Functional decor for your kitchen
When you look at our finished photos of our finished projects they look so well organized and everything is so well placed… well truth be told this is somewhat staged and can vary from day to day life for our clients (especially if they have young kids). We always get asked ways to make the space more presentable especially when you have guests over for dinner or if you are selling your home and want to stage up the space.
Well, I’ve broken down a list of things you can use off-hand that will give your space that designer look.
Let’s start with the obvious way to add colour and texture to your space; I love fresh flowers or greenery in a kitchen. It makes the whole space feel “fresh” and can really accent and pick-up on other accessories in the space. My favourite places to get fresh flowers locally are; Bourbon Rose, Colour Pop Florals, and Floramere. They all offer different “looks” but the florals that they offer are truly unique!
Other items you have on hand that add to the space would be;
Small appliances – think like a beautiful espresso maker, perhaps a Smeg toaster, a Kitchenaid mixer, or even a Sodastream system. I wouldn’t leave every appliance out but one or two in a corner of the kitchen can relate back to the function of the space and also if you’re entertaining, it often shows the guests that the appliance can be used (as a host it’s great when a guest can help themselves to a cup of coffee, am I right?).
Kitchen Gadgets – things like knife blocks, salt and pepper shakers, utensil pots, cutting boards, French press coffee makers. All of these items can be used for styling and often add a “wood” or “metal” element to the space.
Food – I love seeing people accent their spaces with a beautiful bowl of fruit or veggies, perhaps you have a set of glass bottles for vinegar and oils, fresh herbs in little pots. These all add a “I could be a professional chef” element to your space.
Plants – Faux or real area always a nice idea, just be mindful of where they are sitting because most plants need some sort of sunlight and also you want to be sure that there are no creep crawlies lurking in your pots.
Clocks, mirrors, wall art – small accents here and there can really fill up an empty wall and make a focal point in a “cabinet-less” area. I often love putting mirrors in kitchens that don’t have a ton of natural light or not a lot of windows. It helps reflect light around and offers a bit of transparency like “glass cabinets” would. Clocks are super functional… who doesn’t need to know the time (I look at our clock probably 100 times a day) and wall decor/art can give a pop of colour and add some really intricate and interesting detail to a wall.
Canisters of Dried goods – I love a good set of canisters on the countertop, opaque or transparent – you can fill them with commonly used goodies which also makes life a bit easier (I have canisters of oats, white sugar, and pasta in my kitchen).
Books – I love a good cookbook, lots of recipes to try but also, they add intrigue to any kitchen. You can combine them on a shelf or stack a couple on a countertop with a plant on top. They always look beautiful and are great to have on hand when looking for inspiration for meals.
Glassware and dishes – wineglasses and a beautiful serving bowl, nothing simpler and everyone pretty much has these items in their kitchens. They can be left out for guests to use or can accent an open shelf with something that is super functional. I love a good collection of glassware in a cabinet with a “hutch” look.
My last tip I have for you all and this is common knowledge to designers but when you are grouping items always group in odds not evens. Odds looks more visually appealing and to be quite honest, I normally pair things in 3’s or 5’s to avoid the cluttered look but to instead create that “well paired” look.
Some of my favourite items for pairing are; a wooden charcuterie board, a functional kitchen gadget (mortar and pestle, grater, etc…), and a fresh element together (plants, herbs, florals, food, etc..). It just looks classic and clean and has “all the right elements”.
Now that you’ve got some new info, go and style up that kitchen! There are so many ways you can make one of the most used rooms in everyone’s home just as stylish as the other cozy spaces, so have fun with it and if you ever have any questions let us know!
Thanks Y’all – like + follow us on our social channels!
Markie.