The English country-style kitchen is taking over trends, as homeowners look for creative ways to infuse personality into their living spaces. This kitchen aesthetic is undeniably warm, featuring vintage pieces, wallpaper, natural stone, rustic woods and range alcoves. Imagine a snug space, nestled in the countryside, the perfect spot to linger over a cup of tea, or a hearty meal.
English Country-Style Offers a Fresh Alternative to All-White Kitchens
This is a trend that makes sense, given how homeowners are approaching design emotionally in 2025, and English country kitchens deliver cozy comfort. The design incorporates nostalgic, romantic influences and encourages homeowners to be bold with colors, patterns and textures. English-style kitchens and one of its main design features, the range alcove, were named as top trends in Houzz’s 2025 Design Predictions
This kitchen style is a visually rich alternative to all-white, grey, and black-and-white that dominated kitchen trends for over a decade, perfect for homeowners who are tired of the stark look and want a fresh start.
Given the shift in trends, “The opposite (style) is naturally appealing, which is cozy, warm, lived in and full of personality — the English country kitchen,” says color expert, Maria Killam.
It’s an aesthetic with an eclectic, anything-goes vibe, but as with most maximalist styles, the approach is highly curated to strike the right balance. Here is how to create a kitchen pulled right from the English countryside.
Strategic Color Choices
An English country kitchen doesn’t necessarily need a full remodel. Homeowners who currently have an all-white or monochromatic kitchen can take a color-first approach to start the transformation.
“You can often create the look by updating a basic white kitchen with paint, hardware and clever styling. Cabinets should be painted a warm neutral or a muted color like a green that relates to your decor. Paint the walls a creamy neutral,” says Killam.
Earth tones are popular, but English country kitchens also often feature dark, dramatic colors, much like you’d see in a Tudor-style home, or English cottage. Notable choices are burgundy, hunter green, navy, and rich browns.
Range Alcoves
A must-have focal point in an English country kitchen is a range alcove and is one of the features defining the popularity of this trend. In their 2025 trends predictions, Houzz reports that numerous kitchen range alcove projects have been uploaded to their site by homeowners and design professionals.
Range alcoves typically feature a recessed space, often beneath an archway. It’s a unique architectural element that anchors the country-style design. It makes backsplash more prominent by framing it, so homeowners are taking advantage of the placement for bold and beautiful backsplash.
No range alcove is complete without a statement- making range. Choose from blue, green, black or cast iron.
Free-Standing Furniture
Instead of built-ins and contemporary design, populate the kitchen with free-standing furniture for storage and prep.
Designer Andrea Sinkin of Andrea Sinkin Design. says that furniture, or furniture-look pieces add warmth. “You will need kitchen storage regardless, so bring in a vintage wardrobe for a pantry or a coffee bar.”
A kitchen island that looks like a piece of furniture, with carved legs, is a popular choice. Or for an authentic look, include a workstation table, with patina in place of an island. The workstation table is the Victorian version of today’s kitchen island, where servants prepared food, close to the hearth.
For dining furniture, select for patina and texture. The table should be aged and worn and bring in mixed hardware, for vintage variety, says Sinkin.
Country-Style Accents
Decor and accents play a crucial role in creating that cozy country feel.
“Add plenty of charming styling for that lived-in look, such as wood cutting boards, vintage framed art, pretty lamps and sconces. Vases with botanicals work well,” says Kiillam.
While open shelving is out in most kitchen trends in 2025, having open shelves to display tools and treasures is central to this aesthetic.
“Leave your salt cellar and pottery crock of cooking tools next to the stove instead of tucking everything away. Style your cookbooks and favorite serve ware on open shelves,” says Killam.
Chinz-style china, antique kitchen tools, teapots, kettles and hanging copper pots are all popular accents.
Textiles and Patterns
Introducing textiles elevates comfort and also offers an opportunity to add color and patterns to the decor.
“Add a printed cafe curtain and a pretty runner rug. It’s all about layering and warmth,” says Killam.
Country-style patterns feature florals, gingham, plaid, stripes and pastoral scenes. Wallpaper and upholstery are excellent choices to display patterns.
An unexpected place to incorporate patterns is beneath the kitchen sink, with a pretty skirt, instead of traditional cabinetry closing in pipes and storage, states Sinkin.
Natural Materials
Natural materials lend undeniable warmth to any aesthetic, but in the English country kitchen they make the experience authentic. Stone floors and accent walls are common.
Look for natural stone countertops with matte finishes, for honed patina. Also popular are butcher block counters, but make sure these are well sealed, especially around the sink. Wood is vulnerable to all the moisture in a kitchen.
Statement-Making Cabinetry
Cabinetry and door fronts are simple, usually shaker style, but there is an opportunity to make a unique style statement with cabinetry in an English country kitchen. Sirkin suggests swapping out panel-ready doors for antique mirror fronts, aged brass and bronze grills.
Butler Sinks
This deep, functional sink originated in butler’s pantries during the Victorian era. The depth of the sink is well-suited for washing pots and pans.
In today’s English country kitchen, the butler sink is typically made from porcelain or fireclay, although stainless steel and copper are trending too. It features an apron, similar to a modern farmhouse sink, and offers a lovely focal point in the kitchen, while elevating functionality.
Window Seats
Window seats offer a cozy perch to curl up with a hot drink and a good book and create the comfortable vibe that characterizes an English country kitchen. This is a place to play with textiles for tactile and visual warmth. Furnish the window seat with throws, patterned upholstery and pillows.
Another bonus of a window seat is it helps to foster an indoor/outdoor connection, offering a special point of view outside, while enjoying indoor comfort.
