12 Rustic Kitchen Ideas That Bring Your Space Back to Basics

Cream-colored cabinetry and wooden furniture are pretty common rustic kitchen features because the warmth of wood tones and cream paint bring a cozy feeling to the room. To create your own warm color scheme, choose one or two neutrals, such as cream or warm white, and then decide on the type of wood you prefer. Pine is a classic for cabins, but stained oak is another common choice. Salvaged wood in weathered gray can be a nice contrast to the right shade of cream. Finally, choose one or two accent colors. Blue and green are popular choices as cool-color accents, and you can use a collection of green canning jars, teal linens, or blue and white porcelain accents. For a classic country style, go for red-and-white-checked linens or a colorful rag rug.

In the quest for rustic kitchen ideas, nothing delivers quite like generous layers of wood! Play up the natural look with wood floors and cabinetry, or choose tile floors and coordinating wood cabinets for easy cleanup. Salvaged wood is an eco-friendly choice that offers the benefit of rough texture to give that truly rustic look. If you prefer painted cabinets, try adding a salvaged wood panel to the kitchen island or rustic wood bar stools for an eat-in kitchen.

Rustic comes in many flavors. An old-fashioned oven against a brick wall evokes images of Old European galleys. Warm pavers instead of tiles reminiscent of Spanish styles compliment arched doorways and wood beams. Tiles that are hand painted or that have a weathered look, like these Elida Ceramica Cardoso Deco Matte Porcelain Floor or Wall Tiles, add an artisanal touch to any style of kitchen. For a sense of history, stone walls or flooring transport new kitchens back in time to Old European cottages.

Situated under a sunny window, a farmhouse sink can become the focal point of the room. While ceramic and cast iron are the standards, you can get these sinks in other materials that bring a modern twist to the rustic kitchen. We like this Farmhouse Apron-Front Stainless Steel Single Bowl Kitchen Sink in Gunmetal Black Matte, which would blend with a darker wood and raw wood surfaces. If you want to add a touch of whimsy, check out this Vine Design Farmhouse Double Basin Copper Kitchen Sink with a 60/40 split.

Combining traditional rustic choices with industrial finishes creates a bold contrast. A stainless steel range hood with brushed finish, rivets, and a bit of weathering looks surprisingly at home in a wood-filled kitchen. Brutalism, the design style that incorporates raw edges, organic shapes, unpolished surfaces, sits nicely against a rustic backdrop. We like this petite Rosewood Stoneware Decorative Bowl, perfect for a rustic salt cellar, or this Stainless Steel Canister Set with a warm, weathered finish.

Polished chrome drawer pulls would look out of place in a rustic kitchen, so opt for a matte finish in black, bronze, or brass. Brushed copper fixtures would compliment a display of copper pots. Half-moon pulls or knobs with porcelain accents are common country kitchen accents. Don’t forget the faucet. Swap the builder-installed faucet and sprayer with this Kingston Brass Heritage Bridge Kitchen Faucet in copper or oil rubbed bronze for an old-school look. Many manufacturers today make hardware with a nostalgic look, but you might also consider contacting a source for architectural salvage in your area for more options and a fun treasure hunt.

A pine ceiling brings residents back to their time in a vacation log cabin. Tin ceiling tiles, like these American Tin Ceilings Rustic Copper Surface Mount Tiles, evoke a vintage vibe. If updating the ceiling isn’t in your plan, play with materials in the backsplash like copper, tin, and stainless steel. Tile backsplashes are a classic, and a stone backsplash in rustic finish, like this MSI Sparkling Autumn Ledger Natural Quartzite Wall Tile, adds just the right touch of down-to-earth style.

Rustic and country kitchens usually include some kind of vintage or antique elements. If you’re going big with a kitchen redo, consider converting a vintage dresser into lower cabinets. Or bid on that salvaged butcher block at the antique auction and use it for the kitchen island. No country kitchen is complete without a wooden table for everyone to gather around while the pie cools.

Whether pulled up to a table or parked in front of a breakfast bar, kitchen seating can either make or break the look of a rustic design. Eat-in kitchen islands offer the opportunity to show off traditional country oak stools, or you could opt for vintage milk cans converted to seating. We like these Tractor Seat Adjustable Height Bar Stools for a blend of rustic and industrial styles. At the table, bring in hallway benches or a variety of vintage wood chairs for fun family seating.

Who says rustic has to be dark? If you love the weathered look you see in other people’s kitchens but prefer to keep things bright, go for a kitchen draped in white, from the floors to the cabinetry to the doors. Or maximize daylight by framing windows in curtains rather than covering them, or using blinds that easily open for brighter light when needed. If you don’t have windows in the kitchen, choose daylight LED bulbs in an overhead fixture or pendants along an island. Under-cabinet lighting provides a dimmable, warm glow in the evenings.

There’s no mistaking a collection of roosters on the shelf of a country kitchen, or an array of stoneware behind paned glass in a rustic cabinet. Open shelves allow for displays of tableware and kitchen accessories that add texture, color, and personality to the room. If you have the need to conceal a few items, glass-front cabinets allow you to showcase favorite china patterns or antique flour sifter collections. Color-coordinated dinnerware looks especially pleasing behind glass. 

Appliance designers have stepped it up a notch in the last decade with retro and rustic designs to compliment even the most down-home of kitchens. The 36-Inch Classic Fridge by Big Chill is styled after an old-fashioned ice box with brass pull handles. Even stainless steel appliances can take on a rustic look with the right accent color, like the champagne brass knobs on this ZLINE Kitchen & Bath Autograph Edition 30-Inch Deep Recessed Convection Oven Dual Fuel Range. You can find retro appliances that add flair to a country kitchen, or opt for appliances that offer wood-look exteriors to blend with your cabinetry.