Dreaming up your perfect farmhouse kitchen for 2025? Trust me, I’ve been there, pinning shiplap walls and vintage signs like it’s my full-time job. But here’s the thing: not all that rustic charm is aging well.
Some of those once-charming trends are now making kitchens feel more kitschy than cozy. Designers are starting to cringe at certain overdone elements that scream farmhouse theme park instead of timeless country style.
If you’re craving a space that feels both warm and current, let’s talk about which trends to skip and what to do instead. Your dream kitchen deserves better!
1. Mason Jar Everything
Mason jars had their moment, but using them for lighting fixtures, soap dispensers, utensil holders, and literally everything else screams 2015, not 2025.
Modern farmhouse style has evolved beyond this overplayed accessory. Guests might wonder if you’ve been hoarding these glass containers since the pandemic canning craze!
Opt for more subtle nods to rural charm through carefully selected vintage pieces that actually serve a purpose.
2. Barn Door
Though sliding barn doors once felt charming and space-saving, they’ve become the poster child for farmhouse clichés.
They collect dust in tracks, offer zero sound privacy, and never fully close properly. If your kitchen has barn doors leading to the pantry, laundry room, AND dining area, you’ve crossed into theme park territory!
Consider sleek pocket doors or elegant archways that reference countryside architecture without the hardware headaches.
3. Distressed Everything
Artificially weathered cabinets, floors, and furniture might seem quaint at first glance. Unfortunately, this technique has been so overdone that designers now call it “intentionally damaged goods.”
Sometimes the distressing looks completely fake—like someone took sandpaper to perfectly good wood without understanding how natural aging works!
Save the authentic weathered pieces for accent items, and keep major kitchen elements like cabinetry clean and well-maintained.
4. Chicken Wire Inserts
Where did the idea come from that putting chicken wire in cabinet doors somehow makes a kitchen more “authentic”? This trend has gone from cute to confusing, especially when you can see all your mismatched dishes through the wire.
Nobody actually stores chickens in their kitchen cabinets! Glass inserts or solid wood doors will age much more gracefully than this farm-supply repurposing trend.
Your future self will thank you for not having to dust between all those little hexagons.
5. Oversized Farmhouse Sinks
While functional, those massive white ceramic farmhouse sinks have become so common they’ve lost their special appeal.
They also chip easily, show every speck of dirt, and cost a fortune to install properly. If your sink is big enough to bathe a small farm animal, you’ve gone too far!
Modern alternatives like workstation sinks with integrated cutting boards offer the same functionality without screaming “I decorated my kitchen in 2018!”
6. Live Laugh Love Signage
Nothing says “I’ve run out of decorating ideas” quite like word art commanding you to enjoy life. These mass-produced signs have become the butt of internet jokes for good reason.
If your kitchen walls are plastered with phrases like “Bless This Mess” or “Gather,” you’re firmly in cliché territory!
Personal photographs or original artwork tell your family’s actual story much better than generic platitudes bought from a big box store.
7. All-White Everything
The all-white farmhouse kitchen has been done to death, creating spaces that feel more like sterile laboratories than warm cooking areas.
White cabinets, white counters, white backsplash, white accessories—it’s simply too much! Without contrast or personality, these monochromatic kitchens lack the warmth that made farmhouse style appealing in the first place.
Introducing natural wood tones, colored cabinets, or even just textural elements will create a more inviting space that doesn’t blind you on sunny mornings.
8. Open Shelving Overload
Open shelving looks amazing in staged photos but becomes a nightmare in real life. Dust collects constantly, items need perfect arrangement, and you’ll spend more time cleaning than cooking.
Unless you enjoy dusting every single mug and plate weekly, this trend quickly becomes impractical! Keep a small section of open shelving for frequently used items or display pieces, but embrace the beauty of closed cabinetry for everything else.
Your future self will appreciate having somewhere to hide the mismatched tupperware.
9. Fake Ceiling Beams
Hollow faux beams made from lightweight materials might seem like an easy way to add architectural interest.
In reality, they often look exactly like what they are—cheap imitations that fool nobody. If your “beams” are perfectly uniform with no knots, cracks, or signs of age, they scream fake!
Either commit to real reclaimed wood beams (and the structural support they require) or explore other ways to add character to your ceiling like subtle coffering or interesting paint treatments.
10. Pallet Wood Overuse
Using shipping pallets for everything from backsplashes to islands might seem eco-friendly, but many contain harmful chemicals not meant for food preparation areas.
Plus, the rough, splintery texture collects grease and food particles in a kitchen setting. Most pallets were never intended for interior finishing!
If you love the reclaimed wood look, invest in properly processed reclaimed lumber that’s been safely treated for indoor use. Your health department and dinner guests will both appreciate this upgrade.
11. Rooster Motif Madness
How many roosters does one kitchen need? From cookie jars to curtains to clockfaces, these farmyard fowl have taken over countless country kitchens to the point of becoming a visual joke.
If your kitchen has more roosters than an actual farm, it’s time to pare back! One quality piece with personal meaning makes a better statement than a flock of mass-produced poultry tchotchkes.
Consider replacing most with more subtle nods to nature like botanical elements or locally inspired artwork.
12. Shiplap Saturation
Joanna Gaines made shiplap a household name, but covering every vertical surface with horizontal white boards has gone from trendy to tiresome.
This wall treatment collects dust in the grooves and makes many spaces feel smaller. If your kitchen walls, island sides, and even ceiling sport this treatment, you’ve gone overboard!
Use shiplap as an accent on a single wall if you must, but consider more timeless treatments like classic tile or even well-done drywall for most surfaces. Your cleaning routine will thank you.
13. Industrial Farmhouse Confusion
Mixing exposed pipes, factory pendants, and metal stools with rustic elements creates a confused look that represents neither style properly.
This mash-up became popular during the 2010s but now feels like a Pinterest identity crisis. Farms and factories have very different aesthetics for good reason!
Choose one direction and commit to it thoughtfully rather than throwing together conflicting elements. A cohesive design vision will create a more timeless kitchen that doesn’t look like it’s trying to follow multiple trends simultaneously.
14. Vintage Appliances Without Modern Function
Authentic vintage stoves and refrigerators might look charming but often perform terribly compared to modern appliances. They’re energy hogs with poor temperature control and frequently need expensive repairs.
Form should never completely override function in a working kitchen! Opt for modern appliances with retro styling instead of true antiques for daily use.
You’ll get the aesthetic appeal without sacrificing the ability to properly chill food or bake at consistent temperatures.
15. Antler Overload
Mounting deer antlers, antler chandeliers, and antler cabinet pulls throughout your kitchen doesn’t say “subtle country charm” – it screams “abandoned hunting lodge.”
This trend has been dramatically overused in farmhouse styling. Unless you’re actually living in a mountain cabin, the antler obsession feels forced and theme-y.
One tasteful antler element might work as an accent, but filling your cooking space with pointy animal parts creates an uncomfortable, aggressive vibe that’s definitely not conducive to relaxing family meals.
16. Excessive Galvanized Metal
From planters to light fixtures to entire range hoods, galvanized metal has stampeded through farmhouse kitchens like a herd of cattle.
This utilitarian material was meant for outdoor farm use, not interior finishes. The silvery-gray finish clashes with most wood tones and quickly looks dated.
If you love the industrial-meets-country vibe, incorporate just one statement piece in this material rather than metallic overload. Your kitchen shouldn’t remind visitors of a feed store or garden center!
17. Overly Themed Backsplashes
Backsplashes featuring roosters, sunflowers, or country scenes printed directly onto tiles create an instantly dated look that’s difficult and expensive to replace.
These novelty designs rarely age well and often clash with other kitchen elements. Since backsplashes represent a significant investment, choose timeless materials like simple subway tile, natural stone, or classic patterns.
You can always add country charm through easily changeable accessories instead of committing to permanently installed themed elements that you’ll likely regret within a year or two.
18. Exposed Hinges And Hardware Everywhere
While authentic farmhouse kitchens often featured visible hinges and hardware, using oversized black metal fixtures on every single cabinet and drawer creates a cartoonishly rustic effect.
These heavy elements visually chop up the space and collect grease. Less is more with statement hardware! Choose a few key areas for decorative pieces rather than outfitting every surface with bulky black iron.
Many high-end farmhouse kitchens actually mix in some hidden hinges and subtle pulls for a more sophisticated interpretation of country style.
19. Fake Farmhouse Sinks
If you can’t afford a real apron-front sink, plastic or thin metal imitations that attach to standard cabinets look obviously fake and often crack or dent within months.
These budget versions fool no one and quickly become eyesores. Better to embrace a well-made standard sink than install a poor-quality farmhouse imitation!
If the authentic sink isn’t in your budget now, plan for it in a future renovation rather than compromising with a flimsy lookalike that will need replacing almost immediately. Quality always trumps quantity in kitchen design.
20. Reclaimed Wood That Isn’t Food-Safe
Using untreated barn wood for countertops, cutting boards, or food prep areas creates serious health hazards. This wood often contains pesticides, animal waste residue, or toxic preservatives that shouldn’t be anywhere near your cooking spaces.
If you love the reclaimed look, work with specialists who properly clean, treat, and seal these materials for food-adjacent use.
Alternatively, consider new wood that’s been responsibly harvested and finished with food-safe products. Your family’s health matters more than rustic aesthetics!