Design Trend: What’s Next After Farmhouse?!

As a designer, I love trend-spotting. I follow a ton of Instagram influencers, read trade magazines, and keep track of who's on top in the industry. Back in college, we were taught that Interior Design trends were most closely influenced by the fashion industry. To this day, you'll see patterns and colors shift from the runway to housewares in a few years. Of course, with the creation of home design tv shows and social media, we now know that trends are popping up elsewhere, created by style influencers.

Chip and Joanna Gaines are the perfect examples of this. They developed their signature style while flipping houses in Waco, TX, and parlayed it into Magnolia Home. Technically, Joanna's style encompasses several different design styles. Still, she's mostly known as the creator of the Modern Farmhouse style that's been sweeping the nation since the 2013 debut of Fixer Upper.

Just like Fixer Upper, all good things come to an end. Including the Farmhouse trend. But don't worry, it's given rise to two other distinct decorating styles.

If you're a fan of the show, you'll know that Joanna loves to mix tones of gray and white with worn-in leather and metal accents. She's a fan of antiques and primitive touches. The final reveal is always a mix of comfort and style that invites guests and compliments alike. And industry professionals are predicting this trend of casual, welcoming style will live on through the emerging Industrial and Country Chic styles.

Okay, okay. These styles aren't exactly new. In fact, they predated Modern Farmhouse and merged together to create it! But stick with me here; they're going in some different directions.

The Industrial style emerged in the early 2000s as developers began to flip old factories into apartments. Leaving the exposed brick walls, wood floors, and institutional light fixtures leftover from the early 1900s saved money and created a unique design style. Professional designers included sleek modern furniture and accentuated the look by tucking in workplace antiques like old drafting stools, decorative typewriters, and industrial supplies. This look was a bit stark for most rural and suburban homeowners who opted for the comfier Farmhouse trend. We'll likely see this trend start to infiltrate the workplace more in the coming years. As more companies adopt a more lenient flex work policy, workplace design will shift away from places to work and into places to gather. We can expect to see less formal conference rooms and more informal seating areas - think corporate living rooms - bringing home to the office. The Industrial trend is the perfect mix of comfort and business. Far more inviting and stylish than the cubicle farms of the past, this trend is more likely to draw in the aesthetes of the working world.

And then there's Country Chic. As long as there have been homes in the countryside, there has been Country Chic decor. The hallmark of a country home has always been well-loved decor and well-used furniture. Usually passed down from generation to generation, those antiques ran parallel with the family tree. These days homeowners are polishing the silver and mixing in some sparkle. Country Chic decor includes all of the classic country patterns like gingham and florals, overstuffed furniture big enough to hold all your extended family, and lots of lovely, feminine accessories. You can expect to see a modern chandelier over the antique dining table and linen slipcovers over the sofas. We've moved past the Shabby Chic days of antique-everything and into a more refined mix of old and new. Oh, and don't forget to add in color. Country Chic isn't limited to the grays and whites of Magnolia Home. When it's done right, the look is casual and elegant without looking tired and broken in.

And there you have it, folks! Out with the old, and in with the...even older?! Oh, you know, these trends come and go and then come back again. Whatever style you pick, just make sure you love it.