Simple & Functional European Farmhouse Style Kitchen Decor Ideas

Functional decor in the kitchen is a top priority for me; which is why I’m excited to share some European farmhouse style kitchen ideas.

Of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen has to be the most organized and functional for me.

It’s the heart of the home, yes.

But it’s also the workhorse.

With all the goals we set for 2023, the kitchen is putting in double duty these days.

So, I’ve been trying to wrack my brain to figure out a few ways that I can increase the storage and functionality of our kitchen area.

You can watch me decorate the kitchen on YouTube

I’m so excited to share all of the ideas I’ve come up with so far, but before we jump in I want to say a huge thank you to Kelly with The Tattered Pew for organizing this home tour.

If you’re here from Michelle’s home tour thank you so much for coming by.

The way she decorates with blue in the Summer is right up my alley.

You have no idea how much I love to share my home and ideas with you!

So let’s get into the ideas I came up with and talk about some of the ways we’ve added European farmhouse style to our kitchen area!

What are the elements of a European farmhouse style kitchen?

European farmhouse style is a casual kind of beautiful.

It’s the beauty that is found in simple and livable design decisions.

I’ll talk about some of these in greater detail later but some elements are:

• open shelves
• peg rail
• pot racks
• exposed beams/reclaimed wood
• natural stone
• mismatched furniture
• vertical panelling/bead board
• simple and light linens
• glass storage containers
• copper accents (i.e. pots and pans)
• vintage items
• clay pots/terra cotta
• stoneware/crocks

European farmhouse style doesn’t try to hide the fact that people live here; rather, it takes those details and makes them the focal point of the style.

I think that’s why I love this style so much.

It has character and the most beautiful kind of imperfections.

I’ve mentioned this before, but I kind of wonder if my draw toward this kind of imperfect beauty is because I know that as a person, mom, wife, daughter, etc. I have the same kind of imperfections.

And deep inside I love that there can be beauty in those human imperfections, just like in our homes.

Not to mention is impossible to make a home look perfect all the time with three little girls living in it haha!

Creating a Home Takes Time

What’s really cool, is that when I originally started researching elements for European farmhouse kitchen design, our home didn’t have all the things.

In fact, I think the only thing we had was vintage decor items.

But now, 3 years later our home has almost all of the elements somewhere.

Is it everything I’ve dreamed about?

No, there are still many areas that need to be updated and loved, but I do feel a sense of peace within the walls of our home.

Creating the home you’ve always dreamed of takes time, and the dream often changes along the way.

But when you look back at how far you’ve come and all the progress you’ve made is such a rewarding feeling.

Now let’s talk about all the everyday items I use as decor to serve as both beautiful and functional decor.

Functional European Farmhouse Style Kitchen Decor

Bread Boards

I have 4 bread boards for our kitchen, and I love them!

I’ve used them for actual cutting of our food, and I’ve used the for charcuterie style meals.

We do that a lot in the Summer.

It’s one of the easiest meals, not to mention the girls think it’s so much fun.

But when I’m not using them for cutting food or serving food they look beautiful leaning up against the wall, or hanging on the pot rack.

Another way that I have used these breadboards in the past is as a centerpiece for table decor.

Copper Accents

When we first bought our copper pots and pans I remember my parent’s first question.

“Are you going to actually cook with them, or just leave them on display?”

My response was a resounding “YES! I’m going to cook with them!”

They are my favorite pot and pan set that I’ve ever had.

They are beautiful and are great for cooking.

I also like to display other copper accents, like these stacked bowls.

These stacked bowls are one of the few items I have that serve zero purpose.

I know it.

But for some reason, I absolutely love these little guys, so they stay here on the shelf in the kitchen haha.

Peg Rack

It took me forever to decide to do this DIY.

It was the easiest DIY too.

I have no idea why I waited so long.

But I love it because I can hang scoops and measuring cups and spoons from it.

I use the scoop regularly for oatmeal breakfast, and ever since I started baking from scratch I’ve been using the measuring cups daily too.

They are so convenient to grab off the peg rail, and they also look beautiful hanging there.

Crocks/Stoneware

Crocks are one of my favorite vintage pieces to hunt for.

They can be pricey sometimes, but other-times you can get a great deal on crocks.

Specifically garage sales are a great place to get good deals on crocks.

I love to use my crock bowls for baking and cooking and for storing our produce.

Another way I use my crocks is by storing the most frequently used kitchen utensils inside of them on the counter.

For decor, they are beautiful full of flowers on the counter or on the dining room table also.

This small crock is my favorite when I put florals from the yard inside of it!

Open Shelves

We’ve had these open shelves for a couple of years now, and honestly, I can’t imagine not doing this DIY.

It did require a little bit of work, but now that they are done I love them.

They are the perfect way to store and display our everyday items.

When I look for inspiration in kitchens from old cottages one of the things I notice over and over again is the use of shelves or hooks on the walls for storage.

It’s simple, easy, and a lot more budget-friendly than cabinetry.

If you’re interested to see how we did this DIY project and how our kitchen was completely transformed check out that post here.

Baskets

Baskets are something I might be a bit obsessed with.

I actually just went garage saleing and found 2 laundry basket-size baskets for $7.

When she told me they were old $3.50 a piece I felt like I had to bring them both home haha!

But the reason I love adding baskets to our European farmhouse style kitchen is because of the natural texture and material.

Honestly, it’s one of the most affordable and easy ways to add European farmhouse style to your home.

Casual Linens

A simple tea towel is one of the best linens for that European farmhouse style kitchen.

You can purchase some with different patterns or just solid ones for a reasonable price and then they can be an easy swap from season to season.

Not to mention they are also great for homemade sourdough bread baking and cheese and yogurt making.

These are a couple of the tea towels that I have and love.

Solid white

Stripped blue and cream

Glass Canisters

I received my great-grandmothers glass canisters a couple years ago and I love displaying them.

I’m not sure if she did that, or if they were in a cabinet in her kitchen.

But for our kitchen and what I use them for, it’s much more convenient to have them on the counter rather than the pantry.

Then to go with them I went and bought these large glass canisters from a thrifty store (the largest is from Target).

All clustered together in the corner they are equally beautiful as they are functional.

Terra Cotta

Terra cotta and I have a love-hate relationship with each other.

I love the look and feeling terra cotta brings to a space, but I don’t like that absorbs water so readily.

When I pot a plant within terra cotta I always try to put a plastic barrier between the dirt and the pot.

This way the plastic stops the pot from stealing water from the plant.

In this instance, I used cut stems and just added a mason jar to keep the water contained.

Also, do you like my new cook book?

my sister-in-law got all the ladies new cook books for us to store our family recipes to pass down someday!

Yes, I LOVE it!

Fresh Greenery

I saved the best for last.

Summer is my favorite time for greenery.

I am surrounded by beautiful stems and florals, so bringing them inside is easy and inexpensive.

In fact, it’s free!

I like faux stems during winter months before things are blooming, but after Summer arrives give me all the real stems.

I love the wild nature of real stems too.

They don’t do what I want them to do ever.

They stick out in odd places and there is something about that kind of imperfection that adds to the beauty.

Less is More

I know in the Spring I told you was reducing what I had out in our European farmhouse style kitchen, but as I lived with it, I saw there was more that we could do without.

Coffee mugs (since I’m the only one regularly drinking hot drinks), copper platter, coffee maker, and frother, and one of the breadboards.

So many things are no longer living in the kitchen, and there is a freshness about it.

More European Farmhouse Inspiration

European Cottage Entryway Ideas

European Farmhouse Living Room Style

Budget-friendly European Farmhouse Home Tour

Well now that I’m done sharing my functional decor for a European farmhouse kitchen ideas make sure you head over to Robyn’s home tour.

Robyn is such a beautiful person inside and out and her home decor style is stunning!

She is sharing a coastal Summer home style, and I know you’re gonna love it!

If you haven’t ever seen it, go check it out and tell her I sent you.

Also, don’t forget to catch up on all the other home tours shared earlier this week.

They are all linked at the bottom of this post.

Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by!

Pin for Later!

Don’t forget to head over to Facebook or Instagram to see our day-to-day fun!

Also, make sure you follow along on YouTube & Pinterest to check out all the other inspirations I’ve been pinning!

Have a great week! XoXo

Open Your Doors,
Aliya

If you missed it, make sure you head to the top or bottom of this page and sign-up to join Open Doors Open Hearts!

You’ll be the first to find out all that’s going on over here and you’ll get decor and DIY inspiration!

Bloggers’ Best Summer Home Tours

This week I am joining some of my blogging friends for the Bloggers’ Best Summer Home Tours. Twenty eight talented and creative women will be opening their homes up for you to tour all week long. You can visit each summer home tour by clicking the links below.

Monday’s Tours

The Tattered Pew // Worthing Court // StoneGable

My Wee Abode // Southern Home and Hospitality // My Thrift Store Addiction

Tuesday’s Tours

She Gave It a Go // Cottage In The Mitten // Eleanor Rose Home

Peacock Ridge Farm // Bricks n’ Blooms // Cottage On Bunker Hill

Wednesday’s Tours

White Arrows Home // A Life Unfolding // Simply2Moms

WM Design House // White Lilac Farmhouse

Thursday’s Tours

The Ponds Farmhouse // Thistle Key Lane // Open Doors Open Hearts

Robyn’s French Nest // Cloches and Lavender // DIY Beautify

Friday’s Tours

Pasha Is Home // My Family Thyme

Midwest Life and Style // Amy Sadler Designs