From Country To Coastal: 8 Popular Kitchen Styles

Kitchens come in a wide range of styles, from modern to antique, industrial to country. Here is a guide to eight popular styles that you may want to consider when giving your kitchen a makeover.

Industrial kitchens are one of the most popular styles right now. These focus on a clean, bare look with sleek lines and polished surfaces, complete with industrial lighting and hardware. Stainless steel, black steel and clear glass are the materials of choice, and large restaurant-style appliances make a popular addition.

The country-style kitchen is in many ways the exact opposite of industrial. This style aims to create a cosy and traditional style, and it accomplishes this through using timber furniture and old-fashioned items for display purposes.

Decorations can include paintings of country scenes, as well as floral patterns on the walls. Colours like white and blue are commonly used to create a light and airy feel to make the kitchen a relaxing place to spend time. Wooden beams can also add to the traditional feel of the room.

The modern-look kitchen aims to create a sophisticated impression. It comprises the latest trends and fashionable features such as sconce lighting. The overall effect is sleek and glossy, and bold colours are often employed, especially contrasting colours like black and white.

If you want a kitchen focused on practicality and comfort, you may be looking to make your kitchen into more of a family space. Features may include a large table for working on, as well as plenty of room to sit around in comfortable chairs. A large walk-in larder in the corner is great for hiding food out of the way and freeing up space.

Technology is invading every area of our lives, and it is becoming increasingly popular in the kitchen. Smart fridges and washing machines operated by smartphones are slowly becoming more common. A tech-focused kitchen may also feature a flat-screen TV on the wall, smart lighting, and plenty of areas to use tablets and laptops where they can be charged into a power source.

An antique-style kitchen makes use of old furniture, salvaged items, used timber, rustic metal hardware, old ceramics, warmer metals like brass and more to create a warm and traditional feel.

Pots, pans, plates, bowls and cutlery can all be chosen to add to the antique look, and the overall aim is to create a rustic impression. There is a certain amount of crossover with country kitchens in that both are aiming for a warm and cosy effect. You may want to add some genuine antique items where you can and where practical, as well as old paintings to hang on the walls.

Blues and whites feature prominently in coastal-style kitchens. Items such as shells and stones are used to decorate the tables and countertops, and light-coloured wooden cabinets create a pleasant airy atmosphere. Wicker chairs, driftwood, rustic wooden furniture and images featuring coastal or country scenes are also popular.

This style of kitchen involves going all out and adding as much colour as you can. You could create a colourful backsplash as the main feature of the room to create a sense of excitement. Bold lighting, colourful decorations and paintings, glossy kitchen mosaic tiles, brightly painted cabinets and bold appliances will all come together to create a sense of drama in your kitchen

These are some of the most popular styles that you can choose for your kitchen. Have a think about which one might work best for your home, then start planning your decorating and the items (like mosaic tiles) you will purchase to create the perfect style for your kitchen.