Your kitchen is the heart and soul of your home; a place where the family comes together to share meals, and to prepare for, and unwind after a hectic day. Your family needs a functional space that will fulfil all of your requirements, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with theming and décor. This year’s kitchen design trends include texture, wood, colored cabinetry, raw materials, copper, natural light, and big, stone sinks. One theme that encompasses all of those trends and more is that of the rustic kitchen.
Inspired by country living, nature and wildlife, and living at its most simple, the rustic kitchen is a favorite among interior designers. And why not? Its color palettes are tasteful, and its accessories and accoutrements are designed for living at its most enthusiastic. Rustic kitchens ooze warmth, character and charm, and are both livable and cozy. Isn’t that exactly what we want at the heart of our homes? What’s more rustic kitchens can be adapted to suit any sized space, whether you occupy a small city dwelling, rural pad or sprawling countryside manor. Take a look around, and prepare to be inspired…
Consider a color scheme
The great thing about rustic kitchens is that they don’t tend to conform to any particular color scheme. A countryside kitchen could take its inspiration from meadow pastels, rugged grays and cream, wild and bright white, or rich tones of red, green and brown. Duck egg blue, chocolate brown, beige and olive green tend to work particularly well, invoking the spirit of a wild ranch kitchen and its surrounding pastures. What color scheme works best in your home, and with the space you have available?
Play with different textures
A true rustic kitchen embraces texture as much as you love to explore with new recipes, ingredients and flavors. Common features include exposed brickwork, stone worktops and flooring, heavy wooden beams and cast iron or metalwork. Accessories are likely to be fashioned from different fabrics, metal, leather or wood, and composed of raw natural materials that can be foraged easily. Your rustic kitchen should be a space that you can experience with all of your senses.
Light, bright and airy
The one thing that all rustic kitchens tend to have in common is that they’re light, bright and airy. A kitchen inspired by countryside chic will embrace the great outdoors and natural light, as well as using unique light fittings to illuminate the space. Wooden kitchen shutters are a great way to make the best use of light, while maintaining that effortless farmhouse appeal. Shutters protect privacy on busy, residential roads, help to control the flow of light and air into a home and are aesthetically pleasing. Few window dressings can claim to be as versatile.
Tiles and stencils
Tiles and stencils will add appeal, and an air of authenticity to your rustic kitchen with very little effort or cost involved. Bearing intricate patterns and designs inspired by flora and fauna, stencils can brighten any rustic kitchen space. What’s more, they’re cost efficient and easy to apply for a quick makeover. Meanwhile tiles can be more costly to source and appoint but provide a more permanent and protective solution for the demands of a kitchen. Have you considered a tiled floor? Patterned stone tiles are stylish and functional in a rustic kitchen.
Choose the right furniture and fixtures
The typical rustic kitchen is warm and homely, cozy and functional. A range cooker or Aga stove will likely form your kitchen’s focal point, enabling you to prepare wonderful meals in a manner befitting your stylish new setting. In terms of furniture, think wood. Rustic kitchens usually embrace wooden furniture and fittings, including large tables, chairs and stools, chunky shelving and sideboards. A stable door would look divine, if you’re able to source one. You’ll also want to consider fixtures, such as a deep stone sink, vintage metal taps and an island worktop – should space allow.
Accessorize
Creating a rustic kitchen is all about the little things; that is, the accessories you choose to adorn your surfaces and walls. Farmhouse kitchens are traditionally well stocked, with fresh herbs and spices, vases of flowers and vintage appliances adorning the walls and open shelves. Glass and ceramic storage jars and containers will look the part, while a set of old-fashioned weighing scales and farming accoutrements will complete the look. Remember: be clever with your clutter, keeping essential styling items on show.
There are countless ways to give your kitchen a rustic makeover, some of them as simple as picking up a few, choice accessories or playing about with natural light. In fact, giving your kitchen a rustic feel needn’t be difficult or expensive at all. Whether you’re making better use of a smaller space or refashioning your kitchen entirely, we hope you’re able to take inspiration from our piece. After all, every kitchen deserves to feel its best.
