These country kitchen ideas aren't just for rural dwellers. As many of us are spending more times in our homes – wherever their location – thoughts have inevitably turned to interior surroundings and how we can make them cosier, more comforting. And for many, that brings to mind a rustic look.

That means a returning passion for country decorating ideas and, specifically, the room that lies at the heart of our home – the kitchen. 

Even modern homes can benefit from a touch of softer styling and simpler detailing that will embody the country aesthetic.

By Ysanne Brooks and Andrea Childs

edit58 founder Lisa Mehydene commissioned her country kitchen above to look like the kitchen in John Derian's New York home.

'Lisa wanted the kitchen to fit the look and feel of the barn, to blend in as if it had always been there, to create a homely space with a lived-in feel,' says Adrian Bergman of British Standard by Plain English. 

The combination of traditional cabinetry and soft, inviting colors creates a characterful space that fits perfectly in its barn setting in the Cotswolds, the UK's sought-after countryside location.

‘Designing a country kitchen is not just about the kitchen style you decide to go for – it’s about the lived-in feel that it creates,’ says Leisha Norman, Kitchen Designer at Harvey Jones. 

To make a new build or kitchen extension look and feel more rustic, try adding some antique details or pre-loved ornaments to bring personality. 

‘One of the most effective ways to achieve rustic charm in a kitchen is to source something that has its own story. The marks of time, weathering, or patina on metals – these looks and feelings can’t be provoked from a mass-produced item bought in a shop,’ Norman says.

If your country kitchen has attractive structural materials you can show off, don't miss the opportunity – whether brickwork, revealed from behind plasterwork, wooden beams, once hidden behind studwork, or original floor tiles, restored to former glory.

For a restful take on your country kitchen ideas, opt for pale wood tones that work across flooring, furniture, work surfaces and accessories. This Amtico luxury vinyl flooring in a parquet pattern anchors this entire kitchen scheme and makes a practical choice for this hardworking space.

‘Beaten planks of wood can be used for shelving, old doors can be upcycled to create larder doors, metal hooks and brackets can be good for hanging pots, pans and utensils, and old milk bottle carry baskets can easily store condiments.’

Farmhouse kitchen islands are still a huge trend in kitchen design and are a great way of creating a central hub within a country kitchen.

‘Comfortable seating is a must and essential to the functioning of an island,’ says interior designer Jojo Bradley. ‘Upholstered bar stools with comfortable backs are a great way of bringing a textured or patterned element into your kitchen.’

Stone is an essential part of the country kitchen look, delivering an earthy robustness to a kitchen style that tends to major on quality craftsmanship and longevity. 

'Caesarstone surfaces have all the organic qualities of natural stone, with creamy white base tones matched with elegant marble veining,' says Jonathan Stanley, VP at Caesarstone. 'They sit perfectly well with very rustic interpretations of the country style as well as more contemporary takes on it.'

Alongside their natural good looks, surfaces such as Caesarstone can also withstand the exuberant cooking and entertaining that country kitchens were made for.

Glazed cabinets fitted with reeded glass are a modern update on traditional country house style, and are an ideal option for homes with lower ceiling heights.

‘The elongated aperture for the glass within the floor-to-ceiling cabinets appear to “lift” the height of the ceiling,’ explains William Durrant, Founder, Herringbone Kitchens.

‘Rippled glass, brass handles and stone splashbacks are becoming increasingly popular, and replacing funky tiles as a way to introduce personality into kitchens,’ Durrant says.

In a characterful country property, the straight lines and hard edges of a typical kitchen can look a little… square. 

In this Norfolk cottage, custom-made cabinets with curved profiles soften the space. The unusual design of the island creates a gathering space in the centre of the kitchen, and replicates the shape of the corner cabinet beyond.

For added interest, a part of the cottage’s original flint wall has been left exposed.

When planning your country kitchen ideas, it’s crucial to think about your lighting design. This will include inside cupboards, over the cooker or hob, over the dining area, and the kitchen bar or island.

‘Spotlights are great in alcoves and dotted strategically on the ceiling,’ explains interior designer Jojo Bradley. ‘Motion-activated LED strips or spots are ideal for inside pantry cupboards and inside deep drawers.’

Feature lighting is essential in a kitchen, whether it’s modern or traditional in style, as it creates a focal point and can add great impact to the space. 

‘Lighting color is also important,’ says Bradley. ‘I would recommend using a warm white light throughout the house, preferably with a dimmer option, as this allows you to create different levels of ambience. Warm white light dimmed beautifully is great for when you just want to chat and enjoy your kitchen in the evenings.’

Country kitchen ideas are evolving to embrace technology while still retaining a rustic look and feel.

‘Our country-based customers are going for pastel pinks, pale greens, white and cream to create light spaces within their homes,’ says William Durrant, Founder, Herringbone Kitchens. ‘This is often paired with exposed timber to bring the kitchen to life.’

‘Technology is now a need versus a trend, with boiling water taps and wine fridges being a must. People are investing in their kitchens to make them flow as an interactive space and make their homes future-proof.’

Wall lights that can be angled and adjusted to illuminate a work surface are ideal in darker rooms or where overhead lighting is limited. They also help to bring the lived-in character that’s at the heart of a country kitchen. 

Choose a design that can be wiped clean easily, made from a material that echoes the style of your decor or era of your home. Polished metal, porcelain or glass are all good options.

Baskets fitted on sliding rails are a brilliant twist on traditional drawers when you're thinking of country kitchen ideas. As well as providing accessible storage, they’ll enhance the look of your kitchen by adding texture and natural materials to your cabinetry. Complement the look with wooden handles and a timber work surface.

Here, the country kitchen staples of a butler’s sink and wooden cabinetry have been updated to create a fresher, brighter take on rustic kitchen style. 

Contrasting the raw wood base units with sleek work surfaces and glazed wall units brings a contemporary feel. Smart brass handles add a touch of glamour, but the overall design is based on practicality.

‘With two generous bowls, this Chepstow 2 farmhouse-style sink is so versatile as it provides ample room to rinse bulky pots and pans,’ says Product Manager Luke Shipway from Caple. ‘However, it looks stylish too in a sleek white finish, which you can accessorise with a universal wooden chopping board and basket strainer.’

‘Think hidden and open storage with pull-out crate drawers, hooks, rails and shelves offering quick and easy access to organic fruit and vegetables, artisan breads and fresh herbs and spices,’ says David Roy, Country Manager Schmidt. 

For country kitchen style, L’Épicerie from Schmidt offers the perfect blend between laid-back country living and a contemporary unfitted look,’ Roy suggests. ‘It’s ideal for large, open-plan spaces, as well as smaller kitchens in cottages, converted barns and rural retreats, as you can add different elements as you go.’

Using wood accents, and blending a soft coral tone with black, creates a look that suits country properties as it is bold without being overpowering. 

'When it comes to tile design within the home, angular, symmetrical and repetitive patterns seem to be having a moment again, specifically across country style properties,' says Amanda Telford at CTD Tiles. 'They can be used in a number of fun ways to create a stylish home update with a modern twist.' 

'The Metro tile trend has become an especially desirable format choice,' continues Telford. 'You can make a statement and place these tiles across an entire wall or simply incorporate them as a cool half-wall or splashback for a subtle finish.'

'Built-in seating is an informal style of dining that lends itself well to the relaxed nature of country kitchens,' says Graeme Smith, Head of Retail & Commercial Design at Life Kitchens. 

It can also be a good space-saving design feature. 

'Whether it backs into a corner, island or peninsular, you are instantly saving on the space that you would usually need behind traditional chairs,' confirms Smith. 'Without designated seats, you can usually fit more people around the table, too.'

A staple of the 1990s, barn conversions are seeing a resurgence in popularity as dreams of moving to the country and taking on a project seemed to have become more viable in a work-from-home culture. 

This grand kitchen from The Main Company employs several key country-kitchen must-haves, including textured natural timber tops, tumble-edged stone flooring and a huge multi-functional island that makes the most of the high-ceilinged space. 

'With original reclaimed materials including wooden beams, Cornish stone and brick walls, we were able to create a rustic look and feel whilst retaining some of the buildings original charm,' says Karan Main, director at The Main Company. 

At the heart of every tradition country kitchen sits a central table that acts as a place to prepare food, dine, work and simply spend quality time with the family. If there’s room, surround it with traditional ladder-backed or church chairs. 

If space is tight, then add a bench the kids can crowd on to at suppertime. 

Touches of shining copper and dark, beaded cabinetry juxtaposed with pure white worktops and marble mosaic floor combine to create a stately country home feel. 

Pair with simple oak chairs, open shelving, and dot with pops of red to prevent it from becoming too grand.

According to flooring experts Ted Todd, it’s all about grain texture for flooring right now. 'Real wood floors are proving to be as popular in the home as ever, and the kitchen is no exception,' reveals Robert Walsh, Founder and Owner, Ted Todd Fine Wood Floors. 

'Lending itself perfectly to a country aesthetic, clients want floors that are tactile and that showcase handcrafted elements such as saw marks, tumbled edges, and distressed textures.' 

'Darker, natural brown tones are the current go-to choice as they really give that cosy feel that is synonymous with the country style, emphasising natural materials, exposed wood and tactile surfaces.' 

A pantry was a traditional element of country kitchens – helping to keep dry good, well, dry, and meats and fish cool. And today's pantries are even more functional.

Update the look for now by investing a freestanding model and use it to store dry goods or to hide away modern breakfast equipment. 

Many country kitchens feature tiled splashbacks at their heart. Trends are currently for colour, repeating patterns and experimenting with different layouts. 

These Drops tiles by Porcelain Superstore, in white are a play on classic Moroccan fan tiles, but sit just as well behind a classic range oven in this country-style kitchen. 

A range, whether that’s a traditional cast-iron model or a more modern version, will add warmth and focus to a country kitchen. Contrast duck-egg blue cabinetry and patterned fabrics in pretty pastel shades with a bold black range for real stand-out.

The absence of kickplates will help to give cabinets a more unfitted, farmhouse appearance. It will also draw more attention to the floor, so make it stunning but hardwearing. 

Natural earth tones and textures have been a big trend for 2020/21 so this Harvey Maria Northmore Fired Terracotta flooring, with its warm heritage color pigment and authentic patina, works beautifully in a rustic country kitchen. 

Tongue and groove paneling and open shelving provide a relaxed look. Paired with cool white worksurfaces, a classic butler sink and deliciously dark Shaker cabinetry the effect is modern and chic.

Whether a traditional feature such as a beamed, vaulted ceiling in your kitchen is original or as part of a new kitchen extension idea designed in the country style, using a mix of wooden and painted cabinetry will help to complement the warmth of the timber. 

This British Standard by Plain English kitchen, designed for fashion and lifestyle journalist Louise Roe, is finished in Little Green Paint Company’s Sage Green and topped with 5000 London Grey quartz surfaces from Caesarstone. 

The galley design didn’t offer much room for dining, so Louise commissioned a local craftsman to create a bespoke island from timber left over from the hardwood flooring. 

Breakfast cupboards are a fairly modern invention but do have their roots in the pantry, a vital part of a traditional country kitchen. 

This smart fitted design, part of a kitchen by Mowlem & Co features space-saving pocket doors and is filled with all the accoutrements needed for the most important meal of the day. 

Trying to pull together the various elements in a multifunctional room such as a barn conversion can be tricky. But this example (see more at @medieval_barn_location) is a resounding success. 

Lighting, particularly pendants over islands and dining tables, such as these Factory Pendants in pewter and copper from Industville, can help to both zone and bring continuity to different areas of a room.

The perfect ingredients for a homely country-style scheme? Painted Shaker-style cabinetry? Check. Plate-rack over butler sink? Check. Comfy seating area featuring a pair of luxurious leather armchairs and rush woven rug? Check. Big multifunctional island? Check. 

'To create an environment that’s easy to live in, work surface space can’t be overlooked,' advises Karen Read, kitchen designer at Neptune Weybridge. 

Echoing the style of a classic country dresser, open shelving is the perfect way to showcase collections of china and other precious heirlooms and treasures. 

Make the display stand out using a backdrop of tongue and groove panelling in pure white and contrast with dramatic black cabinetry. 

After an elegant, timeless French country house look? Fabric featuring the classic pastoral scenes of Toile de Jouy for window and door treatments is the perfect partner for a country manor kitchen. 

A central workstation is a clever and hardworking alternative to a traditional farmhouse table when you're planning your country kitchen ideas. In this design, a timber worktop overhang provides space for bar stools to sit at the island, creating a spot for casual dining. 

'We are often asked to create multiple dining zones with one kitchen. Whether that be a kitchen island, banquette window seating or more traditional dining at a table,' reveals Rebecca Hughes at Rebecca Hughes Interiors.

Shaker furniture has a distinct style, reflecting the guiding principles of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, or Shakers as they were more commonly known. 

The religious sect, formed in the late 1700s had guiding principles of simplicity, utility and honesty and those beliefs were reflected in well-made furniture with minimalist designs. Key elements are plain, framed cabinet doors, peg rails and honest, raw materials. 

Don’t be afraid to mix surfaces when you're planning your rustic kitchen design. Paired with a wood-topped island this Quartz White Water surface from CRL Stone has soft brown veining and a subtle marble effect that is perfect for a country-style kitchen. 

'A light coloured quartz worktop will work well in the country-style kitchen, as it will complement virtually any materials and any colour scheme while giving the space a modern touch, too,' says Simon Boocock, Managing Director, CRL Stone. 

A scrubbed pine or traditional oak table often sits at the heart of a country kitchen and will ensure the space feels sociable. 

'If working with vaulted or sloping ceilings, it’s important to look at the layout of the cabinetry and consider how this will impact storage,' says Karan Main, director at The Main Company. 'Open-shelving and clever use of space in the lower-level cupboards will allow you to refrain from built-in overhead cupboards that might detract from the original structure.'

The modern central island works well here, too, and has the benefit of being able to feature a sink and a few concealed modern appliances, too. 

'When it comes to country kitchens, it’s all about making the most of the characterful details that will make your space unique,' says Karen Read, kitchen designer at Neptune’s Weybridge showroom.  

Range cookers also shout ‘country’ loud and clear and work brilliantly as a starting point for any scheme as they often come in a host of colors, sizes and fuel options. Some, like Rayburns and Esse will also run the heating as well as keeping the kitchen warm, perfect if it’s installed at one end of a long-roomed barn conversion. 

Natural materials such as stone and wood will add warmth to surfaces and a butler or Belfast sink topped with pillar or brass mixer taps are naturally at home in a country kitchen.

Fuss-free cabinets, such as the clean, symmetrical lines of Shaker are a good option for both traditional and modern schemes as it’s a plain canvas on which to build. 

Beaded cabinet doors and ones with more intricate pelmets and filials will create a more Georgian manor house feel, while flat-fronted styles will add sleek lines to an otherwise rustic look. 

Painted kitchens are popular and also ensure there’s an easy refresh option when the inevitable wear and tear on a busy family space takes hold. 

Meanwhile, wood cabinets are seeing a resurgence, with oak popular for its consistent, easy-to-live-with grain. For handles, opt for large bun knobs on painted or wood doors, or choose metallic cup shaped ones in shades of nickel or brass.

If you have the space, eschew a few wall cabinets for waney-edge shelving and complete the look with an old-style larder cupboard or glass-fronted French-style dresser for plenty of storage.