How to Create a Cosy Cotswold-Style Kitchen
The Cotswold countryside is bursting with English storybook charm. Step inside our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and you’ll find miles upon miles of rolling hills, abundant hedgerows, panoramic views, “chocolate box” honey-stoned cottages, and historic market towns.
All our designs at Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics are inspired by the Cotswold countryside just outside our front door. Today, we’re sharing our top Cotswold kitchen ideas to help you achieve the look in your own home, with colour and fabric recommendations to pull it all together.
5 ways to bring Cotswold charm into your kitchen
1) Choose floors that can take a beating
Country home kitchens can be busy (and sometimes a little messy, too). Wooden flooring is great at handling muddy wellies, dogs, cats, the occasional chicken, and general kitchen traffic. If you’re not into wooden floors, ceramic tiles or stone flags work just as well. All three options are easy to clean and give your space that lived-in feeling a Cotswold kitchen is known for.
2) Unify your old and new cupboards with one paint colour
Don’t worry if your cupboards are a mismatched collection of old and new. This variation is exactly what gives Cotswold kitchens their charm. Try painting them in a single warm neutral colour (or even a rich terracotta like Vanessa has done in her kitchen). This will make them like part of one scheme rather than a work in progress.
3) Dress your windows with a mix of curtains and blinds
A mix of curtains and blinds is part of what makes a Cotswold kitchen feel collected over time, rather than fitted out in one go. Install some patterned Roman or roller blinds near your sink or cooker (just make sure they stay out of the way of splashes and steam), and hang some curtains over any windows that open out onto your garden.
4) Combine a smaller print with a larger print, then add a plain
The best Cotswold kitchens follow the rule of three when it comes to pattern. Try pairing a smaller-scale print with a larger, complimentary design, and then pick one colour from those fabrics for your accessories. For example, you could choose Stripe & Dash in Duck Egg & Cornflower for your curtains, Cow Parsley in the same colourway for your blinds, and then opt for Plain Linen Union in Cornflower for your cushions.
5) Finish with fabric accessories that tie the room together
Once you’ve got the basics in place, it’s time to add those final touches that make your kitchen feel finished. Add a simple table runner, a set of napkins, a pair of tea towels, or some cupboard skirting in a coordinating fabric such as Down to Earth. These accessories are also a great way to use up any fabric scraps from larger projects.
Choosing the perfect Cotswold colour palette
A Cotswold colour palette is built from the same soft, earthy tones as the landscape outside.
Your walls are a great place to start. As our founder, Vanessa, explains, “In kitchens, the heart of any home, I would advise painting the walls a soft neutral. Colour can be effortlessly added through fabric and all the paraphernalia in a kitchen – including ceramics and, of course, blinds, curtains, napkins, cushions, and tablecloths.”
Warm stone, cream, and limestone white make the best backdrop for your walls. You can then incorporate pops of sage green or duck egg, or even terracotta or warm red earth. If you want to go a little bolder, opt for shades like teal, buttercup, raspberry, or cornflower. These are all part of Vanessa’s signature Cotswold palette, and they pair beautifully with the neutrals above.
As a general rule of thumb, stick to three colours in a 70:20:10 ratio. Choose a neutral base for the largest share, a secondary colour such as sage or terracotta for your curtains and blinds, and pick out an accent in your cushions or table linen. This will make your kitchen feel calm and considered, no matter how much pattern you bring in.
Top fabrics for Cotswold cottage kitchen design
Not sure which fabrics to choose? These timeless designs from our Cotswold fabrics collection work particularly well in kitchens:
- Cow Parsley – delicate wildflower heads and butterflies inspired from the hedgerows surrounding Vanessa’s Cotswold home. It’s the perfect design for curtains or Roman/roller blinds.
- French Ticking – a classic narrow stripe that adds texture and interest, without competing with your bolder prints. It’s a practical choice for your cushions, or for a run of cupboard skirting.
- Stripe and Dash – a simple two-tone stripe with a fine dash running through it. It’s subtle enough to sit behind a bold curtain or blind print, and also makes for the perfect table linen or seat cushion fabric.
- Fern and Dragonfly – a softer, nature-inspired print that’s ideal if you just want to add a little extra detail without overwhelming the room. It’s well-suited to blinds in smaller kitchen spaces.
- Down to Earth – features warm, earthy tones that echo the Cotswold countryside. It’s a great fabric for kitchen accessories such as cushions, table linen, or a run of cupboard skirting.
Feeling inspired to bring a taste of the Cotswolds into your kitchen? Explore our Cotswold fabric collection to find your favourite design.
FAQs
What colours work in a Cotswold kitchen?
Warm, earthy tones like warm stone, cream, sage, and terracotta work well in Cotswold kitchens. We recommend painting your walls in a soft neutral, and then add pops of colour through fabric. That way, you can easily change your scheme over time if you wish.
How do I create a country cottage kitchen style?
To create a country cottage kitchen style, start by combining practical flooring (like wood or stone) with a soft neutral wall colour. You can then layer in pattern through your curtains, blinds, and cushions. Stick to just three colours that sit together comfortably, rather than introducing too many shades.
How much pattern is too much in a small kitchen?
We recommend choosing a smaller-scale print, like Stripe & Dash, for your curtains, and a layering in a larger, complementary design, like Cow Parsley, for your blinds. You can then add some accessories, such as cushions or napkins, in a Plain Linen union design.
Founder and owner of Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics. Vanessa creates content around fabric types, blind styles and curtain designs to best suit the needs of Vanessa Arbuthnott customers.
