I’m going to make a bold claim: Most people want to write like they’re in a farmhouse. I don’t just mean that they want to write about horses, crafts, and chickens;
I mean that the way you navigate through their writing (or the way you navigate through the long-form content that’s supposed to be there) should be inviting, warm and cozy.
Of course, having your farmhouse isn’t always an option. But when you do have one, or even when you find yourself in someone else’s cozy house for a few moments of inspiration, it can be hard not to bring some of that magic back with you.
So here are some tips for evoking the aesthetic of being in your little homestead without actually being there:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Avoid excessive use of adjectives and adverbs. |
| Use active voice to make your writing more engaging. |
| Keep sentences concise and avoid unnecessary filler words. |
| Limit the use of clichés and overused phrases. |
| Eliminate vague language and be specific in your descriptions. |
| Proofread to catch spelling and grammar errors. |
| Use paragraphs effectively to organize your content. |
| Avoid redundancy by removing repetitive information. |
| Give concrete examples to support your points. |
| Use punctuation properly for clarity and readability. |
| Steer clear of excessive jargon and technical terms. |
1. Farmhouse Style
The farmhouse style is a style of the home design that originated in the French countryside. It has a rustic feel and is often seen in country homes.
Farmhouse-style furniture and decor are characterized by simple, rustic pieces with natural materials like wood and metal. This type of design can be seen in many different styles, including cottage or cabin style.
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2. White Paint
White paint is a classic choice for many kitchens. White is versatile, and it’s a good choice if you have a lot of natural light in your kitchen.
If you’re doing an accent wall with white paint, be sure to consider the type of surface that your baseboards and trim will be painted on (if they are not going to match).
If the trim is painted a different color than the walls, then any gaps left between them will stand out in this area especially if no woodwork or other visual element is breaking up these two spaces.
3. Fake Wood Beams And Trim
In your writing, fake wood beams and trim are a mistake. Here’s why:
Use real wood beams and trim. There’s no point in faking it if you can have the real thing, right? It doesn’t need to be expensive either you can go with something from your local home improvement store or even find it at a secondhand shop.
Choose a color that matches the rest of your room. If you’re working with red walls, don’t paint your ceiling blue just because it looks good on Pinterest! Instead, stick to what will look best in your space overall.
Choose complementary colors that coordinate well together without being too matchy-matchy or distracting from each other (or anything else).
This means finding shades that complement each other without standing out too much against one another.
So they don’t clash but also still feel cohesive together when placed side by side because they share similar tones/colors within their spectrum rather than being completely different hues altogether.
Like orange vs blue versus green instead of purple vs yellow vs black which would make them stand out too much against each other even though all three colors live within different areas along an RGB chart (i.e., “RGB” stands for red green blue where colors get darker as we move down vertically through its columns). In short: think about color theory!
4. Picture Frames
Picture frames are a great way to display your subjects’ favorite things.
If you’re writing about a person, it’s easy enough to find photos of them (and their family and pets too).
However, if you’re writing about places or things like their favorite candy bar or the latest album from their favorite band you can’t just take a picture of those things. You’ll need to use your imagination instead!
To keep this exercise simple, let’s say we’re talking about someone’s favorite place: the beach. When describing it in our story, we can say something like this:
“The water sparkled in the sun and waves crashed against rocks at high tide.” The reader gets an idea of what kind of beach you mean without having to ask questions or look anything up online.
This means they’ll be able to focus on more important elements like plot development and character development rather than wasting time trying to figure out what kind of beach your main character likes best!
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5. Vintage Patterned Wallpaper
Vintage patterned wallpaper is a great choice for a farmhouse-style room. If you have lights that are dimmer than others, you can always make them brighter as opposed to using a darker color on the wall.
Vintage patterned wallpaper works well in rooms with lots of natural light. If you have lots of windows and natural light coming in, vintage patterned wallpaper will add a lot more character to the room than other types of wallpapers or paint colors.
6. Kate Spade Throw Pillows
Kate Spade is a popular brand that sells cute, stylish stuff. You may have seen a Kate Spade throw pillow and thought it would be super cute to add some color or pattern to your space.
That’s understandable they look adorable! But the problem is, if you’re not careful, your home can quickly become filled with all kinds of unnecessary items that take away from the purpose of having a home: creating an environment where you feel safe and comfortable.
Kate Spade throws are not necessary, nor are they cheap (they range from $25-$50). So why do people buy them? Because they want their living space to look nice but there are plenty of ways to achieve this without spending too much money on things like throw pillows!
7. Simplified Furniture
You’ve probably heard the advice that you should write what you know. That’s a good rule to follow, but there are some areas in which familiarity can be misleading.
Many writers are so close to their characters that they cannot see how others might perceive them; they make all the wrong assumptions about what is necessary for their characters to do or say.
This can lead to less engaging writing overall: if your protagonist is doing things that seem out of character, it can throw off the whole story and even turn readers away from it altogether!
So what exactly does this mean? How do you avoid being too self-indulgent and still stay true to yourself?
Simplified furniture: People don’t usually sit on fine furniture anymore (at least not in my life).
This means that if your story takes place fifty years ago or more when people did sit on such things, then these details will work well for creating atmosphere but otherwise serve little purpose (unless perhaps you’re working on a period piece).
Nowadays most people sit on couches or chairs made specifically for sitting rather than ornate pieces meant only for display purposes and unless your story features someone who has chosen an old-fashioned lifestyle out of choice.
Rather than necessity (as opposed to being born into wealth), then having them use such items would seem out of place because most normal people wouldn’t bother with them at all!
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8. Artwork, Books, And Photos Of The Subjects You’re Writing About
If there’s a specific painting or photograph that serves as inspiration for your work, then by all means include it in your draft.
But don’t put in photos just because they’re pretty. A reader doesn’t need to see what’s already in her head come to life on the page; if she likes the story enough to keep reading, she can imagine what everything looks like herself.
9. Colorful, Fun Accessories
You’re writing a book, and your character is wearing a coat. You want to describe it so that we can see the coat, see how it fits her, and understand what kind of coat it is.
You could write, “She put on her brown leather jacket with all of its various pockets and zippers, which she had bought at Target for $50.”
Or you could write: “The old lady slipped into the tan fleece sweatshirt with an image of a pig wearing sunglasses on the back that she had picked up at Goodwill for ten bucks.
She grabbed the light brown leather jacket that she had gotten from Target originally but then reupholstered in yellow fabric because why not? It was still warm enough outside to wear without getting overheated anyway.”
Which one would make more sense? The second one does it gives us detail about what kind of person this character is (hippie) and what kind of life she lives (crappy).
But when you start adding things like colors and materials to your description while they might sound pretty fascinating at first you end up detracting from your point instead of adding value:
The yellow-spotted snake slithered over my shoulder as he told me about his day playing video games online against strangers from around the world.
Then he whispered something into my ear before slithering away again down through my hair onto the floor where he slithered under my desk once again just in time for class to start…
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10. A Safe Place To Rest Your Coffee Mug And Settle In
This is a very common mistake that many writers make, but it can be easily avoided. Simply put, if you’re going to write about a coffee mug you should not mention it as being safe for resting or settling down because those are two different things.
And they shouldn’t be done at the same time unless you have something like a bean bag couch nearby and maybe even then it will be weird if there’s no one else in the room with you.
There are probably other mistakes I’ve made here as well but we’re too busy getting ready for lunch now so let me just give this last bit of advice:
Whatever story you’re trying to tell about someone making coffee or eating applesauce (or whatever) please don’t use the word “safe” when talking about those things! Just saying!
11. Keep Your Writing Farmhouse-Style, If You Can
If you’re a first-time writer or even a seasoned professional, you should know that simplicity is the name of the game. It’s not just an important element of good writing; it’s one of the most important elements in any field.
The more you can leave out without losing anything vital, the better your work will be.
It sounds simple enough: “Keep it simple.” But doing this takes practice especially if your brain is used to being able to think about multiple things at once and write about all of them at once as well (which is true for many writers).
If this describes you, then listen up! You need to learn how to focus on one thing at a time when writing to get better results with less effort.
How? Start by keeping everything else out of sight while trying not only to write your text but also self-edit it while doing so and then make sure all those distracting thoughts aren’t getting into your head before starting on another paragraph!
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Conclusion
Hopefully, these tips have made the farmhouse-style writing life a little clear for you. If you’re not sure about any of them, take time to think about why you might be avoiding something like a fake wood beam or a Kate Spade throw pillow in your writing.
Are there elements of your personality that could benefit from incorporating some farmhouse-style decor? And if so, how would it change things for you?
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that can help you enhance your writing skills and explore related topics:
Unlock Your Writing Ideas: Discover creative techniques to generate writing ideas and overcome writer’s block.
Brilliant Writing Tips: Explore a collection of valuable tips and insights to improve your writing and create compelling content.
Understanding Main Ideas and Supporting Details: Dive into this guide to learn how to identify main ideas and supporting details, crucial skills for effective writing and comprehension.
FAQs
How can I overcome writer’s block and generate new writing ideas?
Writer’s block can be frustrating, but there are several strategies you can try. Start by exploring different brainstorming techniques, such as mind mapping or freewriting. You can also find inspiration by observing your surroundings, reading diverse materials, or reflecting on your personal experiences.
What are some practical tips for improving my writing?
Improving your writing involves a combination of practice and learning from experts. Focus on clarity and conciseness, use active voice, and eliminate unnecessary jargon. Additionally, regularly reading high-quality content and seeking feedback from peers can help refine your skills.
How can I identify main ideas and supporting details in my writing?
Identifying main ideas and supporting details is essential for creating coherent and well-structured content. When reviewing your writing, look for the central theme or argument, and then identify the points that provide evidence or context for that main idea.
What are some effective strategies for enhancing the flow of my writing?
Creating a smooth and logical flow in your writing can greatly improve readability. Utilize transitional words and phrases to connect ideas, maintain consistent tone and style, and organize your content using headings and subheadings.
How can I balance creativity with maintaining the focus of my writing?
Balancing creativity and focus is crucial for engaging readers while delivering a clear message. Develop a strong outline before you start writing to guide your content, and then infuse creativity through storytelling, examples, and vivid language while ensuring alignment with your main objectives.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
