The country kitchen look is as popular today as it has ever been. Whether you live in the country, the suburbs or the middle of town, it is possible to achieve the welcoming and warm surroundings offered by a well designed country kitchen.

Creating the perfect country kitchen is not just about the homely décor, Aga oven and welly boots by the door. It is important to think about what will work practically with your needs (and the needs of your family).

Below, you will find a number of suggestions relating to the various design and functional features you might want to consider when planning your perfect country kitchen.

Colours

The trademark of a country kitchen is that it appears fresh, clean, warm and welcoming. Painting the walls or kitchen units cream will produce a homely, cottage feel.

Alternatively, soft, muted shades of brown, yellow, green and pink are also good choices to bring colour to your kitchen without appearing harsh, brash or overpowering.

Country kitchen furniture

The addition of furniture to a kitchen is an important one if you are to achieve your desired country kitchen.

• Lighter woods and wicker furniture provide a sense of authenticity and will fit in well with the soft, muted colour scheme.
• Consider open fronted units for a relaxed country style kitchen, allowing you to put your crockery and glassware on show.
• Gingham and floral patterns are a good choice for curtains and upholstery.
• If your kitchen is large enough for an island unit, make sure to consider exactly what you would like at the design stage to avoid costly additions later (such as running water or electricity).
• When choosing a kitchen table, go for something round or oval as these are traditional in country kitchens.

Flooring

For an authentic country kitchen look, your floor should be wood, tile or flagstone. Natural and light colours are the best choices to create a relaxing atmosphere and genuine country living feel.

Accessories

Your choice of accessories is a chance to really personalise your kitchen and add to the style of a country kitchen. A few ideas of suitable accessories to include are:

• Family photos in wooden frames
• Plants
• Candles
• Lace curtains
• Fresh fruit
• Flowers
• Jars of jam, marmalade and other conserves
• Bottles of olive oil
• Clear jars filled with colourful dried pasta, nuts or seeds
• Mugs

Country kitchen appliances

If you are set on a truly authentic country kitchen, then you may decide an Aga oven is for you. The iconic cast iron appearance brings a certain charm and automatically conveys the country kitchen style.

However, it is important to do your research before investing in an Aga. They can be very expensive to run and take a bit of practice to learn to cook on.

If you would like to bring a modern twist to your country kitchen, consider introducing stainless steel appliances.