The Coastal Farmhouse Spaces of Niña Williams

Niña Williams is a lifestyle blogger, influencer, and content creator from Iowa that is known for creating beautiful, coastal farmhouse spaces. Her use of rich textures and soft pastel colors make these spaces cool, calm, and oh-so-comfortable. Let’s get to know this designer and her tips and tricks for making her spaces so light, bright, and welcoming. If you’re inspired by the beauty of these spaces as much as we are, you can follow her at @ninawilliamsblog.

About Niña Williams 

Niña Williams and her husband built their dream home seven years ago and as a creative outlet, Williams started to decorate that home and share the images on Instagram. Three years later, they sold that house and bought a new one, starting the process of decorating over again because it’s the decorating that makes a house feel like a home.  

Today, she decorates her home for the seasons, creates videos, and shares them on social media for home inspiration. She also shares recipes, sales, daily finds, and pieces of her everyday life. While Williams never went to school for design, she does have an eye for style and had a photography business where she specialized in weddings, senior portraits, and family sessions. That experience has helped her with photographing, editing, and styling posts for social media.  

Her Signature Style 

Williams designs with a coastal farmhouse aesthetic, leaning into soft, light colors that give the space a cozy and relaxed feeling. Her favorite hues are soft, dusty blues accented by light wood tones and woven decorative elements.

Her Dream Project 

Someday, Williams hopes to own and design her own store, curating items from different places that match her style. She wants a store that would be a one-stop-shop for people that have a similar design aesthetic to her. 

Where Every Project Starts 

While the initial inspiration for her projects often comes from home design catalogs and store catalogs, every project she works on starts with a priority list. By listing what you do want and don’t want in your design, it becomes easier to suit the space to your needs and focus your design choices. These priority lists may include creating an office area that isn’t in the bedroom or designing a larger laundry room. 

When to Break the Rules 

There are many rules to design, but for Williams, “I feel like if it looks good, then who cares about the rules.” When she was a photographer, she wasn’t focused on finding the right camera settings, she was focused on making sure the final pictures looked great. She takes the same approach to designing the home. “You’re the one living in it every day, so if you like it and it looks good, go for it!” One of the ways she likes to break design rules is by using faux plants instead of real plants. “They require no maintenance, can be changed out depending on the season or holiday, and are more cost-effective in the long run,” she explains. 

Favorite Design Tips & Tricks 

Today, designing homes is all about creating beautiful styles that function for busy lifestyles. Williams uses a few pro design tips to provide clients with the look they want and the functionality they need to maintain their busy life. A key way to do this is with storage. Williams suggests “If you can put a cabinet door on it, do it. I know people love the look of open shelving, but how practical is it? Keeping it clean and organized can be a challenge. I prefer hiding the mess, so we have cabinet doors on the breezeway lockers, pantry cabinets, and master closet.”

Where to Splurge 

Budget is a consideration in any project. When you’re trying to decide how to allocate your funds, William says, “I like to splurge on lighting because it can make a huge statement in any room. Even if a room has a simple design, adding statement lighting will make a difference and make the room more appealing. 

Trends She’s Loving 

Trends come and go, but the importance of mixing textures is a constant. Williams says, “I love the look of woven pieces, like rattan, wicker, and cane, whether it’s décor or furniture.” Woven items work well with every design style, ranging from boho to modern and can fit within any color scheme. “It also makes the room cozier and more inviting,” Williams explains. 

Top 5 Items for Every Space 

No matter what space she’s decorating, Williams has five items that are integral to each of her designs.  

• Light Fixtures: They are the focal point of the room.  
• Rugs: In colors and patterns that complement the room. 
• Plants and flowers: Bring life and color to a space. 
• Pillows: Introduce color and texture to a design. 
• Wall art: A great way to add personality and style.

Working with Ferguson 

Williams has partnered with Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery for her past two projects, explaining that “while it’s possible to shop for almost anything online nowadays, it’s always nice to see the fixtures in person. You can touch the item, see its true color and finish, and gauge the size, so there are no more uncertainties before purchasing.” She appreciates working with our sales team because “they were knowledgeable and had great suggestions for us if we were looking for different finishes or specific items within our budget.” Part of the reason she chooses to work with Ferguson is because of the process. “I liked how they sent us an image guide with all our Showroom selections, arranged by room,” she explains.    

Get the Look 

If you’ve been inspired to bring a little coastal farmhouse charm to your own space, you’re in luck. We have a Shop by Look page where you can purchase the same stylish, high-quality products Williams has used in her own spaces. Browse all the options to find the perfect products for any room in your home.