A rustic farmhouse kitchen evokes a feeling of coziness and nostalgia. With distressed wood finishes, vintage-inspired appliances, neutral tones, and natural materials, this style brings the beauty of the outdoors inside your home. Creating your own rustic farmhouse kitchen is easier than you may think. With some strategic design decisions and DIY projects, you can craft your ideal country-chic space. Keep reading to learn how to create a warm and inviting rustic farmhouse kitchen.
Choose The Right Flooring For A Rustic Look
The flooring sets the tone for your entire rustic farmhouse kitchen. Timeworn wood flooring gives an authentically rustic feel.
- Wood Plank Flooring: Opt for wide-plank floors made of oak, hickory, pine, or maple. The natural wood grain and visible knots add to the rustic character. Stain the planks a lighter whitewashed or gray tone. Distress the floors yourself using a chain to create intentional dents for a timeworn look.
- Brick Flooring: Vintage brick floors evoke an old-world farmhouse charm. Red bricks have a classic look, but you can also find grey, brown, and multicolored bricks for variation. Use full bricks or bricks cut into custom shapes for a unique pattern.
- Stone Tiles: Natural stone like slate, travertine, and limestone make an attractive flooring choice. The earthy tones like beige, gray, brown complement the rustic style. Opt for uneven surfaces and hand-cut edges for a less polished look.
- Concrete Flooring: Plain concrete, concrete stained in neutral hues, or concrete overlayed with stone or brick all give an industrial farmhouse vibe. The variation and exposed aggregate create visual texture.
Whichever material you choose, don’t over-polish the flooring. Keep the surfaces distressed for a well-worn, timeworn appearance. Let the materials age naturally to embrace the imperfections that add character.
Select The Right Kitchen Cabinetry
The cabinets frame the whole kitchen, so their style sets the overall aesthetic. To get the rustic farmhouse look, choose cabinets with these qualities:
- Distressed Wood Cabinets: Choose cabinets made of unfinished wood like oak or pine. Opt for shaker-style cabinet fronts with visible wood grain. You can buy pre-distressed cabinets or distress them yourself by sanding, applying white paint unevenly, and sanding again to reveal some of the wood beneath.
- Visible Hardware: Embrace the functional farmhouse style by choosing visible metal hardware. Bin pulls, hooks, and knobs in black, brass, bronze, or silver help accentuate your distressed cabinets.
- Open Shelving: Complement your cabinetry with some wall-mounted open shelves. Display your favorite farmhouse kitchenware and vintage accents on the shelves to embrace the rustic style.
- Neutral Tones: Look for cabinet colors like white, light gray, cream, or wood tones. Avoid bright colors that feel too modern for a farmhouse kitchen. However, you can use pops of muted greens, blues, or reds for some accent cabinets or island.
- Glazed Finish: A brown or gray glaze over your white cabinets helps give a rustic worn appearance. The glaze settles in crevices and corners, making the cabinets look aged.
Don’t make your cabinets too pristine. The beauty of rustic farmhouse style lies in the small imperfections that add character. Embrace the dents, uneven surfaces, and other quirks.
Use Rustic Farmhouse Kitchen Islands
The kitchen island is a prime spot for additional rustic flair. Consider these farmhouse island ideas:
- Repurposed Wood Island: Make your island from a reclaimed wood antique door, old barn wood, or salvaged building materials. The weathered surfaces add instant rustic appeal.
- Metal Accents: Incorporate metal into the island design through the legs, trim, or apron. Wrought iron, galvanized metal, or tin offer unique rustic texture.
- Vintage Details: Add character to your island with vintage corbels, molding, or trim leftover from an old farmhouse remodel. Repurpose heirloom furniture pieces as well.
- Farmhouse Sink: Include a deep single-basin farmhouse sink on your island. The exposed sink and vintage-style faucet highlight the country charm.
- Rolling Island: Consider a rolling island you can move around as needed. A movable island with lockable wheels provides flexibility.
- Rustic Finish: Use milk paint, lime wash, or whitewash to finish your island with rustic chippy character. Allow some of the wood grain to show through.
Customize your kitchen island to complement your existing cabinetry and reflect the overall farmhouse style. This key piece can anchor the room’s design.
Choose Rustic Kitchen Backsplash Materials
The kitchen backsplash makes a big impact as a rustic focal point. Some great farmhouse backsplash tile ideas include:
- Tin Ceilings Or Tiles: Tin tiles or stamped steel tiles replicate the rustic appeal of a tin ceiling. The antiqued metal adds an industrial touch.
- Subway Tile: Classic 3″ x 6″ subway tiles have a vintage look, like the backsplashes found in old farmhouse kitchens. Opt for white, light gray, or blue colors.
- Penny Tiles: Tiny penny round tiles covering your backsplash create visual texture and dimension. Use natural colors like terracotta, tan, or gray for a rustic feel.
- Wood Planks: Cover your backsplash with authentic reclaimed wood sliced into planks. You can also find wood-look porcelain planks made for kitchen backsplashes.
- Weathered Brick: Architectural salvaged brick or brick veneers build your farmhouse backsplash. Mix colors and textures for more character.
- River Rocks: Irregular river rocks and pebbles make a natural statement in organic hues like tan, brown, and gray. Use loose rocks or a stone mosaic.
- Beaded Board: Vertical shiplap wood or mouth-blown glass beads installed on the backsplash complement your rustic cabinets.
The rustic backsplash should tie your whole kitchen together. Let it reflect the worn, vintage look you want to achieve.
Pick Rustic Kitchen Sinks And Faucets
Your old-fashioned farmhouse kitchen deserves vintage-style sinks and fixtures with a timeworn look.
- Farmhouse Sink: A classic farmhouse sink has a rectangular or rounded front with an exposed apron. Look for deep single-basin cast iron, fireclay, or enameled metal sinks to anchor your space.
- Apron-Front Sink: An apron-front sink is dropped into your countertop rather than underneath it. This exposed look highlights the traditional styling.
- Enameled Cast Iron: Vintage-inspired sinks in white, black, or colored enameled cast iron add durability and an old-fashioned appeal.
- Clawfoot Tub: For the ultimate farmhouse centerpiece, use a reclaimed clawfoot tub as a deep double-basin sink.
- Bridge Faucet: Look for bridge-style faucets featuring arched swivel spouts and exposed plumbing. Polished nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, or matte black work well.
- Gooseneck Faucet: Gooseneck faucets with extendable arms allow flexibility around a deep farmhouse sink. Match black, white, or metal finishes.
- Exposed Piping: Highlight exposed pipes, valves, and plumbing under the sink or as drainage pipes beside an apron sink. The visible workings embrace the rustic industrial vibe.
Let your traditional sink and fixtures flaunt their workings to become conversational rustic focal points rather than hiding pipes and mechanics.
Light Up Your Rustic Kitchen Right
The right lighting illuminates your country kitchen style.
- Pendant Lights: Hang metal or woven pendant lights low over the kitchen sink or island workstation. Galvanized metal cages or woven burlap add texture.
- Chandelier: Use a large shabby chic style chandelier to make a dramatic rustic statement over your dining table area. Choose candle, crystal, or vintage styles.
- Sconces: Mount vintage-look iron sconces on walls to flank windows or illuminate backsplashes and counters.
- Pot Rack Lights: Turn your hanging pot rack into a focal lighting feature by wiring mason jar pendant lamps to the rack. Cluster 3-5 varying jars for ambiance.
- Recessed Ceiling Lights: Recessed can lights provide general overhead lighting while highlighting rustic wood beam details. Opt for wraparound LED lamps.
- Track Lighting: Install industrial style metal track lighting and aim single pendants at key kitchen areas. Keep visible hardware for an exposed look.
- Barn Lights: Use galvanized metal barn pendants, wall mounts, or mini barn lights over your sink, island, or space. Their metal mesh screens emit a warm rustic glow.
Mix natural sunlight during the day with warm vintage-style lighting at night for the perfect farmhouse brightness balance.
Add Rustic Farmhouse Kitchen Hardware
The hardware touches turn your new country kitchen into a lived-in rustic space with interesting vintage accents.
- Bin Pulls: Strap metal bin pulls with an arched bail add rustic hardware style to your cupboards and drawers. Position them randomly rather than uniformly.
- Cast Iron Knobs: Look for vintage-style black iron knobs or enameled porcelain knobs to mix and match on cabinets.
- Stamped Metal Handles: Opt for metal handles stamped with imperfect designs, letters, or numbers for distinctive antique character.
- Latches: Incorporate latches, slides, catches, and locks on cabinets and doors for an authentic farmhouse feel. Show off their inner workings.
- Wrought Iron: Wrap doors, cabinets, or shelving with classic wrought iron detail work. The ornate metal supports or grilles look like architectural salvage.
- Hinges: Don’t hide your hinges. Feature visible strap hinges, crossback hinges, or butterfly hinges in black iron finishes.
Installing a mix of unmatched hardware gives your kitchen an eclectic, collected charm like it evolved over generations of farmhouse life. Let the cups and handles show their age.
Source And Display Rustic Farmhouse Décor
Add cozy finishing touches with farmhouse rustic décor that tells a unique story.
- Textiles: Drape vintage fabric, tea towels, and lace at windows. Hang thicker woven blankets and quilts nearby.
- Baskets: Incorporate natural storage like worn woven baskets and rattan hampers. Use forproduce or as base cabinet organizers.
- Tinware: Show off galvanized washtubs, buckets, urns, and cans. Repurpose old tin asfunctional décor.
- Signs: Mount reclaimed hand-painted signs from antique stores or flea markets for folksyrustic character. Display family name signs too.
- Botanicals: Feature dried wildflowers, herbs, plants, and wreaths in vintage containersaround your kitchen. Float flowers in glass vessel sinks.
- Pottery: Collect chipped enamelware, crockery, and ceramic in simple country kitchencolors like red, white, blue, and yellow.
- Barn Wood: Use authentic aged barn wood for shelving, signs, and accents. Every salvaged piece tells a unique story.
Find decorative objects with imperfect weathered surfaces, chippy paint, or other marks of age. Their natural flaws add to the vintage farmhouse appeal.
Create An Inviting Rustic Eating Nook
Carve out a cozy farmhouse dining space right in your kitchen. Some nook ideas include:
- Built-In Bench: Build a fixed cushioned bench into the nook. Add throw pillows andblankets for comfort. Underneath storage keeps servingware accessible.
- Reclaimed Wood Table: A salvaged wood table makes the space feel like a family heirloom. An oval pedestal table saves room in small nooks.
- Pendant Light: Define the nook by installing a single pendant light over the table. Choose awrought iron or rattan lamp for a farmhouse look.
- Vintage Ladder Shelf: Hang a short wooden ladder horizontally on the nook wall to mount achalkboard and hooks for utensils and mugs.
- Window Treatments: Dress the nook windows with woven wood blinds and a rustic valance likeburlap or bandana fabric. Add sheer under-curtains.
- Floral Accents: Decorate the nook with wildflowers in jars on shelves or the table. Includevintage plates and farmhouse textiles too.
Make the nook comfortable and infuse it with personal vintage treasures. Then it becomes a favorite family spot for casual rural dining.
Embrace The Rustic Patina
The charm of a rustic farmhouse kitchen lies in the natural aging, wear, and imperfections that give surfaces and objects their patina. Here’s how to embrace it:
- Allow wood cabinetry to gain dents, stains, and character marks from use over time. Don’t fix the quirks.
- Let tin backsplashes develop a tarnished antiqued look as they age. The patina adds more depth.
- When paint chips or peels, don’t repaint immediately. Enjoy the distressed character it gives.
- Accept dings and scratches on floors and furniture. Their worn appeal has an authentic farmhouse feel.
- Display collected antiques and heirlooms with their nicks, stains, and other marks of age.
Rustic farmhouse means appreciating the natural evolution of worn finishes and embracing the history an aging kitchen gains. The patina makes it feel comfortably lived-in.
FAQs: Creating A Rustic Farmhouse Kitchen
Get answers to your common questions about crafting your own rustic farmhouse kitchen design.
What paint colors work for a rustic farmhouse kitchen?
Opt for neutral, organic paint colors to complement the rustic style. Great choices include:
- Whites: Classic farmhouse white, bright white, antique white, or ivory
- Creams: Buttery colors like cream, eggshell, or vanilla
- Grays: Light airy grays like fog, dove, or ash
- Tans & Khakis: Natural hues like sand, beige, tan, or straw
- Woods: Warm stains that accentuate wood grain
Accent with soft greens, muted blues, oxidized coppers, or muted reds for personality. Avoid bright colors that feel too modern. Instead stick to calming hues that feel timeworn.
How do I distress kitchen cabinets for a farmhouse look?
To DIY your own distressed farmhouse cabinets:
- Sand unevenly so some wood shows through
- Apply cabinet paint in layers then sand and chip away some
- Use white or light gray paints to start so wood peeks through
- Focus distressing on edges, corners, and functional areas
- Seal with polyurethane for protection without a glossy look
Or, choose cabinets pre-distressed from manufacturers like Thomasville or Crestwood. Buy new cabinets and have your local paint shop distress them.
What flooring works best in a rustic farmhouse kitchen?
Good rustic kitchen flooring options include:
- Wide plank unfinished hardwoods
- Salvaged or faux reclaimed barnwood
- Vintage inspired tile like quarry, terracotta, or encaustic
- Natural stone like flagstone, travertine, or bluestone
- Brick flooring or brick pattern porcelain tile
- Stained or stamped concrete with an aggregate finish
Avoid polished stone, glossy tile, or modern styles. Materials with visible wear, variation, and imperfections suit the rustic look best.
How do I add vintage character to a new farmhouse kitchen?
To infuse vintage charm into a new kitchen, try these ideas:
- Incorporate reclaimed wood pieces for the island, shelves, or accents
- Add antique or vintage inspired lighting and plumbing fixtures
- Display collected china, crockery, and enamelware
- Mount architectural salvage like old doors or building corbels
- Use repurposed furniture pieces for the kitchen island or nook
- Finish surfaces with chalky milk paints, limewash, or whitewash
- Add vintage rugs, curtains, linens, and textiles
Layering worn vintage elements makes even brand new spaces feel happily lived-in.
Create Your Dream Rustic Farmhouse Kitchen
With some intentional design choices and DIY projects, you can build your ideal rustic farmhouse kitchen. Focus on visible materials like natural wood cabinetry, vintage tiles, and timeworn floors that gain more character with age. Include laid-back furnishings and authentic antique accents.
The main goal is creating a comforting, welcoming space for making family memories. Your rustic farmhouse kitchen becomes a place you look forward to coming home to everyday. Enjoy the process of crafting your own unique country kitchen style. Before you know it, you’ll have a charming farmhouse space that reflects everything you love.
Conclusion
A rustic farmhouse kitchen evokes cozy nostalgia through its distressed finishes, vintage materials, and antique accents. By incorporating reclaimed wood, chipped painted cabinetry, worn floors and hardware, exposed utilities, and heirloom furnishings, you can design a space with authentic timeworn appeal. Keep the colors neutral and embrace materials that only get better with age. Soon you’ll have a charming, welcoming kitchen space you’re happy to call home.
With the right blend of rural design choices and hands-on projects to add bespoke details, creating your dream rustic farmhouse kitchen is totally achievable. The beauty is in the imperfect