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Rustic kitchens are known for being charming spaces with lots of character. What this really means, is that rustic kitchens are unique. Learn how to make your kitchen more unique using rustic kitchen cabinets!

Rustic Kitchen Ideas – Crafting a Space of Your Own

Rustic style has had a major resurgence among young homeowners throughout the 21st century, and for good reason. Sometimes a bit of charm is what you need to make a house feel like home, and a rustic style kitchen is a perfect way to introduce some interest into a space.

In this post, you will learn:
  • How to make kitchen cabinets look rustic
  • What does rustic mean?
  • What features should a rustic kitchen have?
  • What decorations should a rustic kitchen have?
Rustic kitchen island showcasing simple construction. 1.

What exactly does “rustic” mean?

Dictionary.com defines rustic as “made in a plain and simple fashion” or “relating to the countryside, rural”. Both definitions should give you a great idea of what a rustic kitchen looks like, but the great part about it, is it can take any form you choose. Rustic could mean that you use rough, textured wood to build your table or it could mean that you used a distressed paint finish on your kitchen cabinets. At the end of the day, a rustic kitchen should feel comfortably imperfect.

Rustic kitchen island with a built in wine rack. 2.

Rustic Kitchen Cabinets

Your kitchen cabinets are going to be one of the most prominent features of your kitchen, so choosing the right cabinets to fit the space is an important step to getting the right look. Cabinets with exposed grain are a great way to give a kitchen a rustic feel. Remember, the definition of rural references to the countryside, so think hickory or maple or walnut. If you’re crafty, you can even build your kitchen cabinets which are certain to give your kitchen that simplistic, handmade, charm that all rustic kitchens possess.

farmhouse-sink-for-rustic-kitchen 3.

Rustic Kitchen Sink

A rustic (not RUSTY) looking sink is a great way to contribute to the overall look and feel of your kitchen. Materials like stainless steel, ceramic, fireclay, and copper are the perfect match for a kitchen with lots of character. Farmhouse sinks or other sinks with a large footprint are a great way to bring the rural vibe into your kitchen. In past times, farmhouse sinks were used to wash clothes as well as dishes, so they often transmit a very traditional, rustic feeling to your kitchen.

brick-wall-behind-stove 4.

Wood, Brick, and Stone Accents

The inclusion of bricks and stone are a great way to bring the old world back into your home. Bricks can be used for a backsplash, flooring, fireplace, or even a pizza oven! Rustic style benefits from simplicity and texture. A good rustic space will have a wide variety of textures to look at, few things should be completely flat in color or texture.

Marble countertops are another great way to add some variation to the room and give the eyes something to gravitate towards. Most rustic kitchens feature a lot of wood grain. It brings warmth and comfort to a space without overwhelming the senses. Wood floors, countertops, or even beams area a great way to make your kitchen feel more rustic. The rougher they are, the more rustic it looks. Recycled barn wood or rough-sawn lumber are great options because they often have lots of saw marks that increase curiosity. “Where did these beams come from?” a guest may ask you. Questions like these add meaning to a space and often make them feel more like home.

example-of-rustic-decor 5.

Rustic Décor

The fun part about rustic kitchens is choosing décor because a lot of it can be thrifted or even taken straight from a dump if you feel like doing a bit of work yourself! Decorating for a rustic kitchen is very much up to choice, as some rustic kitchens will either learn more towards modern or antique. An antique rustic kitchen would benefit from more of the textured pieces like old cast iron knick-knacks while a more modern rustic kitchen would look nice with more minimalistic décor like a nice cutting board or a vase of flowers.

Article by:
Dustin Blaylock

Product Marketing Specialist at Wholesale Cabinets
Dustin is passionate about all things wooden, and actually crafts tables and cabinets by hand when he isn't writing articles or developing new business.