What Is a Country Style Kitchen?

A country-style kitchen is warm, cozy and inviting. It's evocative of a country setting. The furnishings and decor remind you of the countryside, the outdoors and the gathering of people. Because of its welcoming ambiance, it's currently a popular kitchen style. Always comfortable, it's usually large (although smaller country kitchens work as well). Decorating a country kitchen involves the selection of furnishings, walls, flooring, windows and accessories. Does this Spark an idea?

Furnishings

Traditional pot hangers are a country kitchen staple.

Furniture should be in natural materials, and wood is one of the most important components of a country kitchen. A solid-wood dining table with simple country chairs, for example, works very well, as do wooden cabinets---particularly with glass fronts to display collectibles. Solid pine or beech wood are good choices. Hutches and baker's cabinets (cabinets with open shelves and a closed-door base) also add the right feeling to the country kitchen. Wicker, a natural element, enhances the look, as do old-fashioned rocking chairs and benches. Slip covers, with a floral or another country pattern, also add to the country look.

Walls

Tiles complementing colors of the wallpaper border.

Wallpaper patterned in a country print is just right for a country kitchen, and so is a wallpaper border with the same print. Colors on the walls should lean toward the earth tones, brown and tan, but you might also experiment with subtle shades of green, pink, blue and red. Striped wallpaper can work well in a country kitchen, especially when matched with the fabric of seat cushions.

Flooring

Braided rugs work well in country kitchens.

To retain the natural look of the country kitchen, wood floors work very well, as do tiles and flagstones. Use country area rugs---braided rugs are an especially good country look. Consider rugs with country themes, like roosters or sunflowers. Throw rugs under the dining table or in front of the sink.

Windows

Ginham is perfect for a country kitchen.

The right touches on windows enhance the country look: molding around frames, gingham or plaid curtains, and sheers complementing the colors of the wallpaper or walls.

Accessories

A rooster is a nice accessory in a country kitchen.

Accessories put finishing touches on a country kitchen. Woven baskets, old crockery, country-themed pictures in aged frames and vintage canisters all enhance the country ambiance. In addition to their natural texture, rustic baskets are good for storage, and they can be filled with country accents like fruits, flowers and vegetables. Family photos in old-styled frames will add a touch of the personal to a wall. For lighting fixtures, choose pewter, wood, wrought iron or pressed tin. Set plants, candles, cookbooks and decorative plates on counters or in hutches. Include a country rooster or an old country sign to increase the country kitchen's charm. Yard sales are good places to find the antique worn look at affordable prices.