With open-plan living gaining traction in recent years, the kitchen has become more than just a place where we prepare our meals. Its visual appeal is central to the overall aesthetics of the home. A kitchen must satisfy the twin roles of a functional space for cooking as well as a design showpiece.
You can give your kitchen a character, style and personal touch that delivers that ‘wow’ factor. Here are a couple of ways you can do that.
1. The Floor
Beautiful, good quality flooring not only looks great but also sounds and feels great when you walk on it. There are numerous options to choose from when it comes to kitchen flooring. Porcelain and stone tiles would easily hold up to the wet, hot environment that is the kitchen. They are easy to clean and come in a broad range of designs.
Wood floors can work too as long as they are varnished or well-oiled to withstand the elements common in the kitchen area.
2. Inject Color
Traditionally, decorating interiors with neutral hues such as white, black, gray and cream was all the rage. It was about finding sophistication and class in simplicity. Nowadays though, there’s been a braver, more open-minded approach to interior colors.
Still, if you are nervous about going all out on a vibrant, bright kitchen theme color, you could use more muted shades such as lilac that deliver nearly the same effect as brighter colors but are less dramatic. Alternatively, you can leave the wall and floor colors as neutral then go bold on accessories and fittings.
3. Bold Cabinetry
Visit online stores such as bestonlinecabinets.com or talk to your interior designer and carpenter to find out what cabinetry designs will give your kitchen a new lease of life and energy. The cabinets are the most conspicuous piece of furniture in the kitchen so their design and color will inevitably make a defining visual contribution to the overall style of the space.
The array of cabinets you could install is vast. By choosing the right mix of colors, textures, designs, materials and sizes, you can make your cabinets the focal point of the kitchen.
4. Install a Unique Element
An exceptional kitchen must have an exceptional trait. Find and incorporate unique, eye-catching detail that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who walks into the space. An exceptional element doesn’t have to be extremely dominating. It can be something as little as a pattern on a small section of an otherwise plain floor. That draws attention and becomes the focus of the entire room.
Other ideas for unique elements include bespoke dining chairs, a breathtaking splashback or unusual kitchen utensils.
5. A Great View
There’s just something about natural light that is fresh, invigorating and relaxing when compared to artificial lighting. Therefore, the more natural light you can allow into your kitchen, the better. But windows are also a great way to create an illusion of extra space while providing a nice view.
If you live in an apartment, then you may not have too much control over what you see when you look out of the kitchen window. If you have a front and backyard on the other hand, work on your external spaces to make them attractive to look at. There’s nothing quite like preparing a sumptuous meal while stealing glances of the beautiful garden outside.
6. Use Your Handles
Many people are turning to handleless drawers and cabinet doors that rely on a built-in scoop on instead. That eliminates the need to add or regularly replace the handles. However, going for handleless furniture also removes the opportunity to tap into one of the best avenues for defining your kitchen’s style and theme.
For instance, large, dark-colored knobs on a light-colored cabinet door create a powerful sense of order. Handles are fairly cheap so are an inexpensive way to give your kitchen a touch of style.
7. Keep It Neat and Orderly
A well-organized kitchen is positively unforgettable. What do you first see when you open cabinet doors? Is it a chaotic mess or is everything in its right place?
There’s a functional benefit of orderliness and cleanliness. If things are where they should be, then they are easier to retrieve and store. However, the good old principle of keeping your kitchen neat and clean is also the foundation of making it a space you are happy to spend hours daily.
Don’t Be Afraid to Make Radical Changes
Giving your kitchen the wow factor requires time, thought and effort. You cannot truly realize a memorable design if you cut corners. If you want a kitchen design that sits well with the age and style of the entire home, you must be ready to spend.
Don’t let your imagination be constrained by the present position of sinks, cabinets, kitchen islands and power outlets. Instead, envisage what the end product you want looks like then align everything to satisfy that goal.
