Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas

What Defines Farmhouse Style?

As I shared in my initial blog on farmhouse decor, it is distinct from modern styles. Their decor was bred from those in a certain time using what they had on hand. Farmhouses, by nature, originated from farmers who would use the materials on the lands they were given as colonists. I say colonists as, while farmhouse style can be argued to originate in Europe, contemporary elements are definitely North American. This lifestyle didn’t really go away but it being a popular trend has been revived in recent years. This style can and has had its elements adapted to urban farmhouse Christmas ideas.

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   What Are the Elements of Farmhouse Style?

To understand natural elements of farmhouse style, it’s important to understand what materials were common on the lands they had. The wood cut down to make space for their homes and the stones they cleared from their fields were available. The stones became the foundations of their homes, their chimneys, markers on their lands, and hewn down for practical applications. Wood became the go to for most everything else from the bulk of the house, fence, tools, wagons, etc. Metal would also be used but that would be more a specialty material as it would be something they’d buy. As such, it would not be common in a lot of their lives but used as stoves, stronger tools, etc.

  What Defines Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas?

As lives, at that time, were spent almost exclusively on work, the home was used for cooking/eating and resting. Practicalities of farm life has led to an enduring culture of conservative management, making the most of what you have. Urban Farmhouse Christmas decor in modern day stays true to this idea by keeping to simplistic decor, dependent on natural materials. (Please refer to my original blog for exhaustive ideas as this is snippets designed for suburban/urban application. In that blog I explore indepth relevance for and uses of inflatables, blow molds, wireframes, window, and solid wood decorations.)

   Can Farmhouse Style Truly Be Used in Urban and Suburban Areas?

I’m not the first blogger to promote the idea of decorating a suburban (or urban) home as a Christmas farmhouse. Worthing court has shared her own practical experiences in this area and does a holiday home tour of her own. First time decorators who dream of making beautiful homes can find Christmas decorating intimidating. Magazines look like decorators brought out Clark & Kensington paint and reams of cotton fabric, but you got this. Every holiday season is an opportunity for the whole family to experience your holiday cheer in creating a city farmhouse. This Christmas season, your holiday decor is open to your artistic vision of the seasonal colors, without needing anyone’s affirmation!

   What Colors Are Important for Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas?

This Christmas season, holiday decor is open to your artistic vision of seasonal colors in your urban farmhouse Christmas ideas. In keeping with simplistically using what there is around, the natural landscape colors are key for a farmhouse Christmas. Red, Green, and any type of white are the spirit of farmhouse colors derived from the plants and snowy weather. The red berries of holly plants are the brightest color in the winter season and reflected often in red ribbon. The fresh greenery of these plants and needles of pine trees are next in brightness, reflected in Christmas wreaths. The dream of a white Christmas can be represented by cold or pure white lights, warm white representing brown earth.

Exterior Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas

   Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas for Lights

String lights with a vintage color palette (i.e., red, green, & white) are key to creating the holiday spirit. The red and white of candy canes, as well as the green wreath tone are key as explained out above. My blog on lights explains out more fully the different kinds of lights but I’ll briefly highlight some things here. C9 lights are key if you’re doing a house roofline and want it to look like the traditional incandescent lights. C5, C6, C7 lights are all useful for smaller structures like doghouses, baby barns, etc. to fit the smaller scale. (C stands for conical shape of the lights and numbers are descriptive of size with lower numbers being smaller lights.) Net lights are helpful if you want to coat landscape quickly with a big effect.

   Farmhouse Christmas Style Garland

As Happy Housie highlighted last year, garland is a must for creating the simple but obviously beautiful front porch. Fresh garland paired up with twinkle lights outside will create a modern farmhouse Christmas porch feel. Faux snow on faux branches will romanticize your front porch simply, quickly but attractively 24/7 this time of year. This extra festive touch done right becomes a focal point for the neighbors on their midnight stroll.

Carved Wooden Decorations

As I explain in my related wooden decoration blog, they are a very broadly defined type. Carved decorations are, possibly, the most farmhouse related decorations as they’re doing what you can with the resources farmers had. Whether they are factory made or truly handmade, they give an aura of being individually designed. As well, they usually look good during the daytime, are customizable with lots of replaceable ribbons, lights, etc.

Interior Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas

A properly decorated Christmas tree is important to make a Merry Christmas, but it doesn’t stop there. The classic white paint look dressed in a lovely way will add a much-needed touch to your Christmas morning. The dining room, living room, breakfast nook, and kitchen (which is ultimately the hub of the home) are all key.

   Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas for Your Entryway

A front door mat can easily be subbed out with each season to change the aura of the home. A small pre-lit tree with red balls, an eye-catching tree skirt, and burlap ribbon woven builds the atmosphere you want.

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A vintage mirror or wooden sign are simple wall art that subtlety builds on all that vision inside you.

A final touch: a red lantern placed on a table just inside your door or, ideally, hanging in your porch.

   Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas for Your Living Rooms

Also known as the family room, is often where effort goes to placing favorite things and creating an urban farmhouse. Birch logs in a cozy fire are idealized visions but aren’t always practical, i.e., if you don’t have a fireplace. 

White buffalo check stockings hanging on a rustic wood ladder are a good idea to universally use in any home. Your coffee table is easily dressed up with the addition of a German Christmas Pyramid. A designated Christmas pillow with a cozy throw blanket will place a finishing touch.

   Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas for Your Bedroom

Often in farmhouse themed homes, sleeping in a white bedroom is the standard but the white paint can seem dull. Therefore, seasonal throw pillows, even with neutral colors will add a warm accent to the decor. Furthermore, if you have open shelves then random decorations, ornaments, etc. placed in there are the quick and easy go to.

   Farmhouse Kitchen

Happy holidays, historically, are pictured as family members gathered around the dining table with seasonal place settings. However, while it may not be center stage, holiday homes should not forget to bring warm color to the kitchen. For instance, little wreaths with traditional reds are a great addition without interfering with cooking. Open shelving in this area is easily adapted the same way as in the bedroom.

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Christmas Tree Decor

While Christmas trees aren’t the only part of your decor, homes without a Christmas tree are not decorated for properly. Wooden ornaments and candles are the two most historical forms of Christmas tree decorations, candles being ancestors of light strings. While real candles are a housefire waiting to happen, there are safe and easy alternatives.

Handcarved decorations from your local market are the best and only true versions of the traditional tree ornaments. However, there are lots of copycats for those who prefer fake, maybe worried about children or pets damaging them. After all, there are absolutely no rules or suggestions around what type or form of decoration to have though.

Storage And Smart Technologies for Your Urban Farmhouse Christmas Ideas

As mentioned in my previous blog, smart technologies are admittedly the antithesis of traditional. However, true urban farmhouse Christmas ideas will not take all your energy as home is to be a relaxation place. The term smart refers to the ability to control things by use of a cell phone and possibly computer. Things controlled are on/off times, colors, and effects (i.e., fade, flashing, color changing, etc.). Accordingly, there are options for individual smart plugs, as well as the plug outlets themselves to be smart. There’s individual smart lights and light strips to allow control of the color, effects, and when they turn on/off.

How Do You Store Your Christmas Stuff?

Refer to my blog post on storing Christmas stuff here.