Add Some Tuscan Style To Your Kitchen With These Cabinet Ideas

Rolling hills, Sangiovese vineyards, and the Italian Renaissance are some of Tuscany's most celebrated features, but this European gem's distinct interior style might rival such beauty. Combining modernity with rustic countryside, Tuscan design gives an effortless yet elegant ambiance with a touch of terracotta. Warm, earthy materials are the foundation of Tuscan decor, which often incorporates stone, plaster, and wood – the essence of which you can add to your cabinets with fresh paint, textures, and accessories.

A prime example of true Tuscan living can be seen in the 2003 blockbuster film starring Diane Lane, "Under the Tuscan Sun." Lane's character, Frances, purchases a rural Tuscan villa and works with a renovation team to reinvigorate the centuries-old home. You might not have your own team of workers to help, but you can still decorate your home like the movie.

The heart of the villa resides in its tiny kitchen, full of life, liquor, and linguine. Italy and food go hand-in-hand, so of course they must make the most out of a small kitchen, equipped with creamy walls, wooden accents, and plenty of storage for uber-fresh ingredients. If "Under the Tuscan Sun" isn't already encouraging any home renovations, though, these Tuscan-style cabinet ideas will surely spark your interest. 

Burnt oranges and ambers bring a type of warmth to a kitchen that not even the oven can emulate. Tuscan style walks the line between comfort and creativity. Painting your cupboards a rich orange hue, like Sherwin-Williams' Cavern Clay or Benjamin Moore's Baked Terra Cotta, is sure to add a fiery flare to your Tuscan-style kitchen. If painting isn't your forte, try using terracotta tiles to elevate more neutral cabinets.

For the most part, Tuscany is a coastal region with the beauty of the Mediterranean sea engulfing its presence. The gray-blue waters and soft, green hills give a vibrancy to the area that cannot be entirely replicated elsewhere, but you can try by decorating your cabinets with corresponding colors. Seek out slightly muted earth tones, like Sherwin-Williams' Mediterranean, Magnolia Home Paint's Juniper Tree, or Juniper Paints' Mediterranean Olive, or try beige, earthy green, and rust paint colors for a natural look. The subtlety of these shades allows for more ornate additions, such as tiled mosaics, intricate murals, or decorative vases — aka Tuscan kitchen essentials.

Playing with various textures and finishes is a great way to add depth and style to your kitchen cabinets. Try glazing your cabinets for an authentic antique look — for painted surfaces, use a water-based glaze or an oil-based option for stained cabinets. Distressing also adds dimension, although some might find it too rustic.

Cupboards with textured wood add visual texture to the kitchen whereas two-toned cabinets give your Tuscan-esque kitchen just the right amount of contrast. Try utilizing a lighter paint or wood for the upper cabinets, then deepen the color with a more robust shade as you descend. This polarity will add visual interest to your space and magnify the European charm. However, if you want to get a bit more creative, try changing out your cabinet hardware or faucets, adding stencils, or curating your own Tuscan mosaic. As Tuscany is the birthplace of the Renaissance and a hub of mosaic art, you can find hundreds of sources for inspiration online or at your local library.

The pure essence of Tuscany can be found in its stylistic design, infusing your space with sun-kissed appeal. No matter where you reside, you can find a slice of Tuscan paradise right in the paint and accessories aisles of your local hardware store. Implementing the Tuscan way of life in your cabinets, through color, texture, and contrast will have you feeling as if you had been picking grapes straight from the vine and dipping your feet in the cool Mediterranean.