The essence of a country kitchen is that it should exude warmth and nostalgia. You need to use flooring, lighting, and cabinets that give you the feel of being in a rustic farmhouse. A country kitchen is very unlike a modern kitchen which has gleaming polished steel appliances and sleek surfaces. Design Ideas for Country Kitchen Color The most important aspect in designing a country kitchen is the color scheme of the kitchen. Choose bright, bold and earthy tones like brown, tan, rust, orange, fawn, etc. You can also choose vibrant colors like tomato red, verdant green, cobalt blue, and purple for the walls and ceilings of the kitchen. If you are not very comfortable having bright colors in the kitchen, you can go for more soothing soft ocean colors like sea green and turquoise blue. These bright colors in the kitchen can be very well combined with cabinets and countertops in cream, ivory, and beige. Some colors should be strictly avoided in a country style kitchen and these are gray and black. The kitchen can also be wallpapered in bright stripes or floral motif to give it the right rustic look and ambiance. Flooring Flooring should not only be natural and eco-friendly, but it should also help to give an open and airy feeling. The best flooring for a country kitchen is wood flooring in a soft color. You can also incorporate a laid back country feel by installing natural stone tiles that come in different textures and finishes. Placing a beautiful area rug on the kitchen flooring adds a nice touch to the overall decor. Window Treatment Make charming gingham patterned half curtains for the windows with a scalloped lace edging. You can also choose curtains that have bright floral prints in yellow or blue to give the kitchen a rustic feel. Display planter boxes outside the window sills or decorate your kitchen by placing a pot of fresh flowers like daisies and peonies. You can also place herbs in containers that will not only be useful in the kitchen but also look appealing. Storage Solutions and Furniture As the colors of the walls and ceilings of a country kitchen is bright and vibrant, the kitchen cabinets and accessories should be in a muted color. If you can afford good wooden cabinets than opt for light colored wooden furniture like oak and walnut, reserve the expensive and darker mahogany cabinets for the dining room or the living room. Kitchen tables and shelves should also be in a matching color to the cabinets. Most country styled cabinets are in white color, which makes the kitchen appear spacious. It is a good idea getting white cabinets, but they are a tad difficult to maintain. If you like, you can also place a small wicker chair for the cook to rest while preparing meals. Scour your local flea market for antique furniture as these pieces will look wonderful in the kitchen. Accessories like an old grandfather clock, copper pots and pans, patterned wooden ladles, and terracotta pottery should also be used in decorating a rustic kitchen.