Little Luxuries That Lift Your Kitchen in a Big Way
Take your kitchen from simple work place to glamorous social space with these little luxe additions
Would you like to give your kitchen a little pick-me-up rather than a costly overhaul? Or maybe you need to complete your reno with a distinctive decorative flourish? Take the lead from these glamorous style ideas that will add that all-important deluxe finish to your cooking and dining area. From the benchtops to the walls and the units, every area of the kitchen can be given a hint of luxury to make it feel super special.
A few pots of herbs on your benchtop are a simple way of adding rich colour, fragrance and practicality to your cooking space. Go one step further and add a sunken herb garden into your island, as shown above. This way you’ll create an instant centrepiece, as well as having fresh, edible greenery within snipping distance.
Grow-your-own kitchen herb gardens
Grow-your-own kitchen herb gardens
Flashy splashback
This luxurious kitchen idea is going to take more effort than some simple herb styling, but the effect will be long lasting and dramatic. Better yet, you can do it yourself. By upgrading your plain splashback to a stunning metallic-tiled wall, your kitchen will be elevated to a new level of glamour. You can then raise the bar even higher by adding other shimmery metals through the accessories or fixtures, such as cabinetry handles and storage jars.
Tip: As this job would take a professional tiler about eight hours, DIYers should set aside a weekend to allow for preparation, drying time, and any mishaps.
This luxurious kitchen idea is going to take more effort than some simple herb styling, but the effect will be long lasting and dramatic. Better yet, you can do it yourself. By upgrading your plain splashback to a stunning metallic-tiled wall, your kitchen will be elevated to a new level of glamour. You can then raise the bar even higher by adding other shimmery metals through the accessories or fixtures, such as cabinetry handles and storage jars.
Tip: As this job would take a professional tiler about eight hours, DIYers should set aside a weekend to allow for preparation, drying time, and any mishaps.
Alternatively, you could liven up a kitchen island with some flamboyant tiles and finish the striking feature with a shapely stool or two.
Eye-catching artwork
Beautiful prints hung in the kitchen help blur the boundaries between functional cooking zone and comfortable social hub, letting the space be seen as an extension of the living zones. Pick prints and frames that will complement the kitchen design and ensure a sense of harmony.
Tip: For instant, fuss-free hanging, try 3M Command Picture Strips that can support up to 7.2 kilograms (frame size 60 x 90 centimetres). What’s more, they can be removed just as easily if you fancy a new look.
Fun places to display art
Beautiful prints hung in the kitchen help blur the boundaries between functional cooking zone and comfortable social hub, letting the space be seen as an extension of the living zones. Pick prints and frames that will complement the kitchen design and ensure a sense of harmony.
Tip: For instant, fuss-free hanging, try 3M Command Picture Strips that can support up to 7.2 kilograms (frame size 60 x 90 centimetres). What’s more, they can be removed just as easily if you fancy a new look.
Fun places to display art
If you’d prefer to save decorative artwork for the living area, why not adorn your walls with functional pieces that are also conversation starters instead? Quirky one-offs, such as this bespoke hanging rack and notice board combo, are sure to capture some interest and become a talking point among guests.
Statement features
A kitchen/dining area is also the ideal space in which to show off larger designer items, such as tables and pendant lights, as they will offer a unique contrast against the linear kitchen backdrop, lifting the space to a new level of luxury. Look out for sculptural pendant lights that will have a dynamic impact …
A kitchen/dining area is also the ideal space in which to show off larger designer items, such as tables and pendant lights, as they will offer a unique contrast against the linear kitchen backdrop, lifting the space to a new level of luxury. Look out for sculptural pendant lights that will have a dynamic impact …
… as well as striking coloured designs that pop against a dark backdrop.
Graceful displays
Refine your benchtops by clearing away clutter and re-styling the surfaces with elegant items that will add grace and charm. But don’t worry, this isn’t about purchasing new things. Instead, you can simply reposition pretty objects from other areas of your home to create little vignettes, and then add a sprig from the garden to make a simple display special.
What’s more, by grouping odd numbers of items together your display will pack a bigger visual punch, while placing larger items at the back will create balance.
Refine your benchtops by clearing away clutter and re-styling the surfaces with elegant items that will add grace and charm. But don’t worry, this isn’t about purchasing new things. Instead, you can simply reposition pretty objects from other areas of your home to create little vignettes, and then add a sprig from the garden to make a simple display special.
What’s more, by grouping odd numbers of items together your display will pack a bigger visual punch, while placing larger items at the back will create balance.
Or why not try displaying a simple stack of textural chopping boards? This smart set adds colour and warmth to the grey units. And of course, a bunch of flowers is a little luxury every kitchen can do with.
Deluxe soaps
As the kitchen is likely to be the busiest room in your home, it pays to splurge on chic bottled soaps that not only look smart, but smell lavish too. A neat, well-dressed sink will speak volumes about your attention to detail …
As the kitchen is likely to be the busiest room in your home, it pays to splurge on chic bottled soaps that not only look smart, but smell lavish too. A neat, well-dressed sink will speak volumes about your attention to detail …
… while pristine benchtops and open shelves, styled to perfection, will give your kitchen a polished look that’s chic and sophisticated.
See more kitchens with open shelving
See more kitchens with open shelving
Swish extras
Dedicating a corner of the kitchen to your personal passion, whether it’s coffee drinking, bread making or healthy juicing, always adds interest. Displaying a hero appliance brings an element of luxury to the space.
Dedicating a corner of the kitchen to your personal passion, whether it’s coffee drinking, bread making or healthy juicing, always adds interest. Displaying a hero appliance brings an element of luxury to the space.
Or maybe you could add inventive and inspired storage solutions that will raise your kitchen credentials to more than a simple cooking zone.
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What little extras have propelled your kitchen to new heights of luxury? Share them in the Comments below.
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Tell us
What little extras have propelled your kitchen to new heights of luxury? Share them in the Comments below.
More
Browse more kitchen stories
Nothing evokes the feel-good factor more than a touch of greenery, and with a few carefully selected plants displayed around the kitchen, or draped across a supported trellis, you’ll have a room with renewed vigour and vitality. What’s more, if you’re keen to add some colour to an all-white space, indoor plants or herbs will easily colour it up, while their natural benefits will ensure the space feels fresh and uplifting.
Tip: Look out for plants that can cope with the fluctuating heat and humidity, such as mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata), and tropical devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum).