17 Must-Haves For Your 'Grandma Kitchen' That Make It Feel Warm And Cozy

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

As trends take over kitchens and themed design concepts sweep the socials, one aesthetic is warming both hearts and homes. Grandma core, a spinoff of the cozy decor associated with cottage core, is all about embracing comfort and nostalgia while designing spaces where memories can flourish. The decor found in grandma-inspired kitchens combine heirlooms, vintage kitchen tools, and colorful appliances with a sprinkle of whimsy. The result is not just an atmosphere of welcoming and belonging but also a touch of nostalgia for days gone by. 

Whether outfitting your space with seasonal decorations and inherited knick-knacks or carrying home the soft-glowing lamps you scored while thrift shopping, grandma-inspired kitchen design borrows inspiration from older generations. Blending old and new details emphasizes sentiment over trends. And establishing functional areas for meals to be made, tea to be poured, and cookies to be plated is at the heart of grandma core. With this kind of heart-warming theme in mind, you will have a compass for your next browse at the antique store or as you scroll online marketplaces.

From inherited valuable silverware utensils to platters found at a garage sale, the shining touch of silver can spruce up home decor. Silver pieces are classic and timeless and don't need to be reserved for a special occasion to be displayed. Don't worry if the silver sets you own don't match. Mismatched silver collections add to the allure of grandma core. Use cornstarch or baking soda and aluminum foil to restore older pieces and watch neglected silver return to its intended sparkle.

Not only do tea towels aid cleanup and serving, but homey fabrics invite an approachable charm to kitchen spaces. Tea towels can be interchanged according to seasons and themes, and are an easy way to dress up home areas with minimal investment. Whether pretty kitchen towels are used to dry dishes or help plate bread pulled fresh out of the oven, the soft appeal of cloth in kitchens will never go out of style. 

If you're looking to hide unsightly features or simply want to bring a warm and welcoming aesthetic to your kitchen, a nostalgic bit of fabric is the kind of style upgrade that would be admired by any grandmother. Curtain materials can be changed for an easy upgrade or quick color swap to accommodate for any switch in seasons, trends, holiday celebrations, or special party themes. Whether placed over an older dishwasher or strung up across a storage space, curtains are an easy way to incorporate grandmotherly charm into any kitchen design.

Even if you haven't been gifted an antique vase by a family member, they're an easy purchase that can instantly upgrade your kitchen. If you're not interested in adding to your existing decor, use a pretty pitcher or fill jars and containers with flowers to perk up living areas with grandma-core inspired aesthetic. Vases can also be used as utensil holders if you're not a regular flower picker or buyer. 

Fruit bowls can not only keep fruit fresh but also add to the welcoming ambiance of your kitchen by brightening up surfaces. Vintage fruit bowls can add playful, whimsical style to spaces, while hanging fruit baskets are easy DIY projects that can insert color to corners and unused areas. Healthy snacks that can be quickly served or sliced on top of bowls of oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, or pies pulled straight out the oven is the epitome of grandma core.

Stack a countertop with vintage cookbooks or load a shelf with a timeworn book packed with handwritten recipes for a kitchen that is grandma-approved in all the details. Not only can these useful pieces contribute to a homey atmosphere in your kitchen, but the recipes will also put a taste of yesterday onto the kitchen table. Cookbook collections look great along open shelving for easy access and appealing public display.

Antique dishes and china plates can turn even sliced fruit into something more regal. Not only can vintage dishware be valuable, but the heartfelt sentiment behind serving food and drinks in pretty pieces that were passed down from one generation to the next adds cozy comfort to any recipe. If you haven't received patterned dish sets, keep your eyes open during your next visit to the antique store or browse online marketplaces for deals to upgrade your kitchen with vintage designs.

Invite the outdoors inside by potting an assortment of garden herbs to tend to inside of your kitchen. Place basil, mint, and parsley into vintage pots or stoneware jars. These natural touches are the earthy accent that can turn empty windowsills into creative wonderlands. Whether or not you use the herbs in food and drink recipes, the scent of your potted plants can enhance your living space while inviting you to slow down and savor the joys of nature's bounty, just as grandma might encourage you to do.

After you've assembled an assortment of pretty cups and plates, what better way to display your vintage finds than with an open shelving set-up or a glass-fronted cabinet. Alternate stacks of plates with potted plants or use antique vases to bookend glass canisters that have been filled with items like dried lentils, pasta, sugar, flour, and salt. Mismatched dishes can be proudly positioned to add cozy charm to your kitchen and double as decor until used to plate cookies or casserole. 

Borrowing from country kitchen design, wooden details are also a part of grandma core. While butchers block countertops require more of an investment, wooden utensils arranged on countertops and cutting boards made from natural materials can offer the warm welcome that grandma's kitchen might convey — without breaking the bank. A well-placed wooden stool can be the invitation to pull up and enjoy a cookie and a cup of tea in the kitchen. These wooden details do not need to be overly buffed or shined, as grandma-core style is all about comfort and charm.

Placing a table runner on the dining room table or setting places with folded vintage linens can turn a basic meal into a grandma-approved presentation. A mix of vintage pieces and linen accents will garner adoration. Use natural materials to tie linens in place for artful place settings or look to find antique napkin rings during your next shopping spree. Once you begin playing with fabrics to improve the appearance of your dining areas, you may find yourself pairing place mats, napkins, and table runners with increasing regularity.

While some may look for ways to store pots and pans out of sight, designers trying to embrace the grandma-core aesthetic might opt to display cooking tools for all to see. Choosing to hang a collection of copper cookware and antique cookware can contribute to a homey kitchen ambiance. Add a sprig of dried herbs or flowers for an extra dash of whimsy to your vertical display, or consider placing hanging wall baskets for additional homey style.

Dressing up windows with pretty trimming is an affordable way to bring grandma core into your home. With a range of kitchen window treatments available, you can choose the patterns and details that complement existing decor. Look for floral prints or lace details to embrace vintage charm or choose checkerboard and patterned linens for a cozy ambiance. Curtains with colorful trim can highlight some of the other vintage pieces you've found at antique dealers or draw attention to lace doilies you've set out onto cookie trays. 

Mason jars have been around since 1858, but the appeal of organized mason jars or glass storage jars continues to add simple comfort to kitchens. Not only are these canisters useful for canning and storage, the charming containers bring vintage style to modern design. Glass containers can be packed with flowers, sea shells, or colorful beads if you'd prefer to keep food hidden away. For thoughtful gifts, mason jars can be packed with dried ingredients and delivered with recipes instructing recipients to put together pancakes, hot chocolate, or looseleaf teas. Old certainly can be gold, and vintage mason jars offer tangible proof.

Before homes had iceboxes and fridges, butter dishes helped keep contents fresh. Over time, the design of butter dishes has evolved, and a range of sizes and shapes has long added playfulness to kitchens. Whether you have inherited a dish or have found one at a garage sale, this simple piece can bring a touch of yesteryear to any kitchen. When set onto the table alongside freshly baked dinner rolls or almond croissants, recipes can be elevated by this homey presentation. 

Warm cups of tea served on pretty saucers invite us all to slow down. When poured into antique china cups or tea cups with intricately decorated handles, the ritual of preparing a cup of tea, doctoring it up with sweeteners and milk, and settling in for a sip is one of life's simple pleasures. A spot of afternoon tea can always be elevated by accompanying platters of scones and dollops of homemade clotted cream, or perhaps you have a special recipe you remember your own grandmother serving. 

Whether making brown butter chocolate chip cookies or pulling pumpkin banana bread out of the oven, few recipes symbolize a grandmother's love like home-baked goodies. When served with a warm cup of tea, such thoughtful details embody all that grandma core represents: A return to the slower things in life and a simple reminder that what matters most is often found right at home. If you don't have time to make treats from scratch, plating store-bought items onto a dish covered with a doily can bring similar comfort.