Country Kitchen Design Ideas

Country Kitchens: Simple, Soothing Design

If you are a nature enthusiast with an appreciation for earthy and rustic themes, a country kitchen will complement your personal style. Weave together motifs of modernity and simplicity to strike a balance between elegance, simplicity, and sophistication. The final result will be a charming kitchen that is a comforting and inviting space for you, your family, and your guests.

Create a country kitchen as an ideal area for cooking, and incorporate a breakfast nook to host brunches where you can spend time with your family and guests. The possibilities of how you design your small, medium, or large space are without limits.

No matter what you do with your space, design it as you would imagine your ideal country vacation spot. The only difference between your kitchen and a countryside villa is that you will enjoy your kitchen every day - 365 days a year- in your own home. Enjoy the design process, and love the end result even more.

Where Rustic Meets Modern

One stereotype of a country kitchen is that it is old fashioned. In actuality, a country kitchen can appear very modern. Obviously, you need a functional area for your microwaves, toaster ovens, and electric stoves. Don't worry about hiding anything, and worry even less about whether your appliances clash with your rustic themes. Instead, find a way for your classic and modern elements to complement one another.

 

No matter what types of appliances you have, do not allow stainless steel gray to become the dominant color in your kitchen. Even though metal and appliances will complement a country kitchen's overall look and feel, the predominant colors should be natural.

Country Lighting

Optimize the natural light sources for your country kitchen. If you can, install skylights to conserve electricity by minimizing the need for overhead light. Large bay windows with a seating area will also emphasize a country theme, especially if you plan to integrate a dining area into your space.
In any kitchen, you want to make sure that you have enough overhead lighting for cooking and cleaning. Hanging lights and subtle recessed lights are both ideal options.

Country Colors

The dominant color in a country kitchen should be brown. Let your cabinets, furniture, and floors guide the color scheme for your country kitchen. Be sure to incorporate other neutral and pastel shades as accent details. If you don't like the color brown, you may want to reconsider whether you want a country-themed kitchen. If you absolutely want a country kitchen without any brown, consider painting your cabinets a white or cream color. Pastel shades of green and yellow may also work. If you choose to paint your cabinets and furniture another color, you may need hardwood floors.

 

When it comes to choosing a color for your cabinets, walls, drawers, and furniture, you have free range between light and dark shades. Choose a near-white color or a brown-black: both colors will work with a country theme.
Choose additional colors to complement your brown cabinets, but stick to neutral and pastel shades. Avoid excessively bold and bright colors. If you want to want to use a bold color like black or red, tone it down by using a shade like auburn or light gray instead.
Dull shades of purple, orange, green, yellow, and blue are ideal for country kitchens. No matter what colors you choose, sure to emphasize natural & earthy tones.

Country Countertops

For countertops choose a color that contrasts with the wooden structures in a material such as marble or granite. If you are a cooking enthusiast, butcher's block will also work with a country theme and allow your counters to serve as a giant cutting board. It is relatively easy to clean, and every few months, you can sand it down for hygiene purposes.

Country Décor

Country themed décor should emphasize nature to create a rustic aesthetic. Decorate with fresh or faux flowers in bright colors. Showcase your fresh fruits and vegetables in large bowls. Display woven baskets in brown, white, or pastel shades. Hang and showcase your cooking supplies on the wall. Combined, these design elements will create a warm and welcoming feel.

 

In any kitchen, you want to make sure that you have enough overhead lighting for cooking and cleaning. Hanging lights and subtle recessed lights are both ideal options.

Wood

The distinguishing element of a country kitchen is wood. Floors, pantries, cabinets, and shelves should maintain their hardwood finish - no need to paint anything except your walls.
Allow your cabinets to create the dominant color for your color scheme, regardless of whether you prefer a light, medium, or dark shade of brown. No matter what type of wood you choose, you will likely be able to find your color of choice. Keep in mind, however, that each style of wood has its own distinct patterns and overall look. Oak, maple, cherry wood, birch, and pine are popular types of wood for cabinets, furniture, and floors in country kitchens.
Pineis the least expensive type of wood and is usually light to medium brown in color with visible knots. You may choose to paint your pine cabinets and doors with a darker color or custom wood finish, or you may choose to leave it as-is. Even though pine is inexpensive, a major disadvantage is that this type of wood becomes scratched and dented easily. If you accidentally slam a door, your pine cabinets may actually break.
Oak, like pine, can be light or medium brown. It is more durable and relatively more expensive than pine. The appearance can be granular, so it is an ideal long-term material for cabinets in a country kitchen. Oak is used for furniture, floors, and cabinets.

Cherry woodis relatively more expensive than pine and oak. It is a high-quality, long lasting material with dark brown and reddish hues. The colors may vary within the piece of wood, itself. Granular details in cherry wood are minimal. Cherry is ideal for furniture and cabinets.
Maple, like pine and oak, has a granular pattern. Unlike other types of wood, the grainy details are relatively subtle. Maple is available in a range of colors from light to dark brown.
No matter what type of wood you choose for your cabinets, furniture, and floors, you should include a wood finish. You can buy a spray-can or bucket. You may need to refinish your cabinets, furniture, and floors, every few years.

Country Floors

For a country kitchen, stick to a floor based on a natural material such as stone or hardwood. Choose dark or light shades depending on your kitchen's overall color scheme. Natural stone tiles are beautiful options since no two are alike. Granite, limestone, slate, and travertine are common options for natural stone flooring. Oak and maple are durable wood options for floors.

Country Sinks & Faucets

Use whichever material you find most convenient for your sinks and faucets. The most common materials for sinks include porcelain and stainless steel, and in a country kitchen, neither will appear out of place. For faucets, select long and elegant designs to add subtle elegance to your kitchen's overall charm. Silver, gray, and white are the most common colors for sinks and faucets, but you can also use brass or gold. When shopping for a faucet, look for a rustic or vintage-inspired design to complement your kitchen's overall theme. No need to buy an actual antique since you probably want the best modern functionality.