Ranch style home living room ideas
20 Ranch-Style Homes With Modern Interior Style
By Grace Lynne Fleming | Published on
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Ranch-styled homes have simple floor plans with a wider outward appearance – without the depth that most present homes possess. There’s a minimalistic, yet traditional, quality in its overall look and it makes for a great palette when styling and decorating with a specific vision in mind. But what happens when you take this home design, first constructed in the 1950’s, along with its old-age spirit and mix it with a modern look – in furniture and accent. Well, you get a stunning blend of home fashion and trending, forward-thinking interest. Let’s have a look at 20 ideas that will get your wheels turning!
1. Neutral Renovation
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This open, ranch-style home was renovated into a cozy, modern space. A neutral palette keeps it fresh and spacious in feel but the lines, lighting and furniture choices give the home a modern twist.
2. With Wood.
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You can easily create a home full of vintage outlines and welcoming wood foundations. But you can also add some modern touches to create something unique and revitalizing – like this contemporary living space did!{found on johnsoninteriordesign}.
3. Ultra Chic.
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Give your ranch home an ultra chic uplift by going completely outside-the-box of this family-friendly home. With slick lines, an added room partition and creamy tones, you can have a super posh area inside your throwback foundation.
4. Futuristic Fun.
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Add a bit of the future when renovating the kitchen or adding new details. These homes can be lengthy and spacious, utilize that when creating a more present-day version.{found on rectangle}.
5. Textural Bits.
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Don’t be afraid to utilize texture when adding a modern touch to your ranch-style home. Utilize the lengthiness and open appeal by adding unique accents like stone and wood.
6. Family Spirit.
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These homes were meant for family so even though you’re adding modern touches or renovating to make the foundation seem more contemporary, don’t forget your family spirit and warm accents.{found on charlesdelisle}.
7. Forward-Thinking Separation.
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Sometimes these layouts are so open and wide that it’s hard to tell where a room ends. This is where you can get creative with your decorating and add personal touches.{found on drawingdept}.
8. Embrace What’s There.
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Whether it’s an original, double-sided fireplace or large, floor-to-ceiling windows, embrace what’s been there since the home was built and utilize it with the more modern decor.{found on shksarchitects}.
9. Ceiling Power.
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There’s power in detailed ceiling. Whether you add color, open piping, beams or wood paneling there’s a certain transformation that happens – especially when accenting the vaulted ceilings.
10. Go Lighter.
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It’s okay to go with a lighter look even if your vision is a bit more contemporary. This space is lighter, brighter and a bit more feminine than the super sharpness of classic modernism.
11. Seamless Transition.
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A benefit of a ranch home is the seamless movement and transition about the space. Keep that in mind when your invite your new decorating and design inside, that’s something that should be kept intact.
12. Woven Elegance.
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Weave elegance inside your modern mixes. There’s a certain flow to the natural design and order of these homes so it’s easy to incorporate a more elegant vision when re-styling.{found on rowlandbroughton}.
13. Funky Dreams.
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Don’t be afraid to add a bit of eclecticism inside your modern vision. This is the type of home that embraces the transition and can become any kind of clean palette you’d like.
14.
Stunning Lights.View in gallery
Because of the easy transition between spaces and flowing freedom, lighting can go a long way throughout these homes. This is another benefit you need to use when highlight contemporary, clean lines and bright neutrals.
15. The View.
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Ranch homes were made to utilize the land they were on, so when the view is this good and the windows are this big, don’t take away from the beauty. Go with simpler colors and lines and have that be the focus.
16. Built-In Function.
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When it’s time to renovate, think about the rooms and what you need. When space is free but not as wide as you need for chunky furniture, keep that modern tone with built-in bookshelves for functionality.
17. Hallway Style.
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If your layout have a breathier hallway woven throughout the home, detail those too. It helps with the transition between rooms and keeping the vision intact.
18. Match It.
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Make sure to match the colors and modern tendencies throughout the home. When you can see through to other spaces you’ll want to make it an easy walk and not something that’s cut up.
19. Youthful Essence.
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Even if you’ve had this home for over 30 years, doesn’t mean you can’t dress it like it’s a younger 20. Refresh yourself and your home with modern colors, classic staples and sleek lines with its open layout.
20. Start With White.
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The best way to bring a modern tone into your ranch-styled home and to utilize all of the natural light, is to decorate with white! A crisp, white foundation can be keep to a revitalized look.
Ranch-style houses – the ultimate guide to the look and how to get it |
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Photography/Michael Hunter
(Image credit: Darla Bankston May)
When you picture a ranch-style house, there’s a good chance you envision a remote desert filled with wild horses, cowboys, and the occasional tumbleweed sighting.
But, in reality? This American architecture genre has life beyond the wild west.
With a strong presence from coast to coast, ranch-style homes are loved for their versatility and flexibility.
If you want to get acquainted with this beloved architecture, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about ranch-style houses, inside and out.
- See more: House Styles - the complete guide to architectural styles and eras
What makes a house ranch style?
Photography/Daniel Nadelvach
(Image credit: Darla Bankston May)
It’s not hard to identify a ranch-style house — you just need to know what you’re looking for. While these residences come in various shapes, sizes, and styles, ranch style homes are typically defined as sprawling, low-slung structures.
Multi-storied ranch houses do exist, but you’ll typically see this type of residence spanning across just one floor.
The reason is simple: ranch house styles emphasize the delicate balance between indoor and outdoor living.
'I believe the popularity of ranch-style houses can be attributed to their rugged qualities and connection to nature,' explains designer Marie Flanigan .
'This genre of house evokes coziness and can be recreated in any area of the country by employing raw wood elements, textural fabrics, and expansive patio space.'
When did ranch style houses originate?
Photography/Michael Hunter
(Image credit: Darla Bankston May)
The ranch-style house has always been closely tied with American history. The architecture first became popular in the 1920s, as more and more people headed west. Not only were the single-story layouts and low-to-the ground silhouettes easy to maintain, but they also helped beat that grueling Southwestern heat.
Ranch homes dipped in popularity shortly after they burst onto the architecture scene; however, the style made a huge comeback as suburbs became more prominent.
In fact, after World War II, nine out of 10 new residences were ranch-style houses.
It’s been nearly a century since ranch-style houses were created, and the look is just as popular today as it was back then.
According to a recent study by Trulia, they’re the most popular types of residences in 34 states. Ranch-style houses are oftentimes — but not always — more affordable than other abodes. Plus, since most homes don’t require cumbersome stairs, they’re ideal for family members of all ages.
'Today, they have maintained their popularity for several reasons,' says Liles Dunnigan of The Warehouse Interiors . 'First and foremost, they are ideal renovation candidates. They can be easily opened up inside by removing interior walls to create more of an open concept that is so desirable today. They also have very low simple roof lines that make additions easy to achieve.'
Types of ranch-style houses
Photography/Michael Hunter
(Image credit: Darla Bankston May)
Though the ranch house style seems simple, they offer plenty of variety.
Deepen your knowledge of the architecture trend with these key categories:
1. The California Ranch
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California-based architect Cliff May put the ranch house style on the map back in the early 1930s, and his take is still considered classic.
This tried-and-true type takes cues from the Arts and Crafts movement that reigned supreme well into the 1920s as well as Spanish colonial architecture.
Additionally, many California ranches have an L or U-shaped silhouette, deftly creating a designated courtyard space.
2. The Suburban Ranch
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When World II ended, many families wanted to escape their hustling, bustling cities. And, with the rise of suburbs came the rise of suburban ranches.
While this type has many of the same features as a California ranch, but are usually smaller and have a simple silhouette. Think of it as a cul-de-sac-compatible alternative.
3. The Split-Level Ranch
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Why settle for one floor when you can enjoy a few? Popular in the 1960s and 70s, split-level ranches stagger their square footage across three to four stories.
Dwellers might enter on one floor, but will need to go up or down a small flight of stairs to reach the den, garage, or bedrooms. The varying stories might be a far cry from the typical ranch house style, but they’re great for families who want some privacy.
4. The Raised Ranch
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Many people think split-level and raised ranches are the same thing, but the truth is these two styles have some noticeable differences.
While split-level ranches span across several stories, raised residences typically have a total of two floors, usually above and below the entryway.
Both options are departures from the status quo, but the streamlined floorplan makes this style feel more consistent with the classic California home.
Where are ranch-style homes most popular?
Photography/Michael Hunter
(Image credit: Darla Bankston May)
Ranch house style was initially created in the Southwest, but they have quickly spread to all across the United States of America.
'They are found throughout the US, from the Southwest to the East Coast; they are just different styles depending on what area of the country you are in,' Dunnigan explains.
'For example, California ranch-style houses are considerably larger in scale featuring vaulted ceilings and sunken rooms whereas the North Eastern versions can be much more closed off and feature more rigid floor plans.'
Additionally, in the Midwest, many people deck out their homes with basements.
Not only can this addition make the most of their space – especially as they can’t use their backyard in the colder months – but it can also act as protection against tornadoes.
What to look for in a the ranch-style house
Photography/Michael Hunter
(Image credit: Darla Bankston May)
Though ranch-style houses come in different shapes and sizes, they do have a few characteristics in common.
In addition to their low-slung – and often single-storied – floorplan, they also usually have a low-pitched roof, wide eaves, picture windows, and a designated porch or deck.
Since ranch-style homes are notorious for bridging the gap between indoor and outdoor living, you can also expect a sliding glass door in the backyard. And, like most modern homes, it’s likely a ranch residence will also feature an attached garage.
Of course, those similarities don’t stop with the exterior. Turns out, most ranch-style spaces boast an open-concept layout, giving dwellers the chance to craft their homes however they please.
'The main living areas are centrally located with bedrooms set further away and accessed by a long narrow hallway,' adds designer Darla Bankston May .
'The layout makes it easy to change the function of a room or to remodel in terms of tearing out walls to make a space larger or adding on to the structure of the house.'
How to decorate in ranch house style
Since ranch homes offer a lot of variety, there’s no one way to decorate these residences. However, if you’re looking for some fresh ways to dress up your home, check out these inspiring ideas.
1. Emphasize the open-concept
Photography/Daniel Nadelvach
(Image credit: Darla Bankston May)
Want to get the most out of your space? Put your home’s layout on full display. While an open-concept floorplan can give your home a light airy atmosphere, filling your place with room dividers or bookshelves can make it feel claustrophobic.
'Don’t over clutter with too much furniture,' Bankston May says.
'When you have an open floorplan for your main living areas you want an easy flow between each space.'
If you want to create the illusion of separate rooms without compromising your home’s airy reputation, break up the space with various rugs.
Photography/Michael Hunter
(Image credit: Darla Bankston May)
2. Pick a neutral palette
Photography/Michael Hunter
(Image credit: Jon Day)
A paint color has the power to set the mood for your space, and since the ranch house style is typically open-concept, the hue you choose here is even more pressing.
If you want to keep your home airy, open layout at the forefront, stick with light and versatile neutrals. That said, there are more shades than a pristine white. From sandy beiges, to light greys, to a soothing blue, the options are virtually endless.
'When your living spaces are in one large room or adjacent and visible to another, you don’t have to use the same color scheme in each room,' Bankston May recommends.
'An easy way to do this is to choose one or two colors that you repeat in each space. The color used on the dining chairs could be repeated in the pillows on the living room sofa.'
- See: Living room ideas – 25 inspiring ways to decorate and furnish your space
3. Select sleek silhouettes
(Image credit: Rafael Soldi)
Ultimately, your home’s décor style should be a reflection of your personal taste.
However, if you’re not sure which type of furniture works the best with the ranch house style, you can’t go wrong with streamline silhouettes – especially those that pay homage to mid-century modernism.
Originated in the height of the 20th century – and currently making an indefinite comeback – mid-century modernism boasts slim, boxy silhouette and subdued color palettes.
Not only will this style keep your home on trend, but the slim silhouettes will create a lot of negative space, which will emphasize your home’s layout.
4. Embrace the great outdoors
Photography/Daniel Nadelvach
(Image credit: Darla Bankston May)
The ranch house style was designed to create a delicate balance between indoor and outdoor living, so your backyard should not be ignored.
Instead, treat your outdoor space like any other room in the house, complete with comfortable furniture, personable accents, and strategic lighting.
Kelsey Mulvey is a New York-born, San Francisco-based freelance journalist who covers lifestyle and design content. She started her writing career while studying magazine journalism at Boston University, where her work was syndicated by top digital publications like USA Today and MSN. Upon graduation, Kelsey covered lifestyle content The Wall Street Journal, Off Duty and Business Insider. In 2017, Kelsey started her freelance journalism career, where she contributes to design publications like AD PRO, Elle Decor, Wallpaper*, and more.
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40 photos, design guide
Style features
Decorating the interior of a living room in country style, you should adhere to the following rules:
- All materials are chosen natural or skillfully imitating them.
- Decor elements should emphasize their natural origin (raw wood, stone, aged boards, wicker baskets).
- Rustic style interior does not tolerate pretentiousness, emphatically luxurious furniture and gloss.
- It is not recommended to install high-tech appliances in plain sight in a country living room.
Colors
The design of the living room in country style is kept in natural, natural shades. The color of the tree, both dark and light, is the main one. Often, white, cream and sand colors are used to decorate the walls, and brown for the ceiling, floor and internal filling. If the wood color is chosen as the main one, then the walls and floor are lined with dark boards, giving the atmosphere a certain brutality.
The natural color of clay - terracotta - brings a special warmth to the country living room, it is appropriate for finishing floors, fireplaces or stoves.
The photo shows a living room in a country-style private house, designed in a dark color palette.
Rustic style in the living room eliminates flashy colors and bright contrasts, but welcomes the smooth flow of shades from one to another. In such an interior, nothing irritates the eye, because the country is designed for relaxation and tranquility.
Materials and finishes
The design of the country-style living room is natural in every way. The ceiling of the living room is finished with wood: clapboard or board. This option is not suitable for those who have a dark top that causes an oppressive feeling, so the surface can be left white and combined with contrasting beams. Another good solution is to cover the beams with special wax, giving them a natural shade and leaving the structure of the tree.
With the use of light toners, the ceiling will appear higher.
Paint, plaster or paper wallpapers are used for country-style walls. Wood panels look great, as well as open timber. Also, the walls are sheathed with clapboard, then covered with stain or paint. If the walls are wooden, it is recommended to use a minimum of textures on the ceiling, otherwise the room will be overloaded, and it will look like a closed box in appearance.
With decorative stone or brick, you can make a spectacular accent wall that will add an even more natural look to the living room.
Pictured is a living room with a dark beamed ceiling that matches the wood floor.
Natural planed boards are optimal as a floor covering, but high-quality imitations are also appropriate: parquet or laminate. Linoleum in this country is excluded.
Another way to cover the floor is to use terracotta tiles that imitate clay products. Unfortunately, the climate of our country does not allow laying porcelain stoneware without a floor heating system, if the country house is intended for year-round use.
This material keeps heat for a long time, so in winter it will have a positive effect on the overall atmosphere of comfort.
To design a country-style living room in a city apartment, you need a spacious room, as well as large windows and high ceilings. A small room with an abundance of wooden textures will look even tighter, and white plastic frames in window openings can negate all efforts to create a country interior. A small living room in a rustic country style is decorated in light colors, and the essentials are used as filling so that the room does not look overloaded. The real fireplace is being replaced by a stylized electric one.
Furniture
To recreate the country style, it is important to choose elements that are in harmony with the decoration of the living room. Furniture for the hall is chosen simple, even rough. The main material for the manufacture of tables, chests of drawers and chairs is usually natural wood or its imitation.
Antiques, vintage or artificially aged pieces of furniture upholstered in coarse textiles or leather are often used.
Sofa in country style is comfortable and functional: it can be straight or corner, with leather or textile upholstery. Its main task is to give the room coziness, to gather family and guests in a common circle for sincere conversations. Its shape is never pretentious; the design contains a minimum of decorations and ornaments.
Pictured is a country living room with comfortable upholstered furniture in retro style.
Wicker chairs, antique chests, open shelving and cabinets look appropriate in a country-style living room. If the living room is combined with the dining room, its main decoration is a massive dining table and solid wooden chairs.
It is difficult to trace the symmetry in the arrangement of furniture: a chaotic arrangement gives the room a sense of habitation and simplicity.
Lighting
Lighting in a country-style hall is a thoughtful scenario that allows you to comfortably relax and communicate with family and friends.
The central lighting is created using a chandelier. Often this is a voluminous product with wooden details or shades imitating candlesticks. Rough metal, chains can also be used.
Wall sconces, floor lamps in the seating area, table lamps provide additional country-style lighting. In a particularly large room, recessed ceiling lights can be seen. The light is always warm, emphasizing the rustic feel of the living room.
Pictured is a country house in country style, where the living room is lit by a large wrought-iron chandelier.
Textiles and decor
Window openings in the country living room should not be overloaded with complex draperies. Monochromatic curtains made of cotton and linen, as well as simple curtains with a slightly pronounced floral ornament, are suitable for the interior. In a rustic style, open round cornices with curtains on rings, as well as lace tulle, look great.
Country furnishings abound with textiles made from natural fabrics: cushions on the sofa, bedspreads and woolen blankets, self-woven carpets and runners.
The floors can be decorated with real animal skins.
The photo shows a country-style kitchen-living room with thick curtains, warm blankets and pillows that are in harmony with the color palette of the carpet.
Handmade items are valued as decorative elements. Souvenirs and books on open shelves, paintings and plates on the walls are appropriate. Frames with your favorite photos, antique clocks and boxes that tell the story of a family look great. Tables in the combined living room can be decorated with fresh flowers in vases, and kitchen shelves can be decorated with ceramic dishes.
Living room design ideas
Living room interior in country style has several directions that designers follow when decorating a room.
The American ranch-influenced living room is devoid of finesse: the furniture is rough, the finishes are dominated by wood textures and leather, and the decor is homemade carpets and patchwork quilts.
Chalet - a house in an alpine village located in the mountains. Here, the country living room is replete with warm woody shades, upholstered furniture, and fur skins. A fireplace is especially appreciated, designed to give a cold house a maximum of comfort.
English country in the living room - an orderly but cozy interior with a rocking chair and a rug, ceramic or porcelain dishes, silverware. An open bookcase is required. Brown, white and red shades are used as the main palette.
Pictured is an American ranch-style living room with massive furniture, dark ceilings and a fireplace.
French country or Provence is characterized by lightness, simplicity and naturalness. Today, this style is on the rise in popularity, because the bright Provencal interior of the living room allows you to create a south coast atmosphere without spending much. To do this, you need old-fashioned elegant furniture, fabrics with floral patterns, live plants and other little things dear to your heart.
Laconic but functional furniture made of natural materials, warm colors and comfort combined with rationalism and orderliness are the hallmarks of a German country style living room.
The style of the Russian hut, or Russian country, differs from the European vision. It is characterized by log walls, carved solid wood furniture and an abundance of textiles. Printed curtains with patterns, patchwork bedspreads, self-woven rugs, a large stove and a table in the middle of the living room will help to convey the mood of a Slavic hut.
Photo gallery
Country style in the interior is soulfulness and simplicity, where the material value of things is in last place. For a rustic-style living room, the main thing is to create a calm atmosphere for cozy family gatherings.
Country style living room - photos of unusual design ideas in the interior
One of the most popular design solutions is country style design. This reception was a great success due to the comfortable and warm atmosphere.
Country style brings home comfort, without unnecessary pathos, glamor and other things. It is worth noting that most often, country-style design is used for summer cottages, country houses, but recently, it is often used for multi-apartment residential buildings.
Country is universal, it can be used in almost all rooms, but more often it is used in the design of hotels. As a rule, the hotel is the largest room in the house and various decorative elements that are often used in country music can be used at its base.
You can visually appreciate this style with the help of pictures. This article presents photos of a country-style living room.
If you want to create a welcoming and hospitable atmosphere in your home, then the best option is a country living room, the photo of which you see on this page. This style does not lose its relevance.
Table of contents of the article:
- Country design features
- Design Tips
- 100 Country Style Living Room Design Photos
Country Design Features
The above style is perfect for those who do not like frills and prefer simplicity and style, instead of pretentiousness.
The country does not use expensive elements.
The calm color palette used in the design of the country-style living room, you can create a room in which it is easy to relax and unwind. In the country, light, bed colors are used.
If the final design seems boring, it can be diluted with a few colorful accents.
Such a technique will not spoil the design, but on the contrary, it will improve and complement it.
Natural wood of various colors and shades is used in the country living room interior. Therefore, country-style decoration is preferred by connoisseurs of natural materials.
Wooden furniture and various decorative elements are also often used. The tree is associated with home comfort, nature and naturalness.
In addition, arriving in a country-style living room, even being in an apartment in a metropolis, you can feel the atmosphere of a country house, which stands on the edge of a dense forest or on the shore of a lake.
A variety of floral ornaments are often used in country music. Cells, lines and other design elements are also widely used. They can be both the basis of a country-style design solution and an addition.
A country style living room is a great design solution that is always in fashion thanks to its special warm atmosphere. In such a room it will be pleasant to relax, as well as to hold meetings with friends and family.
Designer's Tips
In order for the country-style design to be successful, it is necessary to align the walls as much as possible. They should not have any dents, bumps or other defects. But the texture of the wall covering can be uneven and rough.
When designing a country-style living room, remember the basis of this style, it is the creation of a comfortable, bright, “warm” space that gives everyone in the room a pleasant feeling of security, tranquility and relaxation.
Designers recommend choosing lighting fixtures very carefully when designing a country style.
