10 Cottage Kitchen Ideas That Will Have You Feeling Cozy

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

There is a kitchen style for every personality. You can find entire design schemes around traditional, contemporary, rustic, industrial, and coastal styles. Right now, we are loving what is known as a cottage vibe for the kitchen, which is a blend of farmhouse style with traditional elements and a touch of shabby chic. In essence, a cottage kitchen is warm, welcoming, homey, even a little nostalgic. It's the kind of style that you'll recognize from times of yore, but is also completely chic today. If you want inspiration, look no further than Ina Garten's kitchen and paint colors for a cottagecore feel. You don't need to commit to a complete kitchen overhaul to create this style; in fact, we found 10 easy ideas that will bring all the cozy feels into your kitchen.

While you can definitely make a huge impact in your cottage kitchen by installing vintage appliances, we left these large pieces off our list. We focused on fairly simple additions and decor elements you can easily add to your space. Our sink addition, along with the cabinet pick and butcher block, are the largest suggestions we included. Overall, a cottage kitchen should make you and everyone you invite in feel comfortable. It should feel like a working kitchen, where you cook, eat, laugh, talk, maybe even dance when the vibe is right. Every visit to this special room should feel like a breath of fresh air, no matter what ideas you decide to incorporate.

If you look up pictures of cottage kitchens, you'll notice most (if not all) have a large basin-farmhouse sink. These are statement pieces in and of themselves and are so useful not just for dishes, but for washing and soaking produce, or as an ice-bucket stand-in at parties. To make this even more cottagecore, install a sink skirt underneath your sink, which is basically a small curtain that looks adorable and can hide stored items you don't want out in the open.

A cottage kitchen can be beautiful without looking like you tried too hard. Adding a lace or linen tablecloth to your kitchen dining table gives a breezy, organic vibe. It should feel like you're displaying an heirloom tablecloth, or one you picked up at the flea market. Don't forget to place a vase of fresh flowers on top to bring the outside in.

Once upon a time, kitchen hutches were a must-have for any cooking space. And while you don't see them much anymore, they are completely appropriate for a cottage kitchen. Whether it's an actual hutch, an antique cabinet, or a shelf system, look for something that lets you show off dishes, glassware, linens, aprons, cookbooks, or special heirloom pieces. They are great for storage and a great place to mix decor pieces or bud vases with the items you use everyday. 

Mason jars are, of course, the go-to vessels for people who enjoy canning food and make things like jams and chutneys. But they also give an unmistakable farmhouse feel to any kitchen space. You can use them as drinking glasses or vases for flowers and herbs, and the jars with a blue hue are absolutely gorgeous, adding a pop of color wherever you place them. You can use them to store dried goods like beans, rice, oats, and seeds, and keep them on an open shelf or counter.

A cottage kitchen is a working kitchen, at least, that's the energy it gives off. And a French wood butcher block is a kitchen workhorse. It's a place where you can chop ingredients, roll out doughs, and display an incredible charcuterie spread. Whether it's vintage or new, these pieces are visually stunning. Solid wood butcher blocks can be quite expensive, so if you're on a budget, a great alternative is a small but sturdy wood table.

Adding live green plants to the kitchen can feel like a breath of fresh air, bringing color, brightness, and a softer feel to the room. You can place small pots of plants in any sunny spot in your kitchen, from window sills to countertops to shelves. Growing herbs in the kitchen is always a great idea if you use them for cooking, plus they smell great.

There are several reasons why hanging your cookware and cooking tools is a good idea. Firt, it frees up cabinet space, which is especially helpful in a small kitchen. It is also practical because it makes it easy to reach out and grab any pots and pans you use often. We love a copper-colored rod and hooks because it adds warmth to the room. You can also hang plants, pitchers, cups, and bundles of dried herbs.

Swapping modern or contemporary drawer pulls and cabinet handles for vintage-inspired ones is one of the easiest ways to bring a cottagecore vibe into your kitchen. Scout flea markets, antique stores and thrift stores for true retro pieces, or find equally gorgeous accessories at home decor stores and online.

A great piece of art can tie a room together, and fortunately, you don't need to spend an arm and a leg to find a nice, cozy piece for your cottagecore kitchen. You can buy art prints from many places, from stores like Target to artists that sell their works on sites like Etsy. Find a piece that speaks to you, that complements your colors, and makes you smile. You can hang it on the wall or rest your framed art on a cabinet or shelf.

Baskets not only look beautiful in a cottage kitchen, but they also serve a practical purpose. Keep fruits or farm-fresh eggs in baskets you keep on the counter; store table linens and aprons in larger baskets. Use them for root vegetables (like parsnips and turnips) and squash; place your cutting boards and baking sheets upright in baskets for easy access; and place bunches of flowers in others.