Today’s kitchen is more than just a practical space — it’s where you might do everything from dine, entertain and get creative with your cooking to catch up with loved ones. So, rather than bland and generic, you’ll want a space packed with character that puts your individuality and sense of style front and center. The result? A place you’ll love spending time in that sparks your imagination, whether you’re hosting a crowd or experimenting with a brand-new dish. Here’s how to go about it.
Choose a Style and Colors That Capture Your Vibe
Most of us know the clothing shapes and colors we love, but our decor style can be harder to pin down. In a busy and creative hub where you spend a lot of time like the kitchen, it’s something you’ll really want to get right.
The key is to choose colors and details you’re naturally drawn to and that make you feel good, whether that’s bold and patterned, soft and neutral or something in between. If you need some inspiration, take a look at other aspects of your life where style is the focus — for example, the fashion you’re drawn to, artworks you love, architecture you’ve enjoyed on your travels or those interior looks on your social media that make you swoon.
You’ll quickly see a pattern emerging, be it certain color and material combinations or a decorative direction, such as neutral and minimalist or bold and playful. Then look for ways to integrate these style leanings into your cooking space. Cabinetry, countertops, flooring and backsplashes are all great spots to introduce color and personality. You can then round out the space with bar stools in a complementary color or finish, a statement pendant light over the kitchen island and art on the walls.
Take Your Cues From Surrounding Rooms
You can also look to the rest of your home for color and style ideas. This is particularly important if your kitchen is open-plan and connects to a living or dining area, as you’ll want the spaces to feel related. Just remember: The colors and finishes don’t need to match, but they do need to harmonize if you want your home to tell a cohesive story.
So if you’ve gone for rich, earthy tones and modern lines in your living and dining areas, you may want to bring similar shades into your kitchen, paired with sleek, flat-face cabinetry. Have bold, contemporary artwork hanging above the fireplace or sofa? Why not pull out two or three colors and use them to build your kitchen color scheme. Or perhaps you have an eye-catching brass pendant light hanging above your dining table — carry the look through to your kitchen with brass cabinet handles and faucets.
When picking colors and finishes for an open-plan kitchen, also factor in the color and style of any elements you can’t change, such as flooring, window furnishings or built-in cabinetry in an adjacent living area, or wallpaper in a dining area. Aim to choose colors and finishes that complement rather than compete with these fixed features.
Make Appliances a Focal Point
Your appliances are a major part of your kitchen’s aesthetic, so you’ll want to choose ones that add to the overall style of the space. With the latest offerings, it’s easier than ever. Today’s impressive kitchen appliances are more than just functional — you’ll find chic designs with beautiful detailing that allow you to get truly expressive with your styling.
Work With a Kitchen Designer
Designing a kitchen from scratch can feel like a mammoth task, particularly if you’ve never done it before. If you’re overwhelmed by all the options, save time and headaches by working with a professional.
A kitchen designer will help bring your kitchen vision to life — the style, colors and details you love — while providing the functionality and flow you need to make cooking, cleaning and meal prep a breeze. Need a creative solution to an awkward layout or some custom storage? They can assist with these too.
A kitchen designer can also take charge of the nuts and bolts of redoing your kitchen, like managing tradespeople and contractors, creating a work schedule and sourcing suitable products and appliances, taking the pressure off you.
Make It Practical
A busy kitchen gets a good workout, so it’s crucial to choose finishes and materials that are up to the challenge. You might, for example, select a forgiving material like wood for your cabinetry that can handle the odd bump, quality paint that won’t easily chip and a durable countertop material like sealed natural stone or porcelain that’s easy to clean and resists scratches and stains.
The same goes for your appliances — after all, consider how often they get touched and handled in a day.
Practical, personal and perfectly reflective of your style — your kitchen, your way.
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