Country kitchens are enduringly popular, and it’s little wonder why. This rustic style oozes homely comfort and relaxation, characterised by light, breezy shades, functional units and attractive details. Read on to find out more about the key design elements of this popular style.
Muted tones
A country kitchen is characterised by muted tones that evoke feelings of tranquillity and contribute to a relaxed ambience in the kitchen. White is often used as a backdrop for a country kitchen, with other white elements introduced through furnishings like dining chairs and cupboard doors.
Pastel shades are also popular in country kitchens, and you might prefer to have your walls in a pale duck egg blue or a soft green rather than traditional white, or add splashes of colour to the space in other ways such as through the accessories you choose.
Natural materials
Wood is often used in country kitchens to create a homely, welcoming effect. Cupboards are often made from wood and either left unfinished for a rustic appearance, whitewashed, or painted with a matt or glossy white paint for a French flair. You could also introduce wooden worktops to further cement the theme.
Panelling around the walls is also a popular feature of country kitchens, and wooden floorboards finished with a stain or varnish are commonly found in this sort of kitchen. An alternative to wooden floors is fired tiles in an earthy shade, or natural slate.
Rustic details
The traditional elements of country kitchens are integral to creating an authentic look, so furnish your kitchen with rustic details such as a large wooden dresser in unfinished pine. Tall, sturdy dressers are a mainstay of country kitchens, and you could use it to showcase your crockery or decorate it with knickknacks like hanging gingham hearts and tea lights in pretty holders.
Other rustic elements you could add include a traditional deep sink, an Aga cooker and – if you’re also planning to use the space to dine in – a pine table with painted white legs and matching wooden chairs.
Freestanding units
Country kitchens aren’t usually overly-modern, so think about opting for traditional freestanding units for the space, rather than contemporary integrated units and appliances. You can make the most of the cupboard space by having extra wide drawers installed, or have an island installed, into which you can build drawers, cupboard doors and useful cubby holes for wine bottles or condiments.
In this sort of kitchen, mismatched items can add to the overall effect, but if you don’t want you appliances on show, you could have cupboard doors added to the front, or choose appliances that all have the same finish for more of a streamlined effect.
Focal points
As well as being useful for food preparation, an island also makes a great focal point for the kitchen, and you might decide to have a pan rack installed above to give the space added rustic charm and utilise the area above your head for storage if you aren’t having many cupboards put in.
You might decide to make your dining table more of a focal point in the space by investing in accessories like a pretty floral tablecloth, patterned crockery and a vase of fresh flowers, while standout appliances like a large range cooker also make eye-catching statements in country kitchens.
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