Design Pros Are Over This Interior Style in 2025
You might have gone done a social media rabbit hole one day, swooning over a rustic home with sliding barn doors, painted white shiplap, layers of neutrals and exposed wood beams. But now design pros are urging you to rethink your stance, because some believe farmhouse style is out.
“Once a style becomes ubiquitous and repetitive, I’m over it,” says Jeanne Barber of Camden Grace Interiors. “Not because I don’t like the style, but because it has been taken out of context and slapped on everything. That’s the case with the farmhouse trend — white houses with black windows are everywhere now, even in tightly packed urban areas. Give me a true farmhouse any day, but don’t try to fit a square peg in a round hole.”
Why is farmhouse style out?
Designer Ruthie Staalesen shares that the farmhouse aesthetic has become so overdone that many people have simply grown tired of it: “It’s a design style that has been loved for longer than most fads. Farmhouse style was so popular mostly because of Chip and Joanna Gaines. Every home decor store carried this look, and now all homes look the same. Who wants their home to look like everyone else’s?”
“While farmhouse style first came into the scene as a light, warm and welcoming aesthetic, the overuse of shiplap along with forced white and black exteriors, especially in new build construction, has saturated this aesthetic — stripping the once unique design of character,” says Elizabeth Cross-Bear of Palm Henri Interiors.
Designer Kristina Lawrence acknowledges that it’s a “timeless classic,” but says it’s time for people to think beyond the typical gray and white farmhouse look. “The endless parade of gray upholstery, white painted shiplap and ‘Live Laugh Love’ signs is starting to feel less cozy chic and more monochrome blah,” Lawrence says.
Is there any way to make the farmhouse aesthetic work?
So what’s the solution if you just have to have a dose of farmhouse flair in your home? Lean into your personal design style and consider weaving in colors that aren’t typically associated with farmhouse design schemes. “We’re not suggesting kicking farmhouse style off the porch entirely, but consider giving it a fresh coat of warm color, adding some deeper hues, a bit of texture and more personality…as in your personality,” Lawrence explains. “When farmhouse style is allowed to embrace natural woods, earthy tones, deeper metallic colors and a little character, it takes on an updated feel that doesn’t look like it came pre-packaged from aisle five.”
Staalesen recommends crafting a space that showcases furniture and decor that speaks to you as well. Don’t always feel pressure to follow what’s new. “True design is a style you curate for yourself that you love, not just a trend you follow because it’s popular,” she says.
Lauren Sullivan of Well by Design says the usual shiplap, barn doors and distressed finishes don’t have to be the go-to, as they’re “overdone and overly staged.” They should be reserved for a true farmhouse setting that feels more authentic, she says.
According to Sullivan, a better alternative is aiming to create a visually appealing space that appears to have been designed over time. “We’re seeing a shift toward more layered, collected interiors that feel personal and timeless—moving away from theme-driven styles in favor of spaces that blend modern and traditional elements, with an emphasis on craftsmanship, texture and quiet luxury.”
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, “What’s in My Cart.”
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