Flooring Styles to Fit the Modern Farmhouse

Relaxed countryside living meets contemporary refinement in the Modern Farmhouse style.

Do you want the down-to-earth hominess of a farmhouse in the country with the chic, upscale accents of a polished city loft? Welcome to the best of both worlds: Modern Farmhouse. This design aesthetic has had an enormous rise in popularity, and it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

All About Modern Farmhouse Design and Flooring

“Old Farmhouse” probably recalls images of exposed wooden beams, worn floors, and just-on-the-verge-of-cluttered furnishings filled with memories, all nestled atop rolling country grass. Modern Farmhouse is refashioned for this generation: more contemporary, a little ritzy, while still paying homage to its country, rustic roots. The relaxed Farmhouse style is still very present, but with more sleek lines, neutral color schemes, and high-end accents in the home. The touch of sophistication in Modern Farmhouses is often present in the little details, from the countertops to flooring and appliances to lighting.

Hardwood floors play an important role in both Farmhouse styles. These homes are typically filled with sweeping hardwood floors, exposed ceiling beams, and long farmhouse-style dining tables with wooden benches big enough to squeeze in anyone who’s hungry.

Old Farmhouse design relies on wood that’s full of character: knots, pockmarks, and distressed texture that adds natural charm. Here, it’s not as critical to select a specific grade of wood—whatever natural character comes from the trees will be a perfect fit.

For Modern Farmhouse, that refined edge is essential to keep the overall look and feel from becoming too rustic. Carlisle offers a Signature Grade of wood that blends a relaxed look with a touch of formality. Planks are hand-selected, some for less variation—a more formal, luxurious look—and some that possess more natural character for a rustic look. The combination of clean boards and character boards creates the perfect flooring style for a Modern Farmhouse.

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3 Steps to Picking and Installing Modern Farmhouse Flooring

There’s a lot that goes into crafting a custom hardwood floor—and your imagination is the only limitation. But if you’re after a Modern Farmhouse floor style, here are some tips to help bring that aesthetic to life.

1. Choose a color-consistent wood.

Traditional Old Farmhouse designs often use types of wood with distinctive grains, knots, and color variations—which are gorgeous, natural details. But Modern Farmhouse steers away from rugged elements towards classic, contemporary sophistication. Wood varieties with more consistency in color, like White Oak, lend themselves perfectly to a Modern Farmhouse floor. Lighter neutrals, like White Oak, are defining features of the Farmhouse style, adding brightness and a feeling of spaciousness.

2. Select a refined texture.

In a typical Old Farmhouse design, we’d recommend distressed and hand-scraped textures, which add a sense of character and age. But the Modern Farmhouse is a bit more refined, and these textures can overdo the rustic feel.  Sticking with just a smooth face or brushed face boards can keep the modern feel and let the natural beauty of the wood shine through. The natural grain patterns and tight growth rings add organic depth and sophistication without distractions.

3. Use plank widths to play with formality.

In many homes, a custom hardwood floor is one of the primary focal points of the room. And every detail, every single plank placement counts.

Mixing plank widths was once an act of necessity, as builders tried to use all parts of the tree. Nowadays, mixing plank widths and lengths is an intriguing way to change the personality of any room. Rooms with mixed plank widths have a cozy flair with elements of time-honored tradition, while single-width planks feel more refined.

Try mixing plank widths throughout your home to blend upscale modernity with the comfort of a farmhouse. Use randomly mixed widths in all the “common” areas—kitchens, hallways, bedrooms—but bring in more uniform formality for spaces like dining rooms or sitting rooms. In those more on-display spaces, single-width flooring can carry a more formal setting. Go even further with a pattern installation, like chevron or herringbone, for elevated sophistication that is truly a work of art.

Flooring Styles for Modern Farmhouses

Carlisle’s wide range of wood species and textures opens a world of possibilities. The Traditional Collection and Retreat Collection, two of the most popular tried-and-true finishes, are natural fits for a Modern Farmhouse floor, especially when crafted with a Signature grade White Oak.

The modern tones in our Urban Collection, with its mix of light and dark hues and brushed texture, elevates the look especially when crafted into a Chevron or Herringbone pattern.

Working with a Carlisle design consultant, you have the power to customize every aspect of your Carlisle floor to create the Modern Farmhouse floor of your dreams—from wood species and grade to plank texture, finish, and width. Fair warning, though: You might get lost in each bespoke detail of your hand-crafted floor.

Designing Your Dream Hardwood Floor

Ready to move into your Modern Farmhouse home? Enjoy the feeling of the chic countryside with a custom hardwood floor from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. If you’re looking for more inspiration or flooring ideas, head to our Flooring Quiz. Refined rusticity and approachable sophistication are waiting for you. Add striking artisanal craftsmanship to your home by taking our Flooring Quiz today