7 Easy Upgrades for a Cottagecore Kitchen

Gleaming quartz counters, polished chrome, sleek steel, and spare slab-front cabinets.

It’s not for everyone. If you’re dreaming of something more charming and homestyle, cottagecore kitchens are begging for some spotlight.

It is possible, whether you’re looking for a partial remodel or gradually leveling up from a builder-grade kitchen. Let’s learn a bit more about the cottagecore aesthetic and how to begin designing a cozier kitchen.

What is a cottagecore kitchen?

Cottagecore kitchens are simple, charming, and functional. They typically incorporate a variety of natural materials and vintage elements. 

The color palettes of cottagecore style often include plenty of creamy beiges, muted greens, and baby pastels. Floral patterned décor, hanging racks, open shelving, and dishware on display cap off the aesthetic.

Simple ways to create a cottagecore kitchen

Here are seven principles and elements to bring the heart of your home closer to cottagecore.

1. Upgrade to an apron sink

Above all else, cottagecore honors and even romanticizes the work we do in the kitchen. 

Apron sinks are a perfect match for the aesthetic, yes. But they are also an early ergonomic design that prevents leaning or hunching over a counter to do the washing. The depth and protrusion of the basin support everything from washing large pots to cleaning huge batches of home-grown produce.

Pro tip: Want your sink to sit flush with counters and cabinets? More interested in a large double basin? Ask for a farmhouse sink.

2. Add floral or botanical patterns

Flowery wallpaper, sink skirts, and café curtains are all peak cottagecore. If you’re going for an understated look, choose patterns with more spaced-out foliage and flowers. 

If patterns aren’t part of your ideal scheme, dried flower wreaths and arrangements can complete the look. 

3. Pare down hardware

Some of the more ornate hardware typical of traditional design absolutely has a place in a cottagecore kitchen. However, when converting a kitchen that’s currently anything but, start small. 

Small, burnished bronze or distressed brass knobs and pulls serve design cohesion without yanking the aesthetic in a new direction.

4. Make way for beadboard

Grooved panels with a ridge or bead down the middle are a cottage classic. Beadboard makes the perfect backsplash, wainscoting, or breakfast nook background. Read more about using beadboard in cottage-style homes. 

5. Style open shelving

Open shelving and glass-front cabinets display dried flora, crockery collections, and appropriately cottagecore dishware. Hanging racks for pots, mugs, and cooking utensils are ideal for these kitchens, too.

Pro tip: Learn how to style open shelving and showcase your collection the right way.

6. Incorporate soft sage or baby pink

Delicate colors that call back to plant and flower motifs add extra charm to cottage kitchens. Cloak cabinets, backsplashes, or wainscoting in sage or pastel pink. It’s a soft way to add some color to neutral and natural foundations. 

7. Bring on the butcher block

Rattan, stone, and of course, wood, are some of the principal materials beloved in cottagecore kitchens. In addition to hardwood floors and wood-topped islands, butcher block counter sections make up preferred prep areas. 

Plan an elevated cottagecore kitchen with The Designery

Looking for custom cabinets, hardware, countertops, and flooring to do a cottagecore kitchen your way? The Designery can help, from initial planning to professional installation. 

We can even upgrade your kitchen with energy-efficient smart appliances in customizable finishes for a seamless design.

Contact us today to get your complimentary initial design consultation.