stand out for their simplicity and understated elegance. Sturdy and classic materials like wood, stone, and linen are paired with modern finishes like neutral colors and matte hardware.
The modern version of farmhouse decor is also great if you find traditional farmhouse design a bit too “on-theme”. The trendier additions help you add a personal touch to your farmhouse bathroom, giving you more leeway when it comes to experimenting with new pieces and bringing your personality into the space.
In this post, I wanted to create the ultimate guide to choose the perfect modern farmhouse bathroom ideas for your space. Whether you are designing a master bathroom or refreshing a small guest bathroom, you’ll see that this style is more versatile than most people think. Get ready to be inspired!
Table of Content
38 Ideas For A Beautiful Modern Farmhouse Bathroom
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1. Designing a Modern Farmhouse Bathroom: The Basics
1.1. Use Neutral Colors For An Understated Palette
A neutral color palette sits at the very core of modern farmhouse design. Muted tones of beige, light browns, pastels, and greys provide the simple blank slate needed for your statement pieces to shine. Ultimately, modern farmhouse design needs the simplicity of a largely neutral color scheme to feel authentic and cozy.
Of course, there is no need to commit to a single neutral color. You don’t need a fully white bathroom to follow this principle. Feel free to layer and play around with your neutrals to keep the space warm and visually interesting.
1.2. Natural Materials for a Cozy Feel
One of the best features of farmhouse-style bathrooms is how cozy and charming they feel. This is due in large part to the high-quality, natural materials that this decor style uses. Sturdy materials like wood and delicate but organic fabrics like linen and cotton are perfect examples of this.
If you are debating on what pieces to invest in for your modern farmhouse bathroom, have a look at their composition. I promise you’ll end up with stunning natural pieces that will stand the test of time!
1.3. The Core of Modern Farmhouse Style: Functionality & Aesthetics
The third pillar of modern farmhouse design is the combination of functionality and aesthetics. Ultimately, farmhouse decor is born out of a utilitarian context, so keeping things simple and functional is part of the aesthetics.
Avoid adding a ton of useless decor to your farmhouse bathroom. You’ll simply end up with clutter that takes away from the beauty of your space.
2. How to Use Light Fixtures to Create a Warm Glow
2.1. Sconces
Out of all lighting fixtures, sconces are the most popular when it comes to modern farmhouse design. They are incredibly versatile and convenient, especially if you opt for battery-operated ones (fellow renters, I’m talking to you!).
Some of the most iconic designs include Edison bulbs, gooseneck appliques, and beautiful wall lanterns. The options are truly endless.
2.2. Chandelier
Another popular choice to make a statement in your modern farmhouse bathroom is a high-impact chandelier. When it comes to farmhouse decor, you’ll want to consider pendant lights, oversized lanterns, or even a wagon-wheel piece.
If you decide to include a chandelier in your design, spend some time finding the best size for your space. This is a piece that can easily overtake the room if you get the proportions wrong!
2.3. Counter Lamp
A small addition when it comes to lighting can be a bathroom counter lamp. While it may not be needed to illuminate the whole room, it can be a perfect finishing touch for your vanity area. This idea is especially good if you feel like your bathroom counters look a bit empty and incomplete.
3. Farmhouse Bathroom Storage Space
I mentioned earlier in the post that functionality is one of the pillars of modern farmhouse decor. In a bathroom, this means optimizing storage options. Luckily, modern farmhouse interiors can include a range variety of options that can help you keep the space clean and organized!
3.1. Wicker Baskets
They are one of my absolute favorite ways to store my bathroom products back-ups and hair tools. Wicker baskets are practical but also perfect for your farmhouse bathroom thanks to their classic and organic feel.
If you love an effortless look, opt for soft-woven baskets. For a more modern finish, choose instead pieces with a lot of structure.
3.2. Open Shelving
If you like to keep your products readily available and on display, open shelves are what you need. Make sure to choose sturdy floating shelves for a sleek design or wooden shelves with iron supports for a more rustic look. The great thing about shelves is that you can fully customize their placement and arrangement, making your modern farmhouse bathroom tailored to your needs and habits.
3.3. Metal-Wire Baskets
Metal-wire baskets are a great example of modern farmhouse decor. They combine a retro feel with very modern materials and finishes. Make sure to invest in a few of these if you need some additional storage space for towels, products, or toilet paper. They will look so cute!
4. Black Hardware and White Shiplap Walls
White walls are a perfect canvas for your modern farmhouse decor, but they can look a bit boring. If you are looking for a solution that preserves the neutral palette but gives it an unexpected twist, look no further than shiplap walls.
While this idea requires a bit of an investment, upgrading your walls can easily transform your bathroom making it a great first step in a modern farmhouse renovation. You can further elevate the design by pairing these white, distressed walls with sleek black hardware. I find the contrast so chic!
5. Incorporating Natural Elements
5.1. Greenery
Greenery is always a great way to incorporate an organic and luscious element into your bathroom decor. It also makes for the perfect understated pop of color if you are not ready to move away from a completely neutral color scheme.
Personally, I like to include faux plants in my decor for lower-traffic areas like the bathroom. If you instead don’t mind the maintenance for real greenery, make sure to choose plants that can thrive in humidity and smaller amounts of natural light.
5.2. Natural, Rough Materials
Natural elements are not only plants and flowers but also materials maintained in their original, rougher state. Pieces like stone vessel sinks, a sturdy wooden stool, or a wicker cabinet are perfect examples of natural beauty that can effortlessly elevate your space.
5.3. Botanical Art for A Touch of Nature
Botanical art is a fantastic match for a modern farmhouse bathroom. You can opt for vintage-inspired prints for a softer, more romantic design. Abstract prints or line designs can instead look more minimalist and contemporary. To avoid leaning too much into a rustic look, make sure to choose clean, sleek frames in dark wood or black.
Floral wallpaper is also a stunning way to bring botanical art into your space and completely transform your bathroom!
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6. Choose Modern Elements for Your Bathroom Build
If you are at an early stage of building or remodeling your farmhouse bathroom, make sure to include a few statement elements in your space. Doing so at this stage will allow you to create a beautifully finished bathroom, eliminating the need for more DIY solutions later in time.
6.1. Subway Tiles
White subway tiles are the perfect choice to maintain neutral walls but add a stylish, modern finish to your space. Their subtle shine can also help reflect natural light and open up your space.
One thing you’ll want to be mindful of is the tile sizing. Contrary to what most people think, small tiles tend to visually close up a room. If you are working with limited real estate, make sure to invest in larger subway tiles to counterbalance the small size of the room.
6.2. Wooden Floors
A bit of a controversial feature when it comes to bathrooms, wooden floors are actually a great fit for a modern farmhouse look. Make sure to choose a water-resistant finish and combine them with tiles and protective rugs around your shower and sinks to preserve the wood over time. These floors are a bit more high-maintenance but the WOW factor is guaranteed!
7. Vintage Accents
Farmhouse decor needs vintage elements for your design to lean into the nostalgic, retro vibe that is so characteristic of this style. Even modern farmhouse design requires the addition of a few vintage accents to counterbalance the sleeker and more contemporary finishes and materials that you’ll be using.
7.1. Antique Mirrors
Antique mirrors are some of the best pieces to include in your bathroom for a modern farmhouse feel. Their beautiful frames, especially in gold or silver, turn these items into design statements, making them replace the need for any wall decor.
If you love the contrast of vintage and modern, opt for fully antiqued glass. For a sleeker, more functional design opt instead for a vintage-inspired piece. There are plenty of affordable options available online!
7.2. Brass Fixtures
For a truly timeless look, make sure to include brass fixtures in your modern farmhouse decor. These fixtures can be easier to clean and maintain than the more iconic black matte hardware, making them perfect for a high-traffic bathroom. The key here is to play with the shape and style of the fixtures to determine how vintage you want your pieces to appear.
7.3. Embroidered/Lace Bathroom Towels
The ultimate vintage-inspired detail for your modern farmhouse bathroom is adding embroidered or lace hand towels. Whether you decide to use them purely as decorative pieces or as a functional part of your decor, these can be a small but stunning part of your decor.
Don’t be afraid to opt for cute, unique embroidery designs like small farm animals or berries for an adorable finishing touch.
8. Choose the Perfect Freestanding Bathtubs For Your Space
One of the most iconic design elements of a typical modern farmhouse bathroom is a freestanding tub. This is a piece worth investing in if you’re looking for a bathroom with a high-impact design. I would recommend only including a freestanding bath in your design if you are styling a master bathroom. Unless you are working with a really large area, smaller spaces will likely not be a good match for this piece when it comes to layout.
As usual, when it comes to interior design, proportions matter!
9. Farmhouse Sinks Options
9.1. Vessel Sink
If you’re looking for a piece to take center stage in your farmhouse bathroom, a vessel sink is exactly what you need. Farmhouse vessel sinks are usually quite deep and wide. You’ll find classic ceramic options that are great for an understated look or copper/stone sinks that are more “on the theme”. The choice is up to how rustic you want your space to be!
9.2. Wooden Vanity Ideas
Wooden vanities are a budget-friendly option when it comes to farmhouse-style sinks. From a reclaimed wood vanity to modern designs with plenty of storage, these pieces are easy to find both in stores and online, making them a hassle-free solution for your space.
9.3. Stone Sinks
Another option I love to include in a modern farmhouse bathroom for added rustic charm is stone sinks. They are incredibly beautiful and perfectly represent the mix of roughness and modern design that this style aims to capture. Stone is also a somewhat neutral material, making a stone sink a piece that can fit within your bathroom even if the style and colors evolve.
10. Play with Bright Colors and Neutral Tones
While modern farmhouse decor relies heavily on a neutral palette, it’s important to include a few color accents across your decor. Including bright colors is an easy way to keep your space more dynamic and visually interesting.
10.1. Pop of Color with Red
Red is a timeless way to include a pop of color in your modern farmhouse bathroom. This color not only adds warmth to your design but also makes for a surprising accent. If you have not heard of it, I recommend you read up on the “Unexpected Red” theory – a perfect example of why bright accents are important, no matter how neutral the style you are working with.
10.2. Pop of Color with Yellow
A modern farmhouse bathroom is the perfect place to include yellow in your decor. Especially in its pastel and more muted tones, yellow makes for a fun and joyful accent in the color scheme of your space. It’s a color that adds brightness to your design, visually opening up the space and complementing materials like dark wood or stone.
10.3. Black & White Bathroom
The ultimate color scheme for a modern bathroom is black and white. This modern, powerful color combination can be adapted to a farmhouse bathroom by achieving the right balance of rustic using textures and more traditional materials.
In this case, your design should focus on enhancing the contrast between the two colors, using their juxtaposition to make certain pieces and areas of your bathroom stand out.
11. The Power of Matte Black Fixtures
Black, matte fixtures are some of my favorite things to see in modern farmhouse interiors. They effortlessly add a modern touch to any space, looking both sleek and timeless.
However, I do want to mention that they can be difficult to maintain and clean. As you can imagine, water stains on this finish are extremely visible. Only invest in matte black fixtures if you’re ready to commit to the upkeep!
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12. Use Large Mirrors
A large mirror can create a bright focal point in your bathroom. This piece is not only extremely functional when you’re getting ready but it also helps reflect natural light, visually expanding your space. A frameless, oversized large mirror is perfect for a very modern look. A simple, matte black frame can instead be a better compromise between modern design and timeless farmhouse decor.
13. Barn Doors
All my favorite modern farmhouse bathrooms have barn doors. I know they are a bit of a cliche for the theme, but in my opinion, they are stunning rustic elements that take the farmhouse decor to the next level. If you have the budget for it, consider investing in authentic barn doors. Alternatively, more modern sliding doors with wooden detailing can also make for a visually impactful design.
14. Add A Personal Touch
A farmhouse-style bathroom should be inviting and lived-in. By the very definition of this style, it should speak of the family that inhabits it, being filled with character and personal touches. There are plenty of ways in which you can infuse your bathroom with your family’s taste and history!
14.1. Gallery Wall of Photos
Nothing makes your own home feel more unique than seeing photos of your loved ones spread across it. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your farmhouse wall decor and include a gallery wall of cute family photos in your bathroom.
When choosing photos for bathroom wall decor, I always like to try and select funny poses, beach vacations, or summer holidays. Personally, I just feel like they are a better match for that environment.
14.2. Customizable Name Decor
To truly make your bathroom feel like your own space, consider adding a personalized sign to the space. Farmhouse decor is all about wooden and tin signs, especially customized with your family’s last name. You can go for a classic design or, given the location, include a funny reference or saying.
14.3. Customizable Watercolor Art
One of the most charming pieces of farmhouse decor I have ever seen was a hand-painted watercolor of the home where the art was placed. I find this idea to be incredibly cute and sentimental, turning the very home you have decorated with such effort into a piece of wall art.
If you are creative, consider doing this as a weekend project. Alternatively, there are plenty of talented artists on Esty that can help create the perfect piece for you.
15. Create a Spa-like Atmosphere
15.1. Incorporating Fresh Flowers
I always like to take inspiration from spas when I am choosing the finishing touches for my bathroom decor. A perfect example of how to do this is to include in your farmhouse bathroom decor a fresh bouquet. This simple addition will make your bathroom immediately feel more curated, just like a high-end spa.
15.2. Use Essential Oils
Nothing feels as good as taking a long, relaxing shower in a bathroom that smells like a luxury spa. Invest in a small essential oil diffuser to include aromatherapy in your daily rituals. For instance, I love to use lavender when I’m getting ready for the night to start relaxing and fall asleep more easily!
15.3. Create a Warm Glow
The right lighting can help you create a cozy, relaxing atmosphere in your modern farmhouse bathroom. Keywords: inviting atmosphere, farmhouse bathroom decor. Invest in warm-toned lights to create a beautiful glow for your space. color-changing LEDs are also a fantastic option if you like to play with different lighting depending on the time of day.
16. Choose The Right Cabinet Pulls
When it comes to your cabinet pulls, several different styles can work in a modern farmhouse bathroom. Overall, you want to focus on colors and materials that can create a high contrast with your cabinets. For instance, light wooden cabinets will look stunning paired with black, skeel pulls. Dark green cabinets instead will work with gold knobs.
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try unique cabinet pulls for sophisticated decor.
17. Bringing in Wood Accents
17.1. Wooden Shelves
Wooden shelves are a staple of farmhouse decor. Their overall design is rustic and simple without looking too traditional. You can go for a built-in design if you like a traditional look or floating shelves if you are thinking of a more modern display.
17.2. Wooden Beams
Wooden beams are the perfect farmhouse piece to add visual interest and aesthetic appeal to your bathroom. They can be a bit on the pricier side to get installed but will stand the test of time and look more beautiful as time passes.
17.3. Darker Wood Tones
You can use darker wood tones to give your farmhouse bathroom a cozy feel. You can either choose naturally dark wood like mahogany or stain pieces you already own for a more budget-friendly option.
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To Conclude
This post showed you 38 modern farmhouse bathroom ideas!
The perfect modern farmhouse bathroom combines rustic touches with sleek finishes for a contemporary but timeless design. From statement chandeliers to black matte hardware, there are plenty of options to infuse your farmhouse bathroom with personality and simple but elegant design.