How to create your very own country kitchen

Start choosing the perfect colour scheme. A country style kitchen favours a muted colour palette, with subtle pops of colours through the incorporation of accessories and appliances.

Think soft ivories and champagnes coordinated with duck egg blues, sage green, or even a splash of aubergine for a rich warmth. The softer base tones create a welcoming atmosphere, and are less harsh and vibrant than whiter, glossier tones.

By incorporating a key focus colour as well, you can easily coordinate your kitchen accessories and soft furnishings to maintain a unified theme. Neutral shades usually work best to create a country kitchen look: however don't be afraid of a splash of colour on a run of units or feature wall to add another dimension to your design!

Don't worry about exposed brickwork or wooden beams – these will help create a homely feel, and if you're not a huge fan of the burnt orange brickwork, try whitewashing it to help tie it into your neutral design. Beams are fantastic for reinforcing the natural look, and can always be spruced up with a touch of varnish for a more prominent appeal.

Wood is the perfect material for your country kitchen worktops – it creates a natural look and is so easily coordinated with your colour scheme and décor style. Although you have to be a bit more careful with hot pans on this surface, it is cheaper than other worktops and easily maintained. It is also non-porous, making it a more hygienic choice – perfect for families! Take a look at our kitchen worktops guides for a detailed inspiration and advice.

To keep your country style kitchen looking and feeling summer fresh throughout the year, experiment with floral patterns to brighten your kitchen, giving it the lure of a beautiful British meadow! Opt for subtle pastel shades and delicate patterns, like this stunning design from Laura Ashley – a great feature wall piece! (It's washable too – a perfect choice for a busy kitchen!)

Another great pick for the country kitchen is checks – think check tablecloths or check Roman blinds for a splash of this rural pattern. Ian Mankin has a fantastic range of check patterns – perfect for creating your very own tablecloth or seat cushions!

This brings us nicely into our last pattern must-have for a country kitchen – birds. They're all over the style scene at the moment, and what better way to tweet into the summer months than with this delightful double oven glove from Cath Kidston.

An ideal way to incorporate these patterns is through country kitchen wall tiles: feature them as a splashback or in the back of open shelving to create a statement.

It’s crucial you choose the perfect country kitchen shelves and cabinets, if you want to fully embrace the trend, then opt for glazed cabinetry. For a sophisticated look; and feature crown moulding detailing if you want to lean towards a French country kitchen style.

If you have the space, consider replacing your top cabinets with open wooden shelving, so you can showcase your retro appliances and quaint crockery.

For the finishing touch to your rustic look, don’t forget to add some skirted cabinets under your sink.

When searching for your very own country kitchen lighting, you have a few options available. Avoid modern kitchen lighting options, and choose something more rustic, such as metallic or iron lace pendant lights.

Hang a single pendant light over your kitchen island or peninsula to draw focus to the area, and combine with spotlights to maximise the light in your room.

Are you inspired to create your very own country style kitchen? Get the look by trying out our online kitchen planner, or book an appointment to visit your nearest Wren showroom, where you can speak to one of our experts.