You don’t have to live in the country to have the rustic 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—can be achieved anywhere. In fact, most tried-and-true, simple rustic farmhouse kitchen ideas start with the country design icons of farmhouse style you already know and love.
To bring that nostalgic, rustic charm to the heart of your home, look to vintage-inspired appliances, personality-driven palettes (from calming neutrals to bold color), and well-worn wood accents (we are obsessed with a vent hood wrapped in reclaimed wood!). These country farmhouse kitchen ideas paired with hardy materials like farmhouse sinks, passed-down collected treasures, and your family gathered around the island will no doubt lead to the homey, timeless, been-around-forever style you see here.
It’s no secret the kitchen can be one of the most expensive rooms to build and renovate. If you’re looking for farmhouse kitchen ideas on a budget, consider open shelving that gives casual “serve yourself” vibes while saving on cabinetry costs. This is also one of our favorite small rustic farmhouse kitchen ideas, as upper cabinets can make a space feel smaller and closed in. Whatever your budget or space, we hope you find endless rustic farmhouse kitchen decorating ideas and inspiration, from our dreamiest house tours of all time.
Install Open Shelving
With three levels of open shelving, photographer Helen Norman achieved a beautifully layered look that is ideal for her ever-growing ceramic 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. This mix of upper cabinets, lower cabinets, island storage, and open shelving means there’s a place for everything.
Make a Small Space Live Large
To break up the kitchen’s white cabinetry, homeowner Bambi Costanzo (@number131) 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.
Contrast the Woods
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.
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 (so charming!), and petite flush-mount ceiling lights.
Build a Bigger Island
Guests love to gather around the walnut-topped island thanks to its room-for-a-crowd size and fun handmade counter stools. The natural stone wall is complemented by the moody Belgian bluestone backsplash behind the range and the room’s various woods—including reclaimed barn boards on the ceiling, vintage French white oak on the floor, and band-sawn knotty white oak on the flush-inset cabinets.
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 alternative to a tile accent.
Lay Tile With Patina
The new Moroccan floor tile features an aged finish that brings in soft color and pattern and lays the groundwork for building this kitchen’s entire design. While not an antique, the new farmhouse table feels that way after designer Erica Harrison had it sanded. The walnut bentwood chairs bring a European bistro look. A piece of vintage art above the new range by Ilve adds color and character to the mostly white kitchen. The retro-inspired refrigerator by iio feels right at home in its circa-1910 surroundings.
Make Room for an Eat-In Moment
To make space for an 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.
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.
Build With Rough-Hewn Materials
This Montana cabin was no place for a sleek new kitchen. Instead, designer Jeremiah Young of Billings-based Kibler & Kirch, opted for custom cabinet panels in rough-hewn wood paired with two-inch-thick solid oak countertops. “They’re going to take a licking and get better and better with time,” he says. The off-white vintage-inspired range and hood complement the handcrafted porcelain tile backsplash. Classic finishing touches include an apron-front sink and milk glass pendants.
Use a Pine Table as an Island
In this time capsule of a cottage on Cape Cod, homeowner Stephanie Watts packed tons of charm into every square inch. In place of an 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.
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 illuminate the space. 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.
Let the Sun Shine In
In the daytime, counter-to-ceiling windows let in warm sunlight. At night, the rustic, wood-clad cook space is all aglow with a creative mix of lighting.
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.
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.
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. Crisp white walls, grassy green painted floors, and classic gingham fabric brighten up the space.
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.
Make Room for a 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.
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.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: White Heron by Benjamin Moore
Hang a Bold Wallpaper
Singer-songwriter/designer/farmhouse renovator extraordinaire Holly Williams loves an eye-catching wallpaper. In this Kentucky farmhouse she restored, a chalky blue cabinet paint is paired with a pretty floral print. Affordable marble shelves with brass brackets from Rejuvenation are filled with a mix of pewter and ironstone.
Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Blue Daisy by Benjamin Moore
Cabinetry Hardware: Tolson by Rejuvenation
RELATED: Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Kitchen With Wallpaper
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.
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.
RELATED: See more of this beautifully renovated 1730s stone house.
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.
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 and storage baskets under the sink, add to the rustic style.
RELATED: Step inside the 18th-century farmhouse of your dreams.
Mix Countertop Materials
In this open space that was conceived 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.
RELATED: See another charming project by designer James Farmer.
Kick Up the Color
A departure from typical modern farmhouse style, the deep colors in the stove, cabinets, and even the copper hood let this small space live large. Discovered at a barn sale, the 27-drawer blue workbench sets the tone for the rustic, pieced-together feel of this galley cook space.
Get the Look:
Backsplash Tile: “Nostalgia” by Lauren Liess
Green Range: Hallman Gas Range
RELATED: This Virginia mountain cottage is straight out of a storybook.
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.
Get the Look:
Back Wall Lower Cabinets: Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball
Front Lower Cabinets: Worsted by Farrow & Ball
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.
RELATED: Browse our favorite all-white kitchens.
Embrace Brick
In this Nashville kitchen, the homeowners unearthed the original brick wall during the renovation. Antique lighting, including 1920s pendant lights sourced from four states, brings a pretty glow at night.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint: Reseda Green by Sherwin-Williams
RELATED: Here are more green kitchens you’ll love.
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.
RELATED: You’ll learn so much from our collector’s guide to jadeite.
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.
Get the Look:
Wallpaper: for similar, “Bebe Gingham” by Seabrook
Cabinetry Paint Color: Enchanted Forest by Benjamin Moore
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.
RELATED: Check out these creative and brilliant painted floor ideas.
Surprise With Sleek Lighting
Super sleek, contemporary fixtures are a surprising touch in this most-rustic-of-all kitchens. The pendants and the swing arm lamps lend an unexpected contrast to the reclaimed wood and homey antique stove.
RELATED: These kitchen lighting ideas will brighten up any space.
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 pack a punch in an all-white kitchen.
RELATED: Browse our favorite all-white kitchens.
Conceal the Dishwasher
In this California kitchen by designer Lynn Kloythanomsup of Landed Interiors and Homes, cupboards 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.
Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Light Breeze by Benjamin Moore
Floor Paint Color: Timid White by Benjamin Moore
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.
Get the Look:
Trim Paint Color: Jamestown Blue by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: This tiny Texas bungalow was destined for the wrecking ball.
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.
Get the Look:
Wall and Cabinetry Paint Color: Simply White by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: Peek inside this tiny California cottage for loads of dreamy farmhouse style.
Pick a Neutral Palette
The basis of the warm, natural color palette in this country kitchen starts with reclaimed wood that graces the floor, ceiling, and center island. Neutral-colored antique finds such as stoneware, breadboards, and baskets find a home on shelves, while a pot rack behind the sink offers easy access to cast-iron skillets and other kitchen accessories. A pair of 1950s industrial pendants that were rescued from an old factory are featured above the custom island crafted from antique white oak.
RELATED: Tour this rustic mountain cabin in North Carolina.
Embrace Color and Collections
Colorful and collected, this farmhouse kitchen with minty green cabinets boasts several farmhouse style icons: a salvaged sink from a flea market, a collection of ironstone, a primitive dining table, and 19th-century chairs surrounding the eat-in kitchen’s primitive dining table.
RELATED: These are our favorite green kitchens of all time.
Pretty Up the Pantry
This five-foot-wide walk-in pantry is clad in eight-inch-wide V-groove paneling that’s painted a crisp white. Collected 1950s artwork adds a stylish touch to the utilitarian space. Abundant vertical shelving makes space for prized Fiestaware dishes, cookbooks, dry goods, and a microwave (so smart!).
RELATED: These pantry organization ideas will keep yours in ship shape.
Choose Rustic Materials
Mixed materials—soapstone countertops, subway tile, reclaimed beams, Douglas fir cabinets, and rush barstools—reinforce a collected aesthetic in this kitchen. The impressive range hood features local stone.
Get the look:
Countertops: For similar, Black Soapstone Countertops from Home Depot
RELATED: Peek inside this rustic Wisconsin lake cabin.
Go Big With Oversized Elements
From the family-friendly island (at more than 7 by 5 feet!) to the large woven pendant lights overhead, this Minnesota lake house kitchen proves that bigger is better.
RELATED: These kitchen lighting ideas will brighten up your cook space.
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.
RELATED: Browse our favorite all-white kitchens.
Use What You Have
Working with the existing backsplash tile, countertops, and cabinets, this kitchen got a new lease on life with a fresh coat of green paint on the cabinetry, enlivening the whole space. 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.
Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Peale Green by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: These are our favorite green kitchens of all time.
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 farmhouse kitchen. Vertical paneling, open shelves, and lower cabinets are all painted a crisp white for a seamless look.
RELATED: Dreamy Open Shelving Ideas for Your Kitchen
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.
Get the Look:
Cabinetry, Wall, and Ceiling Paint Color: Dutch Tile Blue by Sherwin-Williams
RELATED: You won’t believe the before and after of this Mississippi hunting lodge.
Go Retro
In this sunny kitchen of designer Alexis Garrett, the checkered floor, laid with black grout, offers a charming contrast to crisp board-and-batten walls. Open shelving and a white retro-inspired refrigerator further captures this home’s old spirit.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore
Tile: For similar, 8″-by-8″ Villa Lagoon from Home Depot
Bring In Rustic Elements
Rustic rescued elements, like the old metal awning used as a stove hood, give a true pieced-together-over-time feel to Trace Barnett’s Alabama farmhouse kitchen.
Use Reclaimed Materials
From statement lighting above the bar area to tin ceiling details to reclaimed wood on the walls, this farmhouse kitchen is truly one-of-a-kind.
RELATED: This entire Texas house is made almost exclusively of reclaimed materials.
Salvage Wood for Rustic Accents
The range hood wrapped in salvaged pine balances out this kitchen’s clean white features, which adds extra country charm. Antique porch posts supporting the island, a chalkboard, and farm-fresh flowers in a pitcher add extra country charm to this classic farmhouse kitchen.
RELATED: This Georgia farmhouse is one of the prettiest we’ve ever seen.
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.
RELATED: This serene Maryland bungalow is filled with antiques.
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!
RELATED: See how two Tennessee brothers reimagined a fixer upper for their families.
Mix and Match Seating
Counter stools in a variety of styles add visual interest in an all-white farmhouse kitchen.
RELATED: Our Best Kitchen Island Ideas for Rooms Large and Small
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.
Get Creative With Storage
In small farmhouse kitchens, unconventional storage is a must. The owner of this California home, who bakes with her daughters every week, stores jams, baking supplies, and collected cups in an old yellow cabinet that sits stop a wooden worktable.
RELATED: This California cottage is packed with vintage decorating ideas.
Preserve Historical Details
When restoring this 1820s Virginia farmhouse, the homeowners kept much of its country style intact, from the exposed brick to the apron-front sink. They built the kitchen table, which serves as eating and prep space, by hand.
RELATED: See what happens when a small-town 1820s Virginia farmhouse gets restored.
Create Form and Function
The homeowners of this coastal home in Maine opted for a small galley-style farmhouse kitchen that suited their needs. During the renovation, they kept the room’s cozy footprint intact while trading dark wood and mismatched appliances for white shiplap walls and clean finishes that are above all functional.
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.
Decorate With Buffalo Checks
Whether used as window coverings or breakfast nook pillow cushions, a little pattern goes a long way in a kitchen. In this Tennessee 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.
RELATED: Peek inside a rustic, reclaimed, and repurposed cabin in Tennessee.
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.
RELATED: Learn more about kitchen countertop materials and designs.
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. Copper hood and cookware, bronze hardware, 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.
Get the Look:
Trim Paint Color: Smoke & Mirrors by Benjamin Moore
Cabinetry Paint Color: Street Chic by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: Tour the rest of the Beekman Boys’ beautifully renovated farmhouse.
Squeeze in Maximum Storage
In a small farmhouse kitchen with limited storage space, baskets for market trips and garden-gathering hang from the ceiling. Cooking pots perch near the stove for easy access.
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 grounds the space.
RELATED: This rustic Tennessee home does all white totally right.
Bring in Bold Tile
A mossy-green patterned backsplash tile gives the space old-world vibes without feeling heavy. A vintage-inspired stove in a lemon shade brightens up this sun-drenched space even more.
Wrap it in 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 and ceiling. Modern appliances are hidden away inside the island that was crafted from reclaimed wood as well.