Looking to upgrade your kitchen? You’ll find below 8 ideas to bring your kitchen experience to the next level.
A kitchen is the heart of a home, invest in it to reap the benefits daily.
1. Kitchen Island
An open plan has a different flow to it. A kitchen island becomes the heart of the living space.
It’s also a great hack for tight spaces as the island can be the sole table in the living room. It doubles as counter space and dining room.
You can be creative in making it with cupboards topped with a big counter, or buy a ready to install version.
Make sure to add storage underneath the island especially if you’re working with a smaller area.
Your stool choice is another opportunity to add character, get creative!
2. Pick a statement floor
Countertops can rapidly get crowded in your kitchen with utensils, coffee machine, blender, kettle, microwave, etc.
Instead of adding small touches here and there, a statement tile could make a massive difference to the overall feel.
The floor is a big canvas to express your style without adding to countertops.
Make sure to choose a practical material, because no matter how beautiful your kitchen is, it’ll get messy so it must be easy to clean.
Now that we’ve covered two big ticket items, let’s have a look at more subtle touches with the next kitchen ideas.
3. Harmonious accessories
Find harmony with the little kitchen accessories that can bring a new vibe to your space.
You can complete your decor with:
- kitchen towels
- oven mitts
- storage (boxes, containers, etc.)
- fruit basket
- small appliances (kettle, coffee machine, stand mixer, etc.)
Make sure those small items go well with one another and your kitchen will look put together.
There are several ways to mix and match.
You can pick your statement colour and stick to its nuances.
Alternatively, you can put an emphasis on a specific material like wood or a type of metal (copper, silver, gold, etc).
4. Declutter your kitchen
Plates, glasses and mugs can pile up especially as some break and new sets are brought into your home.
Let go of items that no longer bring you joy and that clutter your space.
The more things you own, the more you have to attend to them. The load quickly adds up in the kitchen.
Any items you haven’t used in several months should be good candidates for decluttering. Here are a few examples:
- a non-stick pan that is no longer non-stick
- cheap cutlery or plates you bought when you first moved in but don’t match your newer prettier set
- the set of cups someone gave you as a nice present but that doesn’t match your style
- food that you’ve forgotten about (it’s never a good sign).
There is contentment to be found in reaching for a pot without having the entire cupboard collapse on itself.
5. Add a luxurious experience
Create a “treat yourself” corner, a mindful minute in your busy schedule.
This is a great kitchen idea to create a moment and bring some luxury to your day.
To me, that looks like a fancy selection of tea and coffee I enjoy.
Always look to upgrade the experience with mugs that give you joy or make you smile.
This will look different to everyone but try to make an experience out of the ordinary.
Heightening a regular activity like drinking your cup of coffee brings mindfulness back into play.
You can make simple things special and be present in the moment to enjoy it to a new level.
This is applicable for anywhere in your house. Try to design each corner as a little creator of moments and mindfulness.
6. Fresh herbs
This next kitchen idea doesn’t cost much but adds a lot to the space.
Maintaining a plant of fresh aromatic herb like basil or chives has two benefits.
First, it brings some life to your kitchen where countertops are more likely filled with appliances than plants.
Second, it elevates your food with fresh flavours.
Fresh basil smells incredible and can bring a pasta dish to the next level.
It’s also very rewarding to take care of your plant, watch it thrive and consume its produce.
It’s a first introduction to maintaining a vegetable patch, but for very beginners.
7. Create moments with others
My favourite part of cooking or baking is the moment when everyone sits around the table and shares a meal together.
We can get wrapped up in the mundane of life and forget to have fun. The idea that you can turn your kitchen into a social place sheds new light on the space.
Food always brings people together, be it sweet or savoury, younger people or older people.
Different foods can create different moments.
You can also turn the process into an experience and bake a batch of cookies or muffins with your significant other, your sibling, your children, etc.
Look for joy in your kitchen and make it social.
8. Fuel your body
The kitchen is your best ally to fuel your body.
Although you can spend as much time and effort as you want making it look nice, a great way to upgrade your experience is to incorporate nutritious foods in your routine.
Your kitchen’s aesthetic has the power to boost your morale but its function can boost your energy levels.
Make sure to combine all the previous tips to enjoy spending time in your kitchen.
Create the habit of cooking at home and learn new skills that will pay dividends throughout your entire life.
No matter your budget, you can implement several of these kitchen ideas to elevate your experience. It’s all about creating little moments of joy throughout the day.
Which of these kitchen ideas do you want to try first?
