All About Modern Farmhouse Style

In every modern farmhouse home, you’ll find some combination of these decor elements:

Modern farmhouse

• About Toll Brothers
• TollBrothers.com
• © Toll Brothers, Inc.
• Legal
• Privacy

24 Trendy Contemporary Farmhouse Exterior Styles

Last updated on September 19th, 2023

These days, it’s impossible to miss the modern farmhouse design, whether you’re online, watching TV, or exploring your town. Plenty of homeowners are wondering how to get the modern farmhouse look in their homes, and while the inside is undoubtedly important, the outside is just as crucial to ensuring your home achieves this style.

From Arizona to Virginia, there are so many variations on the farmhouse look. Explore 24 of our favorite contemporary farmhouse exteriors below, each showcasing a different take on this popular home aesthetic.

1. Contrasting warm and cool materials

The Valen’s Key Design Features:

• Horizontal siding, stucco, and cut stone combined with dark trim and cedar accents
• Standing metal seam mixed with an asphalt shingle roof
• Contrast between dark windows and white stucco, characteristic of many modern farmhouse designs
• Welcoming wrapped front porch

2. Light dramatic craftsman detailing

The Triana’s Key Design Features:

• An appealing combination of board and batten siding, horizontal siding, and stucco
• Dark trim against a modern white color scheme
• Standing metal seam roofs mixed with flat tile
• Low pitch gabled roofs; exposed rafter tails; gable brackets

3. Steep contemporary roof pitches

The Junewood’s Key Design Features:

• Dark windows for a dramatic contrast against the white siding
• Glass door in the front of the home to fill the entry with light
• Variety of materials used for a stylish design
• Modern garage lighting accents

4. Variety of materials for visual depth including painted masonry and timber accents

The Evans’ Key Design Features:

• White color scheme and white windows that give the home a clean, monochromatic look
• A fresh combination of board and batten siding, horizontal siding, and painted brick
• Gable bracket details; exposed rafter tails at standing seam roofs; dormer stacked above entry
• Barn style coach lights above garage for additional exterior lighting

5. Well balanced with a pop of color

The Salinas’s Key Design Features:

• Contrasting wood garage against blue and grey scheme
• Pallet complimentary of the surrounding nature

6. Warm neutrals

The Weston’s Key Design Features:

• Board and batten siding with luxurious dark brick
• Dark trim and white body color schemes for additional contrast
• Low pitch gabled roofs with flat tile
• Gable bracket details
• Dormers stacked over large front covered entry with striking red front-entry door

7. Classic white color scheme with a dramatic door color

The Catalan’s Key Design Features:

• Brick to create contrast and red front-entry door
• Barn lamp-style sconces over the garage to provide practical and aesthetic lighting

8. Large glass filled entry

State: North Carolina

The Hollister’s Key Design Features:

• White board and batten siding complemented by white-painted brick for an elegant, tonal, modern color scheme
• Impressive porch characteristic of classic modern farmhouse design
• Welcoming metal-roofed porch complemented by grand glass double doors

9. Bold vertical entry material and courtyard

The Midwood’s Key Design Features:

• An exquisite exterior combination of board and batten siding, stucco, and stone for the perfect modern farmhouse look.
• Two-tone contrasting body color with eye-catching dark trim
• Barn door-style shutters to give a rustic feel to the home’s exterior

10. Exterior highlighting the use of natural materials with rich warm stone, wood doors, and wood shutters

The Yuma’s Key Design Features:

• A fresh exterior that combines board and batten, horizontal siding, and stone
• Dark body and white trim to create prominent contrast
• Window shutters that add to the rustic aesthetic
• A mix of hip and gable roofs with asphalt shingles

11. Dark craftsman detailing

The Crestone’s Key Design Features:

• A stunning exterior that mixes board and batten, horizontal siding, and striped stone
• A low-pitched gable roof
• Dark trim beautifully contrasted against a white body
• Shed roofs over a window and a large dormer stacked above the entry

12. Contemporary craftsman farmhouse exterior

The Keating’s Key Design Features:

• Multi-toned grey roof accents for a sleek, modern feel
• Window accents for additional natural light

13. Transitional blending of traditional and modern

The Whitmore’s Key Design Features:

• Board and batten, stucco, and stone exterior for a luxe urban style
• Gorgeous stone detail throughout the walkway and exterior accents

14. Farmhouse exterior with barn lighting

The Savannah’s Key Design Features:

• Board and batten and stucco exterior with soft green and white color scheme
• Standing metal seam shed roof accents with flat tile
• Bracket gable detail; window shutters; barn lamp-style sconces centered above the garage

15. Tonal blue-gray color palette

The Yale’s Key Design Features:

• Board and batten, horizontal siding, and stone exterior
• Two-tone body with white trim to create a layered yet unified look
• Steep gable roofs with asphalt shingles
• Column wrapped front porch and stone pedestals to complete the luxurious exterior

16. Transitional mix of classic style and modern farmhouse

The Roswell’s Key Design Features:

• A welcoming exterior with grand wood pillars
• Sleek forms contrasting well with the textured brick
• Dark contrasting accents to give the home a warm and earthy look

17. Modern farmhouse with a colorful exterior

The Hartley’s Key Design Features:

• Roof accents for a touch of modern drama
• On-trend soft green siding and dark door for an updated farmhouse look

18. Modern ranch

The St Helena’s Key Design Features:

• Stunning board and batten and stucco exterior
• Dark body with the white columns that allows for the full width front porch to notably stand out
• Flat tile with metal roof accents
• Exposed column hardware for a rich finish

19. Modern farmhouse with a contrasting exterior

The Halsey’s Key Design Features:

• Welcoming stone front walkway
• Dark garage and windows for elegant contrast with white siding and warm stone hues

20. Tonal off white modern farmhouse exterior

The Carmichaels’s Key Design Features:

• Eye-catching mixed exterior design with board and batten and stone
• Beautiful two-tone body with white trim
• Contemporary entry elements; metal roof accents
• Roof with a striking stone entry

21. Warm monochromatic exterior

State: New Jersey

The Colburn’s Key Design Features:

• Metal roof accents
• White trim accents paired with soft siding and beige color schemes with light windows for an elegant exterior

22. Modern transitional

The Calistoga’s Key Design Features:

• An inviting exterior that mixes board and batten, stucco, and painted brick
• Two-tone body with fresh white trim
• Front-facing gable roofs with a hipped main roof
• Gable bracket details and shed roof accents
• Enclosed entry courtyard that creates curb appeal

23. Modern craftsman farmhouse

The Saybrook’s Key Design Features:

• Bold white board and batten
• Black trimmed and light-filled windows
• Traditional stone porch entry

24. Modern farmhouse with a warm transitional exterior

The Austin’s Key Design Features:

• A stylish exterior featuring a combination of board and batten, stucco, and stone
• A striking two-tone body with dark trim
• Asphalt shingle roofs
• Recessed windows with sophisticated panel detailing

For more design inspiration, visit our website.

written by Toll Brothers

Embracing an unwavering commitment to quality and customer service, Toll Brothers currently builds in over 60 markets in 24 states nationwide, and is a publicly owned company with its common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TOL). Toll Brothers was named the #1 Home Builder in Fortune magazine’s 2023 survey of the World’s Most Admired Companies®, the eighth year it has been so honored. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information, visit TollBrothers.com. ©2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse the products or services of, Toll Brothers.

19 Comments

Robert H. says:

Number 4) on your list Evans at Canyon-Point-at-Traverse-Mountain/The-Summit-Collection is in Utah not Arizona.

Toll Brothers says:

We appreciate the notice, Robert! We have corrected the location.

Rachel Joshua says:

Is there a virtual tour / floor plan that exists for the property shown at the top of this web page. By design it looks like ‘The Weston’ however the layout is clearly different with front door being set back in the center of the property. Thank you.

Toll Brothers says:

Hi Rachel, we do have a virtual tour for the Weston that you can find here – https://bit.ly/3aXHAda Please let us know if there’s anything else we can help with!

Harvey says:

Do you have plans to build additional adult communities in Monroe and or Monmouth county NJ

Toll Brothers says:

Hi Harvey, we do not currently have plans to build more active-adult communities in these locations, but we encourage you to explore our array of current active-adult communities in Monmouth county on our website here – https://bit.ly/3hlWpbg Please let us know if there’s anything else we can help with, thanks!

LeahHamman says:

Such a helpful article! Thank you!! Can you tell me what black and white paint colors are used in #22 (Calistoga, Sterling Grove, AZ)? Also, advice on where to get shed roof accents made for above windows? I’d love to modernize my house and add a few of these touches. 🙂

Toll Brothers says:

Hi Leah, we’re glad that you liked our article! We cannot provide the paint colors for you but encourage you to browse https://www.sherwin-williams.com/ since we work with them frequently. We unfortunately also cannot assist you with your shed roof inquiry.

Jovanna miller says:

Toll Brothers says:

Hi Jovanna, you can explore an array of floor plans for the Valen on our website here – https://bit.ly/2S3FzUq Scroll down and you will see the floor plans and a dropdown menu to select which community you would like to see. We hope this helps answer your question!

roman blinds online says:

This is an explosive idea; this is most probably the best and most successful thing about 24 modern farmhouse exterior styles. I love this blog and really happy to come across this exceptionally well written content. Thanks for sharing!!Do check out this https://foreverblinds.com.au/ it has some great and nice ideas to look for.

Toll Brothers says:

We appreciate the kind words and are happy to hear you enjoyed our piece!

Blinds Auckland says:

I loved your blog and thanks for publishing this about 24 modern farmhouse exterior styles !! I am really happy to come across this exceptionally well written content. Thanks for sharing and look for more in future!! Keep doing this inspirational work and share with us.

Basement Renovations Auckland says:

Hey thanks for posting this useful information about 24 modern farmhouse exterior styles here, I really hope it will be helpful to many. It will help a lot; these types of content should get appreciated. I will bookmark your site; I hope to read more such informative contents in future. Appreciative content!

outdoor storage says:

Hi, thank you for such a brilliant post. I have been reading some blogs that gives me more knowledge about 24 modern farmhouse exterior styles. I must say this is one of the best among them. You have done a great research for I feel, thanks for sharing.

Carrolyn Barber says:

Do you have any floorplans in the Raleigh, N.C. area that are mostly one level, no three bedrooms on upper level? We need about 3200 sq, ft, three or four bedrooms, three baths, garage two-car,? Price range is 500,000 to 750,000. Anything available?

Toll Brothers says:

Hi Carrolyn, please explore this list of Toll communities in and around Raleigh, NC: https://bit.ly/3bIw3B0 Filters have been attributed to reflect your criteria. We hope this helps answer your question, and please let us know if there’s anything else we can help with. Thanks!

Sarah says:

Trying to locate the floor plan for home #1. Every link takes you to the scaled down model of this home. Do you have the exact floor plan for that specific home available to look at?

Toll Brothers says:

Hi Sarah, that particular model home is from a sold-out community. You can explore the standard floorplan for the Valen and the many additional features available on our website here. We hope this helps answer your question. Thanks!

All About Modern Farmhouse Style

Lauren Flanagan wrote about decor for The Spruce for nearly two years, focusing on interior decor. She has written extensively about home and gardens for various publications including Canadian Gardening, Canadian Home and Country, and Connected Rogers Magazine.

Comfy, cozy, and full of charm, modern farmhouse is not going out of style anytime soon. Designers like Joanna Gaines of “Fixer Upper” have showcased this chic style in all its comforting glory, and people are flocking to the look. In many ways, it grew as a response to the popular minimalist trend in the 1990s and early 2000s. Modern farmhouse design allows people to embrace tradition and surround themselves with decor that makes them feel good—but with a modern twist reflective of the times.

Here’s what you need to know if you want to get the modern farmhouse look.

What Is Modern Farmhouse Style?

Modern farmhouse style blends traditional farmhouse decor with contemporary design, furnishings, and color schemes. Modern farmhouse evokes feelings of warmth and comfort. It’s classic without being fussy and makes elevated designs comfortable, making you want to put your feet up and stay a while.

While the classic farmhouse style evokes homesteads with plenty of vintage furnishings and traditional fabrics, the modern farmhouse style is a bit less rustic. It adds more contemporary touches, such as a neutral color scheme and smooth lines. Modern farmhouse is all about mixing comfortable furniture with salvaged materials, such as reclaimed wood.

Antiques are at home in modern farmhouse interiors, though they shouldn’t be too delicate to touch. Everything should be tactile and tangible. Most of all, the modern farmhouse style is cozy without being cluttered.

Modern Farmhouse Color Schemes

Modern farmhouse colors are easy on the eyes, effortless, and blend in with the room around it. The best colors are warm and cool neutrals, like cream, beige, brown, gray, white, and natural, earthy tones, like blues, greens, yellows, and dark orange.

• White: Modern farmhouse homes often incorporate white paint, furniture, or accents to make the rooms feel bright and open.
• Warm neutrals: Warm neutrals like cream, beige, and brown feel comfortable because they invoke natural skin tones, all with a little yellow undertone. They feel natural, and many can self-identify with these tones.
• Cool neutrals: Cool neutrals like gray, silver, blue, and light green have a blue undertone. These colors are naturally soothing and serene.
• Earthy accents: Nature gives us wood, greenery, changing foliage colors, and ocean and sky blues. These warm woods and deeper reds and oranges are not bold or jarring; they’re relaxing, reassuring, and grounding.

Common Elements of Modern Farmhouse Style

In every modern farmhouse home, you’ll find some combination of these decor elements:

• Reclaimed wood
• Barnboard details
• Big comfortable furniture
• Architectural salvage
• Pine furniture
• Wrought iron accents
• Wide plank floors
• Vintage accessories

Get the Modern Farmhouse Look

The key to achieving a modern farmhouse interior and exterior is comfort. Furniture should invite you to sit down; nothing should look like it’s too fragile to touch. Modern farmhouse decor has a down-home feeling that should invite a sense of laughter and fun.

• Use light neutrals as a base: Start with a color palette of warm or cool neutrals (cream, beige, silver, sage, and gray all work well), then layer in some natural wood tones. Look for salvaged woods that have some wear and tear whenever possible. Scratches, knots, and nicks add to the authenticity of the look.
• Add accent colors: Feel free to use colors you like as accent pieces. But to stay true to the look, keep the overall color scheme neutral with light colors. Contrasting black elements can add a bit of edge.
• Incorporate texture: Use a variety of textures to give the look some depth. Mix woods and metals. And combine fabrics, such as cotton, canvas, wool, chenille, or whatever else you like. Because the modern farmhouse style is primarily made up of neutral colors, you’ll need a mix of textures to keep the space from looking flat. For example, in a modern farmhouse living room, you could add texture with upholstered furniture, pillows, curtains, and even wall art made of wood or metal.
• Mix in metal accents: Layer in some mixed metals through light fixtures, hardware, and architectural details like railings. Generally, using no more than three metals per room is best. For instance, you might have complementary metals on your appliances, cabinet hardware, and lighting in a modern farmhouse kitchen.
• Pull inspiration from nature: Use organic materials to make the space feel as though it’s connected to the outdoors. Wood floors and architectural details are best, but consider introducing stone, wicker, rattan, sisal, and other natural materials wherever it makes sense.
• Introduce accessories sparingly: Accessories are essential, but you should not overdo it and try to squeeze in too many. A few well-placed accessories that are given room to breathe are all you need to complete the look.

Modern Farmhouse Interiors vs. Exteriors

A modern farmhouse exterior often has some combination of the following elements:

• White paint (can be painted brick, siding, etc.)
• Potentially board and batten or x-shaped trim that’s reminiscent of barns
• Simple front door—often a double door and a door with windows or sidelights to let in extra natural light—that’s commonly stained wood or painted in a subtle color
• A black, gray, or metal roof
• Not overly ornate trim
• Potentially shutters
• A simple rectangular structure, possibly with additions that are also rectangular
• A large, covered front porch
• Many windows
• Modern versions of rustic lighting, such as a streamlined lantern
• Neat and simple landscaping

The modern farmhouse exterior complements the contemporary farmhouse interior in several ways. For one, the windows let in lots of natural light to make the interior feel bright, inviting, and comfortable. The exterior’s simplicity also sets the tone that the house isn’t too fussy or stuffy, which is carried through inside with the uncomplicated modern farmhouse decor. And the typically large front porches—or wraparound porches—show that the home is a place to gather. Plus, the clean lines of the exterior also complement the uncluttered nature of the interior, which helps to modernize the whole look.

How Modern Farmhouse Compares to Other Styles

Modern farmhouse is similar to country style. However, while country tends to lean a little toward kitschy, modern farmhouse retains a certain level of sophistication. Country also relies heavily on accessories, while modern farmhouse keeps them to a minimum.

Industrial farmhouse style has become an offshoot of modern farmhouse. As its name suggests, it draws inspiration from farmhouse and industrial styles. The industrial style plays up raw architectural elements, including metals, wood, bricks, glass, and concrete. And it uses relatively dark neutral tones.

The main difference between modern and industrial farmhouse is that the industrial version uses darker finishes, mixed metals, and live-edge wood. Modern farmhouse, on the other hand, tends to be whiter and brighter.

Cozy, contemporary, clean, simple, rustic, and comforting; these words encompass the modern farmhouse style. Expect to see neutral colors, reclaimed wood, shiplap, and big comfy furniture.

What is the difference between modern farmhouse and country style?

Modern farmhouse style is similar to country style but uses white or light neutral colors with a cleaner, more contemporary look. In contrast, country style includes bright and pastel colors and floral or gingham patterns. Both types use reclaimed wood, pottery, metals, and baskets in their decor.

What wall paint colors are used in modern farmhouse style?

Neutral colors, including whites, are used on the walls in the modern farmhouse look. Other colors include grays, beige, greige, tans, blues, and greens.

Consider this style as a blend of comfortable, older rustic furniture with some cozy modern styles. For example, heirloom, vintage, or antique wood furniture pieces like coffee tables or desks are an excellent addition to a room with a classic contemporary sofa in neutral white, cream, gray, beige, or brown.