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35 Fabulous farmhouse bathroom ideas

By Gianna Huesch

Updated: January 4th, 2024

Embrace the charm, comfort and country character of a farmhouse bathroom

Simple and comfortable are the magic words when it comes to designing a modern farmhouse bathroom. This is a cheerful style where modern and vintage elements happily coexist. It’s where retro styling blends with contemporary functionality. And the result is a light, unfussy and sweetly nostalgic space. If you love the lived-in charm of a country home with a blend of vintage and vogue elements, you’ll love the modern farmhouse style.

So what are some of the key elements, colour palettes and finishing touches that define a modern farmhouse bathroom?

farmhouse-bathroom-decor
Source: Photo by Photoholgic on Unsplash

Walls and floors

The overall aesthetic should be light and bright. Draw on a soothing, natural colour palette featuring whites, pale earthy neutrals or soft pastels. Bring in crisp black accents for a modern touch.

Walls are usually white or light-coloured. This could mean painted, dressed in shiplap or other panelling, tiled up in white subway tile, or featuring pretty wallpaper.

Mix in plenty of natural-looking timber through wooden furniture. Add in wooden accents in elements like mirror frames, exposed ceiling beams, or sliding barn doors. Other organic materials such as woven baskets also give the requisite nod to nature.

Floors can be weathered timber or patterned cement tile, even distressed laminate.

Source: Photo by Bence Balla-Schottner on Unsplash

Furniture and bathware

Look for vintage silhouettes for your cabinets, sink, tub and plumbing. Furniture is usually on the larger side, with heirloom-style pieces (real antique or reproduction). Shaker-style cabinets are also very popular. Old, distressed-look or reclaimed wooden furniture also makes the grade, especially if painted a heritage hue.

Sinks might be white porcelain troughs or distressed vintage metal. In terms of shape, go for pedestal sinks, or freestanding basins perched on simple wooden consoles. Or you could opt for a more modern stone or concrete vessel sink in a distinctly rustic style.

Hardware and plumbing are patinaed, often bronze or brass, and ideally vintage in appearance.

Tubs are typically clawfoot or white freestanding statement tubs. But you can also experiment with repurposed galvanised steel water tanks and feed troughs or wooden barrel tubs.

farmhouse-bathroom-romantic
Source: Photo by Tina Witherspoon on Unsplash

Accessories and décor

Light fittings tend towards industrial-style pendants and sconces, often black or brass. Or, old-fashioned styles like tulip-shaped and cage sconces look the part as well. Mirrors are either ornate and antique-style and framed in gorgeous patinated metals. Alternatively, they are weathered wood framed. Fancy shapes are welcome.

The modern farmhouse style tends to avoid clutter. But it’s perfectly acceptable to add a selection of little country or vintage touches to give an authentic farmhouse feel. There are so many possible finishing touches and accessories you might consider. For example, heritage-themed or striped linen, woven or wire baskets, and galvanised steel tubs. Or go for rugs, wooden or metal stools, distressed vintage medicine cabinets and other flea-market finds. Look for framed botanical or floral art, glass jars or apothecary bottles, a little vase or jar of flowers.

farmhouse-bathroom-olde-worlde
Source: Photo by Monstera from Pexels

Now, let’s take a deeper dive into what makes a modern farmhouse space…

1. Start with the walls

White-washed wood is a classic characteristic of farmhouse bathrooms. So white shiplap panelling is a strong favourite in farmhouse wall treatments. For instant country vibes, go for shiplap panelling in white or off-white. It adds detail and it brings in warmth and texture to your space. You might also consider light-coloured beadboard or wainscoting wall treatments. These also add plenty of country character to your bathroom.

Source: Photo by Dan Smedley on Unsplash

2. Keep wall colours light

Farmhouse bathrooms usually feature light-coloured walls. A popular alternative to wall panelling is to use crisp white subway tile. But given subway tile is a more modern décor element, make sure you contrast it with a vintage-flavoured farmhouse vanity. Similarly, if you’re repurposing an antique table to use as a vanity, modernise it with a white freestanding basin.

Tip: keep your bathroom tile looking gorgeous by hiring an expert tile and grout cleaner.

3. Have a pastel colour scheme

Farmhouse bathrooms have a characteristic brightness to them. So an effective colour palette usually takes in light and pretty pastels –pale blues, greens and yellows are popular. How gorgeous is this combination of pale lilac panelling and eggshell white paint?

farmhouse-bathroom-toilet
Source: Photo by Cameron Smith on Unsplash

4. Use plenty of natural timber

Farmhouse bathrooms ideally incorporate a lot of natural-looking woods. White shiplap walls look amazing paired with exposed beam ceilings and matching wooden flooring.

5. Add a large, standout piece of furniture

Genuine farmhouses traditionally had to accommodate large families or shared use by farmworkers. So farmhouse bathrooms tended to incorporate oversized furniture, like a massive timber vanity. Try to find the largest piece possible for your space, even if you don’t have quite this much room.

6. Go for Shaker-style cabinets

Shaker-style cabinets give a classic, traditional look to a farmhouse bathroom. They manage to appear both sophisticated and simple. Choose white or natural timber tones and marry with rustic looking hardware or knobs. This could actually match your shaker-style kitchen as well for the continuity.

7. Add sliding barn doors

Signal your farmhouse aesthetic from the outside in with the farm-inspired appeal of a rustic barn door. Sliding barn doors don’t provide total privacy. So they’re a better choice for a private master ensuite than a bathroom in a communal space.

8. Have a trough sink

A popular way to add rural character to your farmhouse bathroom is to have a trough sink. These are usually made of white fireclay or porcelain or you could get lucky and snap up a vintage, distressed metal sink for even more character. Often featuring multiple faucets, trough sinks can be highly functional. They’re especially useful for large families. And they’re very pleasing to look at, especially when added as a drop-in model into a gorgeous timber vanity.

9. Especially a vintage trough

A distressed metal trough sink has farm vibes in spades. Pair with traditional gooseneck faucets. And go for gold-toned fixtures and antique mirror frame to add warmth.

Love vintage bathrooms? You might also like to look at our article featuring Art Deco bathrooms.

10. Go for a simple white sink

The simplicity and clean lines of a plain white sink contrast wonderfully with distressed timber or metal in your vanity.

11. Have a barn-door style vanity

Vanities with little barn-style doors are an easy way to add country farmhouse character to your bathroom.

Want to discuss your bathroom cabinet design ideas with an expert? Find a local who specialises in bathroom cabinets.

12. Mix modern and vintage

A hallmark of a modern farmhouse is to mix modern elements with vintage pieces. For example, add a marble countertop to a vintage cabinet.

13. Cosy up with a rug

A farmhouse can make you think of the cold wintery mornings, but add some warmth with a rug for under your feet.

14. Add an antique mirror

An ornate, antique mirror always look the part.

Source: Photo by Sinitta Leunen from Pexels

15. Bring in concrete

It’s not a strictly traditional farmhouse material. But concrete has the necessary roughness and neutral tones to work well in a modern farmhouse bathroom. A concrete vanity can look amazing contrasted with an ornate brass mirror and a chandelier, for example.

16. Opt for a simple colour scheme

An all-white farmhouse bathroom benefits from some crisp black accents for little bursts of contrast. For example, black drawer knobs, industrial black lights and black framed mirrors. Dashes of colour can be introduced for interest in the décor.

17. Consider nature colours

Or choose from a palette of natural neutrals to bring the feeling of the outdoors in. Sage is a lovely tranquil nature colour for a modern farmhouse bathroom.

18. Add wooden accents

Natural-looking timber is another classic characteristic of the farmhouse style. Introduce natural or lightly-stained hardwood floors. And complement with little timber accents, like stools or wood-framed mirrors.

Source: Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

19. Install a clawfoot tub

Iconic and full of character, a cast-iron vintage tub will always spell farmhouse character. Original tubs can be very heavy, so check your floor can withstand the weight. Otherwise, choose a modern clawfoot tub made of lighter materials, or go for a simple freestanding tub instead.

20. Experiment with tub colours

Bathtubs don’t need to be white. You can use your tub to bring in colours that are in line with the farmhouse aesthetic.

Have an old bath that needs resurfacing? You can easily find an expert in bath resurfacing who’ll have it looking new again.

farmhouse-bathroom-vintage-style-tub
Source: Photo by Dan Counsell on Unsplash

21. Have a freestanding tub

The simplicity and comfort of a freestanding tub suit the modern farmhouse aesthetic. And it’s a good way to bridge the divide between old and new elements.

Source: Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

22. Try a bathtub barrel

Bathtubs made from wooden barrels have an inherent farmhouse character.

23. Or a feed trough tub

Likewise, nothing says ‘farmhouse’ more than a bathtub made from a converted galvanised steel water tank or feed trough! Paint it white to suit an all-white bathroom aesthetic and mix with timber accents. Add a few contemporary elements such as subway tile for a modern farmhouse vibe.

24. Have barn-style or industrial lighting

Metal industrial style and barn-inspired lighting fixtures add heaps of utilitarian chic to a farmhouse bathroom. And pendants and sconces in galvanised steel or black powder-coated steel fixtures are ideal for the modern farmhouse look.

25. Install fresh white lights

If black feels too heavy as a colour for your pendant lights, choose white instead! A white light fitting will blend harmoniously into your light-coloured farmhouse bathroom. Such a fresh touch.

For more lighting ideas, see also our article on bathroom lighting.

26. Or romantic traditional lighting

Tulip-shaped wall sconces add nostalgic charm to a farmhouse bathroom.

27. Decorate with vintage and heritage linen

Source some vintage bathroom linen on Gumtree or eBay to evoke rural heritage and days gone by. If you can’t find country-inspired linen, simple stripes or checks will also give you farmhouse vibes. Display your vintage textiles on a wooden ladder or neatly folded in a wire basket.

farmhouse-bathroom-wooden-ladder
Source: Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

28. Tile a splashback

Farmhouse bathrooms are not typically busy with patterns. But patterned encaustic cement tiles can still create a traditional, nostalgic look. Use for the splashback or the floor.

29. Have a wetroom

Wetrooms are a great combination of farmhouse meets modern bathroom design. A wetroom with country-inspired elements such as the timber shelf and antler decoration.

30. Add curtains

Quaint floral curtains add a touch that fits in well with the farmhouse style. They’re a great way to introduce colour in a way that isn’t necessarily permanent. Pick up the theme in some floral or botanical framed artwork or in the colour of your clawfoot tub.

31. Add farmhouse accessories

The farmhouse style tends to avoid clutter. However, surfaces can still bear a carefully curated selection of charming objects and accessories. Choose simple glass vessels with clean lines: old apothecary jars and bottles are ideal to evoke old-fashioned farm life. You can also often find self-care products that come in this style of packaging which would also work well. Other décor elements to add include indoor plants, stripy linen and woven baskets.

farmhouse-bathroom-vibe
Source: Photo by Dan Farrell on Unsplash

32. Add little country touches

Sometimes just one or two design elements are needed to convey a farmhouse character. For example, a simple rustic wooden stool beside the bathtub immediately conveys country charm. Especially when styled with a pretty floral arrangement.

farmhouse-bathroom-neutral-towels
Source: Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

33. Make a Shaker peg rail

Another easy add which you can DIY is a Shaker peg rail. Hang your towels on the hooks and curate some country-flavoured accessories for the ledge above.

34. Look for vintage tapware

Your choice of tapware and fittings will go a long way towards creating the nostalgic atmosphere of a farmhouse bathroom. Source vintage brass or brushed nickel tapware, or find a heritage-inspired line of modern plumbing to fake it. Either way, it will inject a plain modern bathroom with a strong dose of farmhouse style.

farmhouse-bathroom-warm-tones
Source: Photo by Tina Witherspoon on Unsplash

Tip: find a local expert to help with your showerhead installation or general bathroom plumbing tasks.

Need a rough idea of costs? Why not check out our price guides for faucet/mixer installation or plumbing generally.

35. Don’t forget the flowers

You can’t go wrong with a little bunch of flowers in a simple glass jar – nothing extravagant is needed, just a few sprigs picked from the garden will do. Flowers really reinforce the nature-inspired feel of a farmhouse bathroom, even more so than a potplant. Probably because flowers have such fragile impermanence and seem that little bit more delicate. An essential element for every farmhouse bathroom.

Want to change up your bathroom colour scheme? Find an expert bathroom painter.

So I hope these farmhouse bathroom ideas have given you some inspiration for your bathroom renovation. You can also find loads of great ideas in our article on bathroom décor ideas. Does the modern farmhouse style appeal to you? Although it does incorporate some contemporary elements, it’s at the other end of the spectrum to modern bathrooms. Over to you – do you have a farmhouse bathroom and what elements have you added to achieve the look?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gianna

I'm an interiors writer living in coastal Australia and discovering all the joys of DIY renovating.

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Comments

  1. Pamela gallagher

    Hi Gianna, absolutely wonderful I loved reading and looking at your information on Farmhouses Bathrooms!
    I have a beautiful antique large mirror which has found a new Home in my Bathroom .