Farmhouse Kitchen Decorating Ideas

Farmhouse Kitchen

For most families, the kitchen is the center of the bustling, busy home. It is often where they spend the most time together, so having a well-equipped and attractively decorated kitchen can add that extra touch. Decorating in a farmhouse style can especially add a warm, cozy feeling. With a few tips, you can be well on your way to the farmhouse kitchen of your dreams.

Walls and Cabinetry

The first thing you may consider is adding a splash of color to your kitchen walls. Try to think outside the box when it comes to paint colors. You may want to stay within your comfort zone with neutral colors, like white or tan, but maybe it's time to start thinking about warmer, more inviting colors, like a warm mocha or a blue-green, or you might even like a darker shade of red. You want a color that is pleasing to the eye and promotes the warmth of a farmhouse kitchen.

When it comes to your cabinets, a pine finish is probably one of the most popular for decorating in a farmhouse style. White cabinets can also add a hint of country but also provide a fresh, crisp feel to the kitchen; contrasting the white cabinets with a wood finish countertop is even more appealing. There are also techniques to make your cabinets look older with more of an antique feel. Gomestic even suggests painting your walls with a sponge to make it look older and more antiqued (see References below). With some simple painting and sanding techniques, you can have a very shabby chic look to your kitchen.

To spruce your walls up a bit, there are lots of different selections of wallpaper or border available. You might even make a backsplash out of tile; you can get creative with different shades of tile and have a terrific masterpiece when done.

Furniture and Appliances

Furniture and appliances for your kitchen abound in so many different styles today. Stainless steel is an option that looks great and will match just about any decor you decide to use. If you don't want to have such a modern look though, you can opt to buy from companies who sell older, retro-looking appliances, like stoves and refrigerators. If you actually want an older appliance, even just for decor, auctions are an excellent place to look as are antique and resale shops.

For furniture, try shopping at places other than the main stores. Get out into the smaller shops and stores that sell used items or antiques; hit the garage sales on the weekends. You'll want to look for a big table; this is one piece of furniture that is necessary in a farmhouse kitchen. An old sideboard or china hutch can be transformed with a little bit of work. You might even use an old table as a kitchen island. An old refrigerator or stove, if not in working order, could be cleaned up and used as a storage area for canned foods, towels or whatever you may need.

If possible, a fireplace or wood-burning stove gives even more of the farmhouse feel to your kitchen, not to mention the warmth they would give off in the winter months.

Floor, Windows and Accessories

Your floor can offset the whole look of the kitchen, and in order to get a farmhouse feel, you may choose to have a wood floor. A darker wood floor, such as a cherry finish, will usually look more rustic. You may choose to have a tile floor though, and in that case, a bigger tile floor could look very distinguished, especially if the colors were well chosen. A black and white tile floor always stands out, as would a brown and white tile floor. Of course, for even more of a rustic feel, you might like a stone tile floor, and again there are many colors to choose from, based on the colors you chose for the walls. You want your floor to complement your walls and cabinets. Once you have your flooring down, try adding a rug or two. Braided rugs are especially country looking.

Your windows could be kept completely free of treatments, depending on your tastes; or you might choose to put up a valance or shade of some sort. Fabric shades and tie-up curtains can be a wonderful addition to any window. You don't have to stick with the ready-made curtains in the stores; if you can't find any that appeal to you, you can always buy the fabric and pattern of your choice and make them yourself.

As for accessories, all you have to do is take a look around. Look in antique and resale shops, and you might even look online. Old tins, bottles and jars can be placed around your kitchen, even on top of your cabinets. You can use old grapevines that you find and weave decorative berry vines in with them to make a decoration for over the top of your cabinets or even the tops of your windows. Wooden shelves can be hung on your walls to hold collectibles or old kitchen utensils used for decorating. Use tea towels or find old burlap feedsacks to use for decor; you can lay them on surfaces as a type of runner, or you can even hang one on the wall. Old utensils, like rolling pins, beaters, platters or pitchers, can be added. You may find old pictures of family and get them blown up to the right size and printed; then frame them in antique-looking frames, and hang them on your walls. You might even find pictures in old magazines that you can frame and decorate with. Hang an apron on a nail for a soft effect. Candles add a warm effect to any room. Try placing a checkered or old-looking tablecloth on your table. Baskets can be used to hold cookbooks or food items. Old cookbooks can be placed on your china hutch or sideboard. You can make your own wooden signs and plaques using vinyl letters to make the sayings of your choice; of course, you can also find these at craft fairs. Old crockery is another way to add the farmhouse touch to any kitchen. Lastly, add a plant or two for a country feel; geraniums especially look great in a farmhouse kitchen.

Ideas for a farmhouse kitchen are endless indeed; with these tips and your imagination at work, you can soon have the farmhouse kitchen you've been dreaming of.

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