Kitchen Decor Tips: Make Your Kitchen Seem Larger and More Inviting

The kitchen has become much more than just a place to cook. These days, the kitchen is a gathering place. It is the watering hole (both literally and figuratively) of the home. As such, you want to be sure that your kitchen is as open and inviting as possible. So, how do you make your kitchen more inviting?

One of the best ways is to open your kitchen up, literally – tear down the wall between your kitchen and living room. Join these two gathering places into one open one. Most newer homes are being built with this concept of open space already incorporated. The kitchen no longer has to be completely hidden from the living room as it seems to be in most older homes. Of course, tearing down a wall is quite a project, and not all of us have the means to do so.

What other options are there?

• Glass cabinetry – while it would be more ideal to expand your current windows and/or add new ones, you can add a window of a different sort. Use clear glass panes in your cabinetry. Show the depth of your kitchen. As a warning, though, you will not just be showing the depths of your kitchen, you will also be showing off any mess you may have previously hidden behind those opaque cabinet doors. Consider only installing glass panes in a few of your cabinets, allowing you to display your beautiful pottery and dinnerware, not your cereal boxes and messy spice rack. A few stained glass inserts can really make your cabinets stand out.

• Lighting – the right lighting can make all the difference, even in the kitchen. If you are using just one light fixture located in the center of your ceiling, it is definitely time to add to and change how you light your kitchen. One fairly easy thing to do is to install under-cabinet lighting. You can even install above-cabinet lighting, if your cabinets do not meet the ceiling. For the above-cabinet lighting, you can even use Christmas rope lights. Consider installing recessed can lighting throughout the kitchen, and be sure to have good task lighting over important work areas like the kitchen sink and stove. Modern track lighting and pendant lights can add a nice touch.

• Bright and warm colors – if you want your kitchen to seem larger, do not use dark colors on the walls! Instead, open it up by using warm whites and yellows or other colors that invite light. Also consider light-colored appliances and cabinetry. No, your kitchen decor does not have to be bland! You can still add a splash of color here and there – use a bright red dishtowel, sink mat, fruit bowl, recipe box, etc. Hang up some brightly colored photos or drawings of Paris cafes or food, etc. You can still have fun with your kitchen decor. And, in fact, if you use more subtle, lighter colors on your walls, your decorations will stand out much more.

• Plants – it never hurts to add a few plants to your kitchen decor! A popular place for plants is in the window above the sink. Think about adding a kitchen greenhouse window. Of course, there are other places you put plants. Place one on top of your refrigerator or cabinets. Set up a plant stand. You do not need a lot of plants – even just one or two can add a breath of fresh air to your kitchen. For added kitchen flavor, plant herbs. Not only will these look beautiful, but they will smell good and taste even better.

These are only a few ideas to help you improve your decor and make the gathering spot of your home feel fresher and larger and even more inviting. Just look around your kitchen and think about what you could change to make it feel more welcoming. Conversely, think about what factors currently make the room feel stuffy. Create your own projects to make your kitchen stand out beyond all others.