Country kitchen accessories - our top pick

Pretty floral crockery, gingham prints and cheering pastel shades (not to mention the obligatory AGA) – it's easy to see why country kitchens are so enduringly popular. And it's even easier to achieve this look. Vintage furniture and accessories in distressed finishes are at the heart of the country kitchen and a dresser to display cherished crockery is a must.

But country style also has a new guise. It's bright, fresh and graphic with a modern approach that works beautifully in the kitchen. You can use playful and vibrant accessories to update a classic country scheme – Scandinavian designs never fail to bring colour and a touch of moderntiy, while detail prints in a bold design offers a more contemporary feel. When it comes to furniture, faded, distressed finishes are a stalwart of classic country chic, but a less-is-more approach suits a functional room such as a kitchen – try teaming a weathered paint finish with a pop of intense colour, such as orange, for a lively, welcoming feel. For flooring, choose classic terracotta tiles but in an unusual shape to add interest underfoot.

1/9 Jazzy shelf space

Create an eye-catching display of clocks, radios, trays with bold patterns and accessories in contrasting colours.

Get the look: Find pretty containers and bowls at Berry Red. The radio is from Roberts Radio and the cups ad saucers are from Brissi. Find similar signs at Not On The High Street.  

2/9 Colourful gadgets

Coffee grinders, espresso machines, mixers and blenders now all come in bright colourful shades, designed to be put on display rather than hidden away.

Get the look: Find the KitchenAid Artisan Burr coffee grinder at John Lewis.Visit Berry Red for the rose jug and floral storage tubs.

3/9 Happy tables

Bring pattern and colour to your table with cutwork mats, guaranteed to raise a cheer with your coffee.

Get the look: Visit SCP for this lime green doily place mat, and Brissi for the cup and saucer.

4/9 Fun food storage

Pack lunches and leftovers in colour-coded tubs.

Get the look: The assorted large lidded melamine bowls and storage boxes are from Berry Red Berry Red. The polka dot curtain panel (used as tablecloth) is from Gudrun Sjoden.

5/9 Bright crockery

Add instant cheer with pretty chinaware and fresh flowers.

Get the look: The pretty teacups and saucers are from Berry Red.

6/9 Stunning stripes

Dry your crockery with these fun tea towels. Pretty enough to put on display, they are also an eye-catching accessory to complement your kitchen decor.

Get the look: The multi striped tea towels are from Gudrun Sjoden, the bobble trim tea towel is from Cooey and the embroidered tea towel is from Anthropologie.

7/9 Bold basketware

Sort and store magazines, bills and receipts in pretty baskets.

Get the look: The memo board is from Not On The High Street, find baskets and colourful stationery at Paperchase.

8/9 Dishy diaries

Make keeping appointments and lists fun by choosing calendars, notebooks and Filofaxes in zesty shades.

Get the look: Find these mini organisers at Filofax and the organiser pad at Berry Red.

9/9 Painted chairs

A quick way to bring an instant lift to a kitchen is to paint the chairs. Use one colour for a matching set – or mix and match, so when you tire of a shade you can just paint the chair again.

Get the look: The chairs are from Ercol painted in The Little Green Paint Company paint. Find these cups and saucers at SCP and the curtain panels (used as tablecloths) at Gudrun Sjoden.

Check out our video for Country Homes & Interiors' Editor, Rhoda Parry's 5 steps to the perfect country kitchen.