The kitchen is often referred to as the beating heart of a home. Considering this is a space you and your family will spend a lot of time in, designing it in a way that reflects your personal style will take it to a new level. 

Know What You Want

The first thing you need to do is decide what you want out of your kitchen. Is it just a space for cooking, are you looking up Boxing Day Fridge Deals because you want the best tech in it, or is it a space where you and your family come together for meals every day?

Once you know what you want out of the space, you can then move on to choosing the appliances, designs, colors, etc. 

Know Your Style

Next, take the time to find your style and what you like and don’t like. Whether you love an industrial look or you want your kitchen to look at home in the Shire, there are multiple ways to get the look you are after. 

Take a few minutes to write down all the colors, lighting types, materials, textures, etc that you like and dislike. It is much easier to get the look that you want when you know what you like. 

Colors

Once you have decided on the colors you like, you need to figure out how to use them in the space. A common misconception is that bright colors can often overpower a space; however, there are two ways to get around this.

The first method is to make your walls a bright and vibrant color but then complement it with more neutral tones across your accessories, backsplash, appliances, etc. The second method is to do the previous method in reverse: have neutral walls but bright and vibrant appliances, backsplashes, etc. 

Textures & Materials 

When it comes to textures and materials, don’t be scared to experiment and mix it up a bit. The biggest benefit of mixing textures and materials is that you can give a space depth and personality. 

Think of an industrial-style apartment; steel and wood are on opposite sides of the spectrum, but when combined, they create a super-modern and sleek look. 

Centerpieces

Create a centerpiece to get your personal style message across. Whether it be part of a counter, an island, or something else, use the space to add flowers, art, a sculpture, or even a vintage appliance. Your centerpiece should be something that conveys your style just by looking at it. 

Personalize the Small Details

An inexpensive and easy way to add your personal touch to your kitchen is to personalize all of the small details in the space. Cabinet handles, drawer handles, and even your light switches can all be changed to suit your style. 

If you like a more modern feel, opt for white or metal; if you want a more vintage feel, opt for larger and ornate handles. These small changes can create an entirely new look without replacing the cupboard, drawer, etc.  

Functionality & Comfort

Don’t get too bogged down with the idea that a kitchen has to be completely functional. You can easily personalize the space by incorporating different cushions on stools or a bench, having a seating area, or anything else you may feel will add comfort. 

Treating the space as a living area as well can help you design it a bit better as you can incorporate aspects of your actual living room into the kitchen, too. 

Timeless vs. Trendy

When choosing furniture, paint colors, your backsplash, etc, don’t choose options that are trendy, but rather the ones that are timeless. The problem with making a space trendy is that once the trend changes, your kitchen will look dated and out of place. For example, imagine a modern house that has one room that looks like it was plucked out of the 70s; it won’t be cohesive. 

Finding timeless design choices can be tricky, but doing research and seeing what works today that still worked 50, 60, or even 100 years ago will give you a good idea about what is and isn’t timeless. 

Accessories 

Finally, when it comes to accessorizing, use this as another opportunity to get your style across. Add art, plants, photos, keepsakes, a rail to hang your pots and pans on, or anything that you feel adds to the space and makes it more “yours.”

Don’t worry too much about the functionality of the space unless the items you want to add are large. This isn’t a professional kitchen; therefore, it shouldn’t have to look like one. 

Experiment with Stick-On Features

If you can’t fully commit to a backsplash, tile design, and color, or what you want to put on the walls, you can experiment. There are multiple companies that make stick-and-peel tiles and wallpaper that are easy to apply and just as easy to remove if you get bored with the design. 

This not only allows you to experiment, but you can also make the space more dynamic by making it easier to change when your tastes change.