13 characterful cottage kitchen ideas

Cottages can make amazing homes – they’re often full of quirky character and charm! But that doesn’t always make life easy, especially when planning rooms such as kitchens! Don’t worry, these cottage kitchen ideas will help you transform a dark and cramped kitchen into the heart of the home you deserve.

1. Embrace natural wood tones

If you want to infuse your cottage kitchen with traditional character, embracing natural wood tones is a great shout. This quaint kitchen diner boasts oak kitchen cabinets, dining chairs, open shelving and even a wood-trimmed cooker hood! The result is a space that’s full of natural warmth and beauty.

2. Discover white cottage kitchen ideas

Cottages can be dark and cramped. However, painting your cottage kitchen white or cream is a great way to increase natural light and make a small space feel bigger. This homeowner has teamed cream cabinets, white kitchen wall tiles, white chairs and a cream fridge with natural wood accents, to create a calm and inviting space.

3. Be bold with colourful kitchen cottage ideas

If you’re not a fan of white or cream kitchens, don’t worry. There’s plenty of scope to add colour to a cottage kitchen. We particularly love the sage green walls in this space – it’s a paint colour that goes perfectly with the wicker baskets and green foliage.

4. Include a freestanding kitchen island

Cottage kitchens don’t have to be slick and perfectly finished. This open plan kitchen living room boasts a painted freestanding kitchen island alongside shelving instead of wall cabinets, and cabinet curtains instead of kitchen doors. The result is a ‘cobbled together’ look that’s totally charming.

5. Incorporate rustic cottage kitchen ideas

Country cottages lend themselves perfectly to a rustic kitchen. We love how this homeowner has incorporated rustic touches such as tongue-and-groove kitchen doors, shiplap panelling, iron storage rails and plenty of natural wood. Together with a host of indoor plants, they’ve succeeded in creating a warm and inviting space that brings the outside in.

5. Play with light neutral cottage kitchens ideas

Light neutrals like grey and beige are ideal cottage kitchen colours – they won’t overwhelm a small kitchen and they’re completely timeless. This cosy kitchen diner boasts two-tone kitchen cabinets – white on top and greige on the bottom – to give the illusion of space. We also love the white and grey mosaic tile floor and painted wooden chairs, which give the room a traditional feel with a modern twist.

6. Retain original features

If you’re lucky enough to have original features, the best thing you can do for your interior design is retain them. This homeowner has painted their kitchen completely white in order to allow the vaulted ceiling and characterful wooden beams to pop. In this way, the beams have become the main focal point and the homeowner hasn’t needed to do much else at all!

7. Explore cottage kitchen flooring ideas

Traditional kitchen floor ideas often work best in a cottage kitchen. This kitchen boasts gorgeous honey-coloured stone tiles, which complement the greige kitchen cabinets beautifully. However, wood flooring or lookalike alternatives such as LVT or laminate would also work well.

8. Less is more with small cottage kitchen ideas

Avoid over-cluttering a small cottage kitchen to prevent it from feeling cramped. This homeowner has tucked most functional kitchen items away out of sight, leaving just a few choice items displayed on floating shelves. By investing in ample kitchen storage, you can maintain a calm atmosphere that helps to make your small kitchen feel bigger than it really is.

9. Have fun with styling

On the opposite end of the spectrum, cottages can also lend themselves well to the cluttercore design trend. This is especially the case if you choose to decorate with more traditional items that some may regard as fuddy-duddy. This cottage kitchen feels like a welcoming home, thanks to the decorative garlands, trinkets and notes adorning the shelves and fridge freezer.

10. Experiment with small beach cottage kitchen ideas

If you live by the coast, it makes sense for your decor to reflect that. This small beach cottage kitchen features shabby-chic painted wooden furniture, beams and floorboards that remind us of driftwood. Together with the blue-and-white colour scheme, it’s a fitting theme for a coastal cottage.

11. Create a modern cottage kitchen

Want to bring your cottage firmly into the 21st Century? Then why not combine contemporary and traditional elements to create a modern cottage kitchen? This homeowner has teamed slick white kitchen cabinets and stylish kitchen lighting with a traditional iron tap and classic door handles to achieve the perfect balance.

13. Bring back old cottage kitchen ideas

If you’re looking to embrace your cottage’s past, you’ll love this cottage kitchen. It boasts a shiplap panelled ceiling, tongue-and-groove kitchen doors, iron handles, a log burner and even a pendant light crafted from an old wagon wheel! The result is a functional space that’s rich with history.

Key takeaways

• Light colours can help to make a small cottage kitchen feel bigger and brighter
• Retain original features to give your cottage kitchen charm and character that money can’t buy
• Combine contemporary and traditional elements to create a modern cottage kitchen fit for the 21st Century

Ready to turn your cottage kitchen ideas into a reality? Simply find a trusted kitchen fitter to kick off your kitchen revamp on the right foot.