How to Create a Spanish-Style Kitchen

If you’re in the midst of a kitchen remodel, you may be questioning what design style you’d like to take on. While modern kitchens are all the rage, you may be looking for a more classic take on a kitchen ? and there’s no better choice than a Spanish-style kitchen! With its warm colors and inviting aesthetic, a Spanish-style kitchen is the perfect design choice if you’re hoping to create a space where your friends and family feel welcome.

But where do you begin when designing a Spanish-style kitchen? Combining these warm colors and eclectic patterns can be more complicated than it looks, which is why we’ve compiled a list of our favorite Spanish-inspired kitchens to show how you can create a warm and inviting cooking space in your home.

Terracotta Tiles

Nothing says Spanish style and decor like terracotta tiles! Finding ways to use these tiles is a fun way to infuse warmth into the space. Spanish decor often flaunts rustic and earthy tones that tie you back to nature, and terracotta does just that! Whether you create a spectacular floor using textured terracotta tiles or install them as your countertops or backsplash, you’ll find yourself immersed in a kitchen full of old-world Spanish charm.

Wooden Beams

One of our favorite ways to create a Spanish-style kitchen is to incorporate wooden beams along with the ceiling. The warm wood tones help create an inviting atmosphere, while the design draws the eye across the space. Wooden beams can be added in a variety of ways, from standard beams on an otherwise bare ceiling to using them as an accent on a vaulted ceiling. There’s no easier way to create a captivating Spanish-style room than by starting with wooden beams.

Patterned Backsplash

Textures and patterns are a big part of what makes the Spanish style so eclectic and vibrant ? and one of the most effective ways of sprucing up a kitchen’s aesthetic! Use your backsplash as a focal point in your kitchen by choosing a tile with a vibrant or funky pattern. From textured tiles to patterned tiles to colored tiles, you have an endless selection to choose from! Whether you install hand-painted tile with intricate design work, arrange your tile in a unique pattern, or choose a charismatic color choice, there are many ways to create a focal point with your tile backdrop.

Open Shelving

The kitchen is the heart of your home. Choosing a Spanish-style aesthetic allows you to create an environment that is far from sterile, making the kitchen feel warm, inviting, and lived-in. Instead of closing off various parts of your kitchen, incorporate open shelving made of natural wood that allows you to show off traditional decor elements tying back to the Spanish style. This allows you to infuse your own personality into the space through pops of color and elements such as vases, water jugs, stone sculptures, and more.

Bold Colors

One of the most distinctive elements of a Spanish kitchen design is the use of vibrant and bold colors incorporated throughout various elements in the space. Instead of choosing one statement color, the Spanish style encourages you to weave together several colors that will liven up the space. There are many ways you can add these funky colors into your space through the flooring, backsplash, cabinetry, or small accents such as area rugs or glassware.

Archways

An architectural element that is quite common in Spanish-style kitchens is a rounded archway. This may be the entryway to the kitchen, around the stovetop, or near the sink. An archway will give your kitchen inherent elegance and make it instantly recognizable as a Spanish design. Keep in mind that your archway doesn’t have to be perfectly rounded! Feel free to show off your personality by creating an archway that flaunts a bold design.

Wood Elements

Using dark wood material, such as walnut, is a common way to accentuate the beauty of a Spanish-style kitchen. Whether you opt to include dark wood kitchen cabinets or incorporate the wood tones as your accent pieces such as wood beams, open shelving, seating, or range hood, you and your guests will be wowed by the outcome. The dark wood pairs beautifully with eclectic and vibrant colors often found in your kitchen’s flooring or backsplash.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Spanish-style colors?

When you think of a Spanish-style kitchen, it’s going to incorporate a lot of rustic and warm tones. The color palette is a combination of terracotta tones of orange, red, and deep browns that evokes a sense of warmth and comfort in the room. Sometimes you’ll see pops of bright blues or greens as accent colors in a space.

What is the difference between Spanish and Mediterranean?

The Mediterranean style is actually heavily influenced by Spanish architecture, but there are some key differences in the home design elements. Spanish architecture is often less ornate in design than the Mediterranean, focusing more on wood elements and arches around the doorways or windows.

What are the major architectural features of Spanish design?

There are a variety of Spanish architectural design features that can be incorporated into your home to create the space of your dreams. The most common architectural elements of Spanish design are curves and arches, hand-painted tile, terracotta tile, ornamental ironwork, and dark wooden elements.

How do I keep a Spanish kitchen from feeling dark?

Because dark wooden elements, such as cabinetry and wooden beams, are popular in Spanish-style kitchens, it can be easy for a space to feel a bit dark if you don’t have windows providing a lot of natural light. To keep the space feeling fresh and light, opt for lighter tones of the Spanish color palette and incorporate beautiful wrought iron light fixtures for some extra illumination.