5 Best Farmhouse Fabric Ideas for Your Home
Looking for the perfect fabrics to complete your farmhouse decor? Check out these five best farmhouse fabric ideas that will add charm and warmth to any room.
Modern farmhouse design is all about creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and the right fabric choices will make all the difference. Whether you’re looking for drapery panels, pillows, bed skirts, or upholstery fabric, these five rustic fabrics are sure to add charm and warmth to any room in your home.
One of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to add a specific style to your decor is with fabric. By simply switching out pillow covers, or adding a table runner, it’s possible to transform a room in just a few minutes. Today I’m sharing five of the best fabrics to add farmhouse style to your decor. If you’re like me, and don’t actually live in a farmhouse, adding fabric and accessories is a great way to add a touch of farmhouse charm to any space.
Grain Sacks
First let’s talk grain sacks. My love of grain sacks borders on obsession. They are a modern farmhouse trend with a rich history, and each one tells a story. They are not the easiest things to come by, but the search is worth the end result. I buy mine on eBay and Etsy. They can also turn up in antique malls or flea markets. I have never found any grain sacks at my antique mall, and have the best luck buying online. Grain sacks are fun to repurpose into pillow covers or table runners, but if you don’t sew, one of the best ways to add them to your decor is with layering. Their clean lines and neutral palette lend them beautifully to farmhouse-style interiors.
(reverses to ticking!)
More Design Ideas for Incorporating Grain Sacks
Place one on your coffee table or dining room table under a tray. Use them on the back of accent chairs or drape them on a vintage ladder. Line wicker baskets or wire baskets with grain sacks, or stack them on open shelving. They can even be used to cover seat cushions, and they work great for upholstery. Keep in mind that an upholstery project would get pricey unless you have just one or two chairs…but it certainly would pack a punch. When we lived on Sutton Place, I covered my dining room chairs with grain sack inspired fabric, and it was much more affordable than if I had used real grain sacks.
ticking pillow cover | lantern
board and batten information
Ticking
Ticking is up next. It’s easily recognizable because all ticking has a specific stripe pattern. It was originally used to cover mattresses and pillows. You can still buy real mattress ticking in fabric stores…but my personal opinion is that it’s hard to work with. It’s stiff, and doesn’t soften after washing.
I opt for 100% cotton ticking that washes up beautifully, and is a dream to work with. Soft furnishings made from ticking are cozy, and add the perfect farmhouse touch. The most popular colors are red and blue, but ticking is now available in many different colors.
Mangle Cloth
Chances are you have never heard of mangle cloth, but it’s a very versatile and beautiful farmhouse fabric. Many years ago, I made a window valance for my kitchen on Sutton Place, with matching chair covers. I used a magnificent, long run of blue striped mangle cloth that I found on eBay.
Mangle cloths are very long and wide, with blue or red stripes running down the sides. They were used to protect fine linens when they were put through a mangle machine to be ironed. (Think an old fashioned wringer, but extremely hot.) Mangle cloths are not easy to find, and most of them come from Europe. The sides with the stripes are finished with a selvage (or finished) edge, so they can be made into a table runner or table cloth.
Linen
Of all the fabrics that lend themselves to the farmhouse look, linen is the most universal, and it literally goes with anything. White linen, ivory linen, flax linen…all of these neutral tones make beautiful decor items. For a solid fabric, it has incredible texture. Once it’s washed, it becomes softer and thicker. The more linen is washed, the better it gets.
Linen is perfect for curtains, throw pillows, table linens, and bedding. It’s a timeless, breathable fabric that has been used in farmhouse decor for centuries. Linen also has a natural, rustic look that fits in perfectly with farmhouse decor. If you are ever in doubt about what fabric to use, linen is a great choice. It’s a no-fail decision.
Burlap
The last best farmhouse fabric idea, but most certainly not the least, is burlap. Burlap is an easy way to bring farmhouse flair into your decor, and no sewing machine is required. It’s affordable, can be found anywhere, and is neutral in color. It’s a versatile and durable fabric that adds texture and a natural feel. It can be purchased at all craft, discount, and fabric stores, which makes it super easy to find.
It’s very simple to make no sew items with burlap, and it’s a budget-friendly way to bring a sense of warmth to your space. When prepared correctly, a straight and frayed edge is easy to achieve. It’s also thick enough to survive an application of hot glue! For a more polished look, try pairing burlap with a soft cotton fabric, white linen, gingham fabric, or any scrap fabric you have on hand.
Bonus Tip
One more way to add modern farmhouse style to your decor is to sprinkle vintage quilts around your rooms. I collect blue quilts, and I love to use them to add layers and warmth. Although rarely in perfect condition, smaller quilts are more affordable, so I look for baby quilts or coverlets. A great place to find them is on sites like Etsy and eBay, or at flea markets and antique stores or malls.
More Farmhouse Fabric Ideas
- buffalo check
- country plaids
- pastoral scenes
- toile fabrics
- fabric with botanical imagery
I hope you’ve been inspired to add farmhouse personality to your home with one (or more) of these fabrics. Find below links to sources for each one of them. The grain sacks and mangle cloths are the most expensive, but if you are patient, even those can be found for a reasonable price. If you decide to make a purchase, make sure to consider the shipping cost. Many sellers offer free shipping, but if they don’t, it can raise the price of the item. Have a wonderful time using these creative ideas to add farmhouse-style fabrics to your existing decor!
*Affiliate links included. Click HERE for my disclosure statement. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Every effort has been made to provide sources to the products found in this post. If an item is out of stock, but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
Where To Find Farmhouse Fabrics
- Grain Sacks on eBay
- Grain Sacks on Etsy
- Mangle Cloth on eBay
- Pure Linen
- Blue ticking pillow covers
- My favorite blue ticking fabric
- Red, blue, and black ticking
- Ticking pillow covers on Etsy
- Burlap
- Vintage quilts on eBay
- Vintage quilts on Etsy
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