One homeowner loved the look initially, but after a few years, she felt it made her smaller rooms feel cramped.
Good points all around. I've done farmhouse trims in a couple rooms myself and honestly, I still love them. But yeah, smaller spaces can feel tight if you're not careful. Maybe consider just doing farmhouse style in larger rooms or main living areas...?
"Maybe consider just doing farmhouse style in larger rooms or main living areas...?"
Yeah, that's a fair point. I've installed farmhouse-style trims in plenty of homes, and honestly, it can go either way depending on the room layout and natural lighting. If you're set on farmhouse frames but worried about smaller spaces feeling cramped, here's what I'd suggest:
First, measure your window-to-wall ratio carefully. If your windows are already on the smaller side, thicker farmhouse trims might visually shrink the space even more. In that case, simpler trims might be your best bet.
Second, consider color contrast. Darker trims against lighter walls can make a room feel tighter, while lighter trims blend better and keep things airy.
Lastly, don't underestimate the power of natural light. If your smaller rooms get plenty of sunlight, farmhouse trims can still look great without feeling too closed-in.
Either way, trust your gut—it's your home, after all. Good luck with the project!
That's actually really helpful advice. I'm a first-time homeowner and just went through something similar—ended up going farmhouse in the living room and simpler trim in the bedrooms. Honestly, the natural light thing made a huge difference. My smaller guest room has decent sunlight, but I still felt like the simpler trim kept it feeling open. Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track...trust your instincts and enjoy making it your own space.
I get what you're saying about simpler trim keeping things open, but honestly, farmhouse trim doesn't always have to feel heavy or overwhelming. We went farmhouse-style in our smaller office room, and it actually made the space feel cozier without sacrificing openness. I think it depends a lot on paint color and furniture placement too. Maybe try mocking up both styles with painter's tape first? Helped us visualize before committing.
I agree that farmhouse trim doesn't necessarily have to feel heavy—it's often about proportions and details. I've noticed that narrower boards with simpler profiles can still give you that farmhouse aesthetic without overwhelming a smaller room. Also, lighter paint colors or even matching the trim closely to your wall color can help maintain openness. Curious, did you use standard dimensional lumber or custom cuts for your office trim? I've found subtle dimension tweaks make quite a difference visually...
Totally agree on proportions making a big difference. When we did ours, we actually went with standard dimensional lumber but spent extra time sanding edges and corners to soften the look. Small detail, but it really helped keep things feeling clean and balanced...
Interesting approach—softening those edges definitely makes a subtle difference. Did you find sanding standard lumber significantly increased your prep time, or was it manageable overall? Curious since clients often overlook labor implications when choosing trim styles...
"Did you find sanding standard lumber significantly increased your prep time, or was it manageable overall?"
Honestly, sanding standard lumber always seems manageable at first...until you're knee-deep in sawdust and realize you've spent half a day prepping just a handful of boards. Clients rarely factor that into their decisions, but labor costs can creep up quickly. Have you considered pre-primed trim stock? It might save you some headaches, unless you're dead-set on that rustic farmhouse look. Curious if anyone's found a middle ground that's worked well.
I've been down this road recently, and honestly, sanding standard lumber wasn't terrible, but it definitely ate up more time than I expected. I thought I'd breeze through it in a couple hours, but ended up spending most of the weekend prepping boards—dust everywhere, sore arms, the whole deal. Have you looked into rough-sawn cedar or pine? It's got that rustic farmhouse vibe built-in without needing extensive sanding. You might still need to lightly sand some splinters or rough edges, but it's nowhere near as labor-intensive as standard lumber. Another option could be using standard lumber but distressing it intentionally—quick passes with a wire brush or even a chain can give you that farmhouse look without hours of sanding. Might be worth experimenting on a scrap piece first to see if you like the effect before committing fully.
It's got that rustic farmhouse vibe built-in without needing extensive sanding.
I know what you mean about sanding—my arms were toast after just prepping a few boards. I actually tried that wire brush trick on some leftover pine, and it looked way better than I expected. It’s kinda fun beating up the wood a bit, honestly. I’m leaning farmhouse too, just feels more forgiving if things aren’t perfect.