You don’t have to live in the country to create the farmhouse kitchen of your dreams! As it turns out, the popular mainstream look—thanks largely to the likes of farmhouse style guru Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame and the explosion of modern farmhouse style—works wherever you live. In fact, most tried-and-true, simple farmhouse kitchen ideas start with the charming characteristics of farmhouse style you already know and love.
To bring nostalgic, been-around-forever comfort to the heart of your home, look to rustic farmhouse kitchen ideas like apron-front sinks, passed-down collected treasures, country color palettes (from neutral to bold), and of course, your family gathered around the kitchen island. Modern farmhouse kitchen ideas include vintage-inspired appliances, cool kitchen lighting, and well-worn wood accents (we are eternally obsessed with a vent hood wrapped in reclaimed wood!).
Because the kitchen can be expensive to renovate, we’ve gathered farmhouse kitchen ideas on a budget, too. For example, swap upper cabinetry for casual, “serve yourself” open shelving.
This trick saves money and is one of our favorite small farmhouse kitchen ideas, as upper cabinets can make a space feel closed in. Whatever your budget or space, we’re serving up all the best farmhouse country kitchen ideas and inspiration right here!
1.Bring the Outside In
With a view like that, frame it up like artwork. Case in point: this airy barn kitchen by designer Christina Salway. She chose to leave this trio of large windows bare to celebrate the landscape beyond. Natural wood details on the cabinet fronts, statement-making ceiling beams, and raw wood window trim pair with calming creamy white walls for a quiet, rustic design.
2.Go Bold With a Tile Backsplash
Although this bold galley kitchen is a departure from typical country farmhouse style, we just can’t get enough of its authentic, pieced-together vibe. A statement-making tile backsplash offers a graphic backdrop to the handsome forest green range, deep blue workbench-turned-cabinetry, and copper vent hood. A vintage runner perfectly pulls together all the room’s elements.
3.Fit In a Farmhouse Table
While not an antique, the new farmhouse table feels that way after designer Erica Harrison of Detroit-based design firm Hudson and Sterling had it sanded. The walnut bentwood chairs bring a European bistro look. Above, a midcentury Murano glass chandelier adds character without competing with the room’s light and bright palette. New Moroccan floor tile has an aged finish that brings in soft color and pattern, laying the groundwork for this kitchen’s entire design.
4.Show Off Your Collections
Pull out your prized collections, and put them on full display! Novelist Jean Hanff Korelitz’s circa-1890s home came with most of the built-ins, including the kitchen’s tall cupboard that holds her extensive ironstone collection. Pink lustreware is stored in old cubbies stacked above the salvaged sink.
5.Pick a Sunny Shade
Just because your pantry is a workhorse part of your kitchen doesn’t mean it can’t also be pretty! This sunny space, designed by Meta Coleman, relies on stylish storage solutions like baskets and glass jars to keep everything in order and in style.
6.Add Industrial Flair
Lean into the modern farmhouse feel with industrial details like seating. In this barn home kitchen, a mix of collected drafting stools serves as gather-round seating at the marble-topped antique island.
7.Skirt Your Cabinets
For a farmhouse-meets-cottage look, forgo cabinets doors and opt for skirted fabric instead. The burlap used here in Fifi O’Neill’s Florida home brings a farmhouse feel, while using a floral or other pattern would bring a more feminine, cottage look.
8.Install Open Shelving
With three levels of open shelving, photographer Helen Norman achieved a beautifully layered look that is ideal for her ever-growing ceramics collection.
To be sure you have enough room for items on your countertop (think coffee maker, cutting boards, etc.) as well as things on your shelves (think pitchers and platters), measure your tallest pieces, add an inch or two, and space out shelves accordingly before installing.
9.Stick to Shaker Style
Nothing is more classic than Shaker-style cabinet fronts. In this coastal Alabama farmhouse, creamy white cabinetry with simple Shaker-style fronts adds classic charm to the serene cook space.
10.Add Interest With Beadboard
This Connecticut farmhouse pantry, located just off the side of the kitchen, utilizes open, grab-and-go shelves for maximum storage. The silent star, though, is the beadboard paneling lining the backs that brings built-in country charm.
11.Contrast the Wood Tones
While the phrase “cabin kitchen” may evoke images of dark woods and ruddy hues, architect Ken Pursley wanted this North Carolina home to feel light and airy but still reflect the simple mountain aesthetic. Rough oak floors stained in a warm finish set a welcoming cabin tone, while a pine ceiling sourced from a nearby forest adds understated texture. Durable yet modern concrete countertops, a pair of oversize lanterns, and industrial-style drafting stools round out the ultimate rustic-meets-refined space.
12.Get Creative With Repurposing
To break up her small kitchen’s white cabinetry, homeowner Bambi Costanzo repurposed an old wood dry sink she found on Facebook Marketplace by taking it apart and installing the pieces under the window as a makeshift built-in. “It was almost too perfect for the space,” she says. Her dishware storage doubles as display courtesy of more DIY ingenuity. For the countertop rack, Bambi sanded down a wooden box and added dowel rods for plate separators. Striped skirted fabric hides the dishwasher.
13.Skirt the Sink
Textile designer Heather Taylor complemented the yellow tones of the wood cabinets with sunflower-hued window treatments and a skirt beneath the 30-inch fireclay farmhouse sink. While small in stature, the cabin kitchen is chock-full of charm courtesy of high-impact updates, including an aged brass faucet, a vintage-style scalloped pendant light (adorable!), and petite flush-mount ceiling lights.
14.Build a Bigger Island
Family and friends love to gather around this walnut-topped island thanks to its room-for-a-crowd size and quirky handmade counter stools. The natural stone wall is complemented by the moody Belgian bluestone backsplash behind the range and the room’s various woods—reclaimed barn boards on the ceiling, vintage French white oak on the floor, and band-sawn knotty white oak on the flush-inset cabinets.
15.Wrap a Vent Hood in Reclaimed Wood
A unique salvaged wood hood, custom-built by the owner of this Mississippi farmhouse, and a vintage Turkish runner add warmth to the mostly white kitchen. We love the addition of a landscape painting floating above the range as an unexpected and budget-friendly alternative to a tile accent.
16.Checker the Backsplash
For a statement-making backsplash, interior designer Christina Salway arranged two shades of green tiles in a checkerboard pattern. Warm wood tones, the natural jute rug, and a display of round baskets balance the greens and keep it rustic and cozy.
17.Make Room for an Eat-In Moment
To make space for a small antique pedestal table and a scalloped banquette (smartly upholstered in performance fabric to hold up to spills), homeowner (and Country Living Design Director!) Maribeth Jones removed a bank of built-in cabinetry that wasn’t worth saving. This set-up makes for the sweetest spot for breakfast, snacks, and activities for her growing girls.
18.Use a Pine Table as an Island
In this time capsule of a cottage on Cape Cod, homeowner Stephenie Watts packed tons of charm into every square inch. In place of a built-in island, a pine farm table brings rustic texture, while unlacquered brass bistro-style shelving and a pull-down faucet add aged shine. The cabinets got a new coat of mossy green paint; the walls are lined in a pretty, light-reflecting tile.
19.Add Patina With Vintage Lighting
In this all-white kitchen, light gray concrete countertops, reclaimed beams and shelves, and ceramic tile laid in a graphic pattern add visual interest. But the real show-stopper is the pair of green antique French lanterns (from Sourced by Janet Wiebe) that lend a gorgeous pop of color and a perfect touch of patina.
20.Store Pots Overhead
When storage is limited, look up! The iron pot rack here displays a collection of copper cookware. Rounding out the farmhouse vibe: a large coffee tin that’s now a trash receptacle; a white subway tile backsplash; and an old butcher block on the work space side.
21.Use Antiques as Cabinetry
In lieu of cabinets, a 19th-century English pine dresser and a pine hanging plate rack house a collection of everyday blue-and-white transferware in this kitchen. Crisp white walls, grassy green painted floors, and classic gingham fabric brighten up the space.
22.Pick Barstools With Some Pop
Painted furniture is an easy way to bring color into a neutral space. Here, bright and cheerful robin’s-egg blue barstools do just that. The existing beechnut island reinforces the farmhouse aesthetic.
23.Pretty Up the Pantry
In this pantry, a floor-to-ceiling plate rack using one-by-four shelves and wood trim displays a collection of blue-and-white plates and platters. The painted checkerboard floor ups the charm factor in the tiny space, which is also a landing down to the basement.
24.Incorporate Furniture-Like Details
This farmhouse kitchen truly encompasses a timeless, built-over-time design. A built-in hutch made of reclaimed pine floorboards holds dishes and other kitchen items. The island has a set of drawers for extra storage—a smart furniture-esque touch. White beadboard (on the ceiling) and shiplap (on the walls), reclaimed waxed hemlock floorboards, and walnut countertops wrap the room in texture and warmth.
25.Hang a Bold Wallpaper
Singer-songwriter/designer/farmhouse renovator extraordinaire Holly Williams loves an eye-catching wallpaper. In this Kentucky farmhouse, she paired a chalky blue cabinet paint with a pretty floral print. Affordable marble shelves with brass brackets are filled with a mix of pewter and ironstone.
26.Root It In the Past
In his 241-year-old Cape Cod, designer Ken Fulk restored the original integrity of the kitchen by using salvaged wood to fashion the cabinets, repurposing an antique mercantile counter as a kitchen island, and installing a vintage cast-iron double sink. Period-appropriate cookware and tableware feel right at home on hand-forged iron hooks and open shelving.
27.Show Off Original Details
In this 1700s stone house, homeowner Petra Ivanov brought in clean-lined white Ikea cabinetry to serve as a modern counterpoint to the original handsome stone wall in her kitchen. The adjacent wall is covered in classic white subway tile with dark gray grout, which lends graphic, modern touch to the otherwise rustic space.
28.Incorporate Artwork
To up the homey factor in this rustic space even more, these homeowners hung artwork above the large window and doorway, an otherwise blank space. Brick floors, soapstone countertops, and a 1900s-era-inspired stove round out this quintessential farmhouse kitchen aesthetic.
29.Choose a Vintage Sink
This couple embraced the history of their 18th-century farmhouse kitchen by choosing a hardworking vintage porcelain double farm sink as the centerpiece of their cook space. A charming display of gorgeous antique dishes and other small touches, like the faded checkered rug, add to the rustic style.
30.Mix Countertop Materials
In this open space that was designed with relaxation in mind, designer James Farmer chose classic Carrara marble for the island while Georgia heartpine countertops line the perimeter. Brass lighting adds extra warmth.
31.Install a Peg Rail
A shelf with a peg rail is useful for hanging kitchen tools, like pots and pans, and for displaying dishes and collected treasures up top. Ceramic sconces help illuminate the collected vignette in this Ohio farmhouse kitchen. Inspired by an existing built-in cupboard, architect Greg Dutton designed similarly styled simple Shaker-front cabinets to match the rest of the space. Soapstone countertops and taupe walls are equally unfussy.
32.Go Counter-to-Ceiling With Subway Tile
Classic white subway tile serves as the foundation for this richly layered kitchen by architect Steve Giannetti and designer Brooke Giannetti of Patina Home & Garden. Rustic and industrial materials such as a wood table and brass-strapped shelves play well with the brick stack-style walls.
33.Pack in the Charm
In this tiny kitchen, every inch counts. These homeowners embraced the coziness and really packed in the charm. First, painting the shiplap walls and ceiling white really opened up the previously cramped kitchen in this Texas farmhouse purchased for $15,000 on Facebook. Salvaged finds like the circa-1950s O’Keefe & Merritt enamel stove and Mexican pine island reinforce a layered, acquired-over-time feeling. A simple skirt below the sink is an iconic country application.
34.Embrace a Brick Accent Wall
In this Nashville kitchen, homeowner Jen Auerbach unearthed the original brick wall during the renovation. Antique lighting, including 1920s pendant lights sourced from four states, brings a pretty glow at night. Underfoot, wood floors laid in a classic herringbone pattern add a refined edge.
35.Show Off Your Collections
Whether displayed on rustic open shelves, in a glass-front cabinet, or in this case, a pantry closet with the door removed, jadeite (or any other prized collection, for that matter) is too pretty to hide behind closed doors. Collections reflect your personality, which adds to the overall warmth of your kitchen.
36.Cover the Walls in Gingham
“Gingham is my favorite color,” jokes designer Trinity Holmes about this kitchen’s signature wallpaper. Also known as Vichy check, gingham was popularized by the French and English at the turn of the 19th century. The graphic two-color pattern, traditionally made of woven cotton, quickly became a staple of early American design, and its popularity has never waned making it the perfect pattern for a timeless farmhouse kitchen.
37.Paint the Floors
The colorful, collected kitchen in this Missouri lake house boasts bright painted floors that will wear beautifully over time. A hodgepodge of counter stools and other nostalgic pieces, like the “café” sign scored on a junking trip years ago, are all right at home in the cheerful space.
38.Surprise With Sleek Lighting
Super sleek, contemporary light fixtures are a surprising touch in this most-rustic-of-all kitchens. The pendants and the swing arm sconces lend an unexpected contrast to the reclaimed wood and homey AGA cooker.
39.Roll Out a Vintage Rug
With cool retro details like cream-colored SMEG refrigerator and massive 1950s cast-iron drainboard sink, the real showstopper in this kitchen is underfoot—the vintage rug. With its deep jewel tones, this jolt of color and pattern really packs a punch in an all-white kitchen.
40.Conceal the Dishwasher
In this California kitchen by designer Lynn Kloythanomsup of Landed Interiors and Homes, the cabinets were inspired by the home’s classical early-1900s architecture. A matching panel in the same creamy white finish conceals the dishwasher. Rustic wood, brick walls, and a hand-painted harlequin pattern on the white oak floors completes the timeworn look.
41.Paint With Period-Authentic Colors
Look to historically accurate paint colors when renovating any space. For this 1900s farmhouse galley kitchen, the homeowner went with a timeless cornflower blue paint for the ceiling and trim, while a green reproduction wallpaper covers the walls. An antique mint-colored enamel gas range continues the color story.
42.Forgo Upper Cabinets
To add airiness to the 11-by-13-foot kitchen in her tiny fixer-upper, homeowner Jen Curtis chose to omit upper cabinets and install a skylight for maximum natural light. An antique French farm table acts as both a work island and an eat-in setup, while framed artwork and other living room-worthy accessories situated throughout the space make it feel more like a well-appointed room rather than a kitchen.
43.Keep it White and Bright
Is any farmhouse kitchen complete without live ducks? This clean, white kitchen has us wondering! An all-over white approach provides a neutral backdrop for any future accessory choices. Open shelving keeps the space casual with a “help yourself” mood, while a chevron pattern on the limed wood floor lends a subtle high-style vibe.
44.Use What You Have
Working with the existing backsplash tile, countertops, and cabinets, this kitchen from designer Cameron Ruppert got a new lease on life with a fresh coat of green paint on the cabinetry, enlivening the whole space with a budget-friendly approach. A deep green range blends with the green cabinet color. The custom island with slab-style drawers and bail pull hardware creates a place to prep and gather, while new lighting overhead looks as if it’s been there forever.
45.Add Character With One-of-a-Kind Finds
An old printing-press work table stands out as a one-of-a-kind kitchen island in this New York farmhouse kitchen. Vertical paneling, open shelves, and lower cabinets are all painted a crisp white for a seamless look.
46.Paint It Country Blue
This kitchen is proof that country blue plays well with just about any material, from the brass hardware and lighting to the existing wood beams and antique silver trays hung neatly above a Windsor stool. Homeowners Rachel Hardage Barrett (Country Living’s Editor-in-Chief!) and contributor Holly Audrey Williams chose to coat the kitchen top to bottom in this charming blue hue.
47.Bring In Rustic Elements
Rescued elements, like the old metal awning used as a stove hood (so clever!), give a true pieced-together-over-time feel to Trace Barnett’s Alabama farmhouse kitchen.
48.Salvage Wood for Rustic Accents
The range hood wrapped in salvaged pine balances out this kitchen’s clean white features. Antique porch posts supporting the island, a chalkboard, and farm-fresh flowers in a pitcher add extra country charm to this classic farmhouse kitchen.
49.Pick a Statement Stove
The beautiful AGA stove in British Racing Green is the star of this kitchen. But the antique stoneware crocks, wooden rolling pins, and silverware-turned-drawer pull hardware certainly give it a run for its money.
50.Make Old New Again
Tennessee natives Seth and Chad Gilbert definitely know how to decorate a farmhouse kitchen without spending a fortune. They used reclaimed wood from their front porch to build the base of the island, found the cabinets from a discarded display kitchen at a local shop, and bought the retro fridge for just $200 on eBay!
51.Mix and Match Seating
Wood and metal counter stools in a variety of styles add visual interest in an all-white farmhouse kitchen.
52.Hang a Pegboard for Smart Storage
In this small kitchen with limited storage space, an inexpensive pegboard painted sunny yellow (Yellow Highlighter by Benjamin Moore) adds a punch of color and keeps assorted tools at the ready. Butcher block countertops (practical and pretty) warm up the white room without feeling too heavy.
53.Preserve Historical Details
When restoring this 1820s Virginia farmhouse, the homeowners kept much of its country style intact, from the exposed brick to the freestanding apron-front sink. They built the kitchen table, which serves as eating and prep space, by hand.
54.Wrap It In Pecky Cypress
Fans of reclaimed wood, here’s a kitchen trend you’ll want to copy: all over pecky cypress. As seen here on the island and hood, pecky cypress is known for its grainy texture, long pocketing and striations, and natural warmth. A pair of large orb lights casts a glow over the hardworking island.
55.Decorate With Plaid
Whether used as window coverings or breakfast nook pillow cushions, a little pattern goes a long way in this modern farmhouse kitchen. The counter stools are slipcovered with repurposed old shirts from Goodwill and can easily be swapped out each season. The buffalo check and plaid patterns shown here are decidedly country, as would be florals or stripes.
56.Choose Marble Countertops
This impressive 10-foot island is no doubt the heart of the kitchen. Marble countertops provide a pretty, cool palette as well as the ideal place to bake. Plus they blend perfectly with classic white subway tiles on the backsplash and cast-brass bin pulls, all contributing to the “farm-chic” aesthetic.
57.Mix Metals
In this gray and white farmhouse kitchen in Sharon Springs, New York, a mix of finishes gives the traditional space a modern edge. A copper hood and cookware, bronze hardware, and nickel fixtures round out the homeowners’ rule of three. “We wouldn’t have just two metals in the kitchen, but three makes it work,” says Dr. Brent Ridge, who owns the property with Josh Kilmer-Purcell.
58.Squeeze in Maximum Storage
In a small farmhouse kitchen with limited storage space, vertical storage is a smart way to go. Baskets for market trips and garden-gathering hang from the ceiling. Cooking pots perch near the stove for easy access.
59.Add Wooden Accents
This all-white kitchen stays cozy with painted wood shiplap paneling that “keeps things from feeling sterile,” the homeowner says. Honey-hued wooden accents like the barstools, dough bowls, and cutting boards add texture and warmth, while dark stained hardwood floors ground the space.
60.Clad it in Reclaimed Wood
In this Texas farmhouse, a much-needed renovation replaced wallpaper and dark cabinets with an open, welcoming space that utilizes a mix of materials, from aged zinc on the countertops and hood to reclaimed wood on the walls. Modern appliances are hidden away inside the island that was crafted from reclaimed wood as well.
