Basic To Beguiling: Simple Touches To Elevate Your Kitchen Design
The kitchen is the most important room in the house for the vast majority of homeowners. If you’ve recently bought a new pad or you’ve been dreaming of a new-look kitchen for years, small touches can have a big impact. In this guide, we’ll highlight some simple ways to turn basic kitchens into beautiful, functional spaces.
Colour
Whether you’re a fan of bold, bright colours or crisp, clean neutrals, you can use colour to transform the aesthetic and ambience of your kitchen. From minimalist contemporary spaces to rustic kitchens that ooze charm, colour plays a key role in adding visual appeal, character and atmosphere. You can choose how to use colour in your kitchen. You may want to go all-out with colour drenching or opt for a more subtle approach with coloured splashbacks, soft furnishings or accessories like planters, storage pots and vases. Explore online galleries, browse paint charts and take inspiration from rooms you’ve seen on your travels or on TV or social media. If you’re using more than one colour, choose complementary shades or prints.
Units, cabinets and countertops
Updating or replacing units and countertops is one of the simplest and most effective ways to elevate your kitchen design. You can take a dated or drab kitchen and turn it into a breathtaking space with custom-designed units from specialist cabinet makers, fresh, stylish countertops, a lick of paint, or some new doors and knobs. Upcycling is a brilliant option if your kitchen units are in good condition, but if you want to add a luxe edge, it may be best to consider new cabinets.
Funky furniture
Choosing a funky piece of furniture is a fantastic way to create a new focal point in your kitchen and channel trends and themes you love. Ideas include attention-grabbing bar stools or dining chairs, an oversized or quirky-shaped dining table and an imposing dresser. Choose a piece that embodies and celebrates the style and feel of the room and use it as a foundation for choosing accessories and finishing touches. If a retro table and chairs are the stars of the show, for example, you can accessorise with vintage clocks, tableware, wall art and storage jars.
Flooring
It’s important to consider flooring options for your kitchen for functional reasons, but a new floor can also add serious style. Laminate is a great choice for cool modern kitchens, while patterned vinyl works brilliantly for kitchens with a rustic or exotic vibe. It’s best to stick to durable, hard-wearing materials that are easy to clean and maintain, as kitchens tend to be busy and messy areas. Wipe-clean surfaces facilitate swift, stress-free cleaning.
Sprucing up your kitchen doesn’t have to cost a fortune or take months. There are simple ways to elevate the room and create a stylish space that also works on a practical level. Examples include using colour to channel trends and add ambience and personality, updating or replacing units and countertops, creating a new focal point with eye-catching furniture and upgrading your flooring.
