I think deep down every one of us dreams of owning those gorgeous, farmhouse styled kitchens, with the lovely apron sink, and the subway tile back splash. Alas, owning a home just isn’t in the cards for our near future, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have an equally gorgeous rental kitchen! (…or at least close to equal).
For a long time I worried that I wouldn’t be able to achieve a cozy, light, and timeless look, but it’s actually incredibly easy! See below for some ideas of easy additions and decor items that can make a space feel magically country-esque!
So first and foremost, the easiest addition in my opinion, is establishing a palette. Farmhouse decor can of course use pops of colour, or blues, greens, and etc. However, a foolproof way to modify a space to look stylish and make it look larger, is by using white and beige as a baseline. Nearly all the farmhouse decor in my house plays off of that base, especially because my kitchen is dark, it needs all the help it can get.
Wooden Frames
Another element of farmhouse decor is utilizing textures. Linen, natural wood, stone, cotton, etc. Natural and not heavily processed materials. That’s why wood frame decor works especially well! My finds were actually a bargain buy from Walmart, but I absolutely love how it turned out.
Ceramic Accents
The next accent, is both functional and serves the aesthetic. That is ceramic jars, bowls, utensil holders (here’s mine), honey jars, etc. Now, I realise my kitchen may look a little cluttered for most, but I wanted to show an authentic snapshot of everything in it, including the items we use frequently. I absolutely LOVE this Amazon find for example!
Plants
A pop of green, especially boxwood, eucalyptus, or magnolia can look especially classy!
Cutting Boards
As I mentioned above, the other texture that really emphasizes the farmhouse charm, is wood. Lucky for us, chopping boards are not only useful, but fun to display! A layered effect is so easy to achieve, simply by stacking a few random sized boards. I highly recommend choosing slightly different wood tones/textures too, adds an even nicer oomf!
Tiered Trays
One of my favourite additions, is something we use every day, and yet feels like such a statement piece – my tiered acacia wood tray. Of course, many other options can work. I would avoid using glass as not only does it get dirty quickly, but it also modernizes the look too much. You want to go for a wood or metal tin styled tray. Doesn’t have to be tiered, but it adds some verticality to the space.
Rugs
For any kitchen, a rug is a great way to brighten the space, keep your feet from getting cold, and a way to introduce unique textures into the space. In my case I opted for a herringbone styled rug, and it currently migrates from kitchen to backyard door, until I make my mind up more permanently (one day!) This is a super fun one that you can really have fun picking out, and there really isn’t a wrong option, just keep in mind that if you have a heavy texture on your countertops or back splash, then perhaps a less heavy-patterned rug would work best. Or vice versa, if everything else looks rather plain, add some intense textures into the room!
Farmhouse Furniture
Linens, cotton, wool, canvas – they’re all gorgeous and warm additions to a space! Best of all, they’re comfortable. That’s why I decided that canvas bar stools were the right choice for our space, however, there are many chair options that are great for a farmhouse look that are just as chic! I personally love the ones with the two tone wood the most!
And there you have it! Some easy additions, to make your rental kitchen feel upgraded and chic! If you have any other ideas or would like to see more similar posts, leave a comment below!
