Kitchens remain the most popular room to renovate in American homes, and turning your kitchen into a farmhouse kitchen can give your home that rustic charm you’ve been looking for.
But how do you design the perfect farmhouse kitchen? It can be a challenge if you’re not familiar with all the elements you need to consider.
Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think. Keep reading to learn about 10 fantastic features every farmhouse kitchen needs!
1. Swinging Doors
Swinging doors can define your space and take your farmhouse kitchen to a whole new level. For an out-of-the-box and fun look, you can opt for swinging restaurant doors or saloon doors.
Wooden barn doors will blend in nicely with your floors and other wooden kitchen accents. You can even install them to separate your living space, or as a rolling door to hide your pantry area.
You can also get smaller barn doors to accent your refrigerator, cabinets, or panels on your kitchen island.
2. Farmhouse Sink
Every farmhouse kitchen needs a farmhouse sink! These sinks add a timeless and classic touch to your farmhouse kitchen design.
As opposed to traditional sinks, farmhouse sinks are large in size and typically have one singular basin or bowl. Farmhouse sinks are also deeper and rectangular in shape. They’re typically made of cast iron, natural stone, bronze, or stainless steel.
Farmhouse sinks can also be used for more than just washing dishes. The large design allows you to clean laundry or wash large pots and pans.
3. Open Shelving
Open or exposed shelving is another way to give your kitchen a farmhouse feel. In the past, most kitchens had exposed shelves before enclosed cabinets came into the picture.
You can choose from simple options like a floating shelf or a hutch, or even go with a kitchen island with open cabinets. These shelves are also a perfect place to put your favorite glassware or best china set.
4. Wood Flooring
Wood flooring is both an essential and traditional element to making your farmhouse kitchen renovation really shine.
It’s important to remember that wood flooring for a farmhouse kitchen doesn’t have to be expensive or perfect. In fact, having imperfections like dents, scratches, or uneven surfaces give it that rustic kitchen appeal.
If you’re on a budget, you can look get the look of wood flooring from vinyl floors, laminate, or engineered hardwood. You could also use faux wood grain mats that lock together and protect your floor from damage.
5. Exposed Beams
Exposed beams were common in older homes as they didn’t have the drywall options we have today. They were large wooden beams that supported the weight of the roof or upper floors.
Installing beams in your kitchen can really bring that older farm look back to life, but they can be an expensive undertaking. If you’re looking to install decorative beams, they can be heavy and you’ll need an engineer and a building permit to get them installed properly.
A good way around this is to use faux ceiling beams. These beams are typically made of fiberglass and are very lightweight. They come in various styles and sizes, and you can paint or stain them to match your decor.
Faux beams usually come with mounting blocks and you can attach them to the ceiling with glue or screws.
6. Traditional Countertops
For a farmhouse look, you’ll want to go with countertops that have a subtle and smooth pattern. Soapstone countertops are a common choice.
Soapstone is a natural material that comes from steatite stone. It is more plain-looking but has a beautiful rustic appearance that can enhance the look of your kitchen
You can also consider butcher-block countertops. These countertops are made up of wooden boards that are bonded together. Butcher-block countertops can also be made from maple, oak, cherry, or walnut. They give your kitchen a natural feeling and are very functional.
7. White or Cream Cabinets
Did you know the white kitchen cabinet trend started almost a century ago? They were prominent in old farmhouses and even looked at as a symbol of social status.
So, it’s no surprise that the most popular colors for farmhouse kitchen cabinets today are a white or cream color. You can also add black hardware and go for a glazed or distressed finish.
8. Pot Racks
A simple way to incorporate a farmhouse style into your kitchen is pot racks. You can go with a black iron pot rack to match your cabinet hardware, or you can choose a wooden pot rack.
You can hang them over your kitchen island, or install hooks and hang them underneath the island. If you want to get creative, hang them on the side of your cabinets or choose a larger rack to hang on your wall.
9. Beadboard Paneling
Beadboard paneling was a popular addition commonly found in kitchens in the early 1900s, and today it’s still a fantastic way to spice up your farm kitchen renovation.
Beadboard paneling is a type of wood paneling with vertical grooves. It’s typically made of wood fiber and resin, but you can find it made from other types of wood like pine or oak.
It’s perfect as a backsplash in your kitchen, but you can also use it on cabinets and as ceiling panels.
10. Traditional Farmhouse Accessories
Don’t forget to add some additional flair to your kitchen by including traditional farmhouse accessories. Food scales, mason jars, glass canisters, and wood racks are easy and inexpensive ideas you can try.
You can even hang up a chalkboard to use for your shopping lists or to display your dinner menus for each week. Use a vintage frame to tie it in and complete the look.
Create Your Farmhouse Kitchen Today
Now you have ideas of what features to include in your farmhouse kitchen renovation, you can get started today on creating the kitchen of your dreams.
Continue your research for more inspiration, and don’t be afraid to think outside the box to personalize your farmhouse kitchen theme.
Are you ready for more home renovation tips? Check out our blog for more home design ideas that will keep you inspired!