skip to main content
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
  • PHOTOS
    KITCHEN & DINING
    • Kitchen
    • Dining
    • Outdoor Kitchen
    • Kitchen Islands
    LIVING
    • Living Room
    • Family Room
    • Home Theatre
    • Sunroom
    • Fireplace
    • Study Room
    BATHROOM
    • Bathroom
    • Laundry
    • Powder Room
    • Small Bathroom
    BEDROOM
    • Bedroom
    • Kids Bedroom
    • Nursery
    • Master Bedroom
    • Storage & Wardrobe
    KERB APPEAL
    • Exterior
    • Driveway
    • Carport
    • Garage
    • Entry
    OUTDOOR
    • Garden
    • Courtyard
    • Balcony
    • Deck
    • Patio
    • Pool
    • All Outdoor
    MORE IDEAS
    • Granny Flat
    • Home Office
    • Home Gym
    • Staircase
    • Home Bar
    • Wine Cellar
    • View All
  • FIND PROFESSIONALS
    BUILDING & RENOVATION
    • Architects
    • Home Builders
    • Building Designers
    • Design & Construction
    DESIGN & INTERIORS
    • Interior Designers & Decorators
    • Home Stylists & Property Staging
    • Painting & Wallpaper
    • Carpet & Flooring
    • Shutters, Blinds & Curtains
    • Furniture & Home Decor
    • Artists & Artisans
    GARDEN & LANDSCAPING
    • Landscape Architects & Designers
    • Landscape Contractors
    • Garden & Landscape Supplies
    • Arborists & Tree Services
    OUTDOOR & EXTERIOR
    • Pools & Spas
    • Decks, Patios & Structures
    • Fencing & Gates
    • Driveways & Paving
    • Stone, Pavers & Concrete
    • Cladding & Exterior Contractors
    • Roofing & Gutters
    • Blacksmiths & Welders
    KITCHEN & BATHROOM
    • Kitchen Designers & Renovators
    • Bathroom Designers & Renovators
    • Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
    • Tile, Stone & Benchtops
    • Joinery & Cabinet Makers
    HOME SERVICES
    • Lighting
    • Heating & Air Conditioning
    • Fireplaces
    • Windows
    • Doors
    • Staircases & Balustrades
    • Wine Cellars
    SYDNEY
    • Architects in Sydney
    • Bathroom Renovators in Sydney
    • Builders in Sydney
    • Interior Designers in Sydney
    • Kitchen Renovators in Sydney
    • Landscapers in Sydney
    MELBOURNE
    • Architects in Melbourne
    • Builders in Melbourne
    • Bathroom Renovators in Melbourne
    • Landscapers in Melbourne
    • Interior Designers in Melbourne
    BRISBANE
    • Architects in Brisbane
    • Builders in Brisbane
    • Landscapers in Brisbane
    • Bathroom Renovators in Brisbane
    • Cabinet Makers in Brisbane
    • Fencing in Brisbane
    PERTH
    • Landscapers in Perth
    • Tilers in Perth
    • Bathroom Renovators in Perth
    • Kitchen Renovators in Perth
    • Cabinet Makers in Perth
    • Architects in Perth
    View All Pros View All Services
  • STORIES
    STORIES FROM HOUZZ
    • Houzz Tours
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • More Rooms
    • Renovating
    • Building
    • Architecture
    • Interior Design
    • Gardens
    • Eco Living
    • Lifestyle
    • News Stories
    • How to Use Houzz
    HOUZZ RESEARCH
    HOUZZ TV
  • ADVICE
    HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
    • Design Dilemma
    • Before & After
    • Polls
    • Kitchens
    • Living Rooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Gardens
    • Renovating
    • Home Decorating
    • Exterior
    • Flooring
    • Building a home
Kitchens
Kitchens
White, Out: 13 Ways to Use Colour in the Kitchen
Top Ideabooks
White, Out: 13 Ways to Use Colour in the KitchenKitchen Experts Reveal: 8 Dos & Don'ts of Designing an IslandRoom of the Week: An Open Area & Pretty Details Made This KitchenRoom of the Week: Simplicity Wins the Day in This New Build
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
See also
Kitchen TrendsKitchen LayoutsKitchen RenovationsKitchen StylesKitchen FAQsKitchen Expert AdviceWhite KitchensColourful KitchensKitchen SplashbacksKitchen CabinetsKitchen BenchtopsKitchen Island BenchesKitchen LightingKitchen StorageKitchen Sinks
Kitchen Styles
Kitchen Styles
15 Essentials for the Entertainer's Kitchen
Top Ideabooks
15 Essentials for the Entertainer's KitchenKitchen Inspiration: 20 of the Best Country KitchensCafe-Style Kitchens: How to Groove to the Bistro BeatBest of the Week: 30 Kitchens With Wonderful Timber Touches
Appears in
Kitchens

11 Easy Ways to Give Your Kitchen Some Character

Not a fan of sleek and streamlined? Pep up your kitchen with one of these simple yet effective ideas

Amanda Pollard
Amanda PollardApril 4, 2019
Acting Editorial Team Lead for Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and content editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
The kitchen is, of course, a functional space where great consideration is given to layout, finishes and appliances, but it’s also good to think about adding some character to the mix. The designers of these schemes have used colour, pattern and texture to take the personality up a notch.
1. Make a splash
If you want to add just one area of bold design to your kitchen, the splashback is a good place to choose. There are plenty of ways you can get creative with the surface behind the benchtop, the most obvious being using patterned tiles on your splashback.

Here, the plain, flat-fronted kitchen units have been pepped up with a wall of fish-scale tiles. The design is bold, but the cool colours complement the pale grey units.
Arq-A Interiors Limited
2. Introduce some artwork
When it comes to designing a kitchen, we often focus on the practical necessities, including storage, appliances and work space. But once the essentials are in place, don’t forget you can add some artwork, too.

A painting, poster or print can completely change the room, transforming it from a functional area into a cosy, welcoming space.

It goes without saying that if your artwork is directly above the stove, as here, make sure you choose a frame that can withstand heat and moisture.
Haus Concrete Surfaces
3. Focus on the floor
Boost the character of your plain kitchen by choosing an interesting floor surface. Patterned tiles are a good option, and they come in a range of different styles and colours, so there should be a design to suit your scheme.

The owners of this kitchen have gone for a geometric pattern that adds a colourful, textured area below the white cabinets.
Studio Morton
4. Big up the handles
The quickest way to make your mark on kitchen cabinets is to replace the handles and knobs. There are many different designs on the market, from leather straps to brass pulls and jet black T-bar handles.

Choose a design that works with the rest of the space to instantly update the look of the room. These turquoise knobs are simple yet bold, and they work perfectly with the patterned splashback.

10 Decorative Ideas to Get a Handle on Your Doors
Traditional Bespoke Furniture
5. Emphasise the island
If you have a kitchen island in the centre of your room, make a feature of it by painting it a different colour to the rest of your cabinetry. As it’s just one area of the kitchen, you can afford to be quite bold.

In this space, the designers have chosen a vivid red that really makes a statement. To add even more personality, they’ve painted the stools in a mix of shades.
My Bespoke Room
6. Try two-tone
An idea similar to painting the island is to go for perimeter cabinetry in a different colour. Choose one shade for the wall cabinets and another for the base units.

In this kitchen, the dark lower units help to anchor the space and open up to a much lighter shade above.
Domus Nova
7. Open up
Wall cabinets are practical for hiding away clutter, but if you want to add character to your kitchen, it’s worth incorporating some open shelves. A few of these can provide an opportunity to display jars, crockery or even ornaments.

The key is to choose attractive items to display, and to ensure you keep the surfaces neat and ordered. Here, storage jars on the top shelf add warm hues to the space and complement the pale blue bowls, cups and glasses below.
Sigmar
8. Vamp up with vintage
Add a surprise element to your kitchen by contrasting the standard units with a vintage piece of storage furniture. Just one unusual cabinet can be enough to give the whole room a different look.

The units in this kitchen are in a traditional Shaker design, but the glass display cabinet brings an eclectic feel to the space.
EM+ Interior Design Studio / + Creatives
9. Lead with lights
If you’re planning to have pendant lights in your kitchen, choose ones that will add a touch of personality to the space. A well-chosen light fitting can have a huge impact on the look of a room – and it can be as bold or as subtle as you like.

Take these copper shades, for example – the design is fairly simple, but in this white and pale aqua kitchen, they stand out beautifully.

How Do I… Choose Kitchen Lighting?
Plus Rooms
10. Tap into creativity
Your choice of taps can play a part in how much character you bring into your kitchen. If you want to be different, go for something other than the standard chrome finish.

Copper taps like these ones, or designs in black or brass, will bring a personal feel to your room.
NW interior design
11. Have fun with textiles
We often use fabric in other rooms to boost the character of the space, and there’s no reason why we can’t do the same in a kitchen. If there’s seating in the room, for instance, you can choose interesting designs for upholstery and cushions.

Here, the simple addition of a patterned blind is enough to give the all-white room a welcoming feel.


Tell us
Which of these 11 ideas would give your kitchen some personality? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.

More
Need a helping hand to introduce some personality to your kitchen? Find a kitchen designer or renovator near you and chat through your ideas and needs
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
See 41 comments
Explore Related Topics
KitchensKitchen Styles
Read Related Stories
White, Out: 13 Ways to Use Colour in the KitchenWhite, Out: 13 Ways to Use Colour in the Kitchen
By Erica Barlow·24
Colourful Kitchens
Kitchen Experts Reveal: 8 Dos & Don'ts of Designing an IslandKitchen Experts Reveal: 8 Dos & Don'ts of Designing an Island
By Georgia Madden·0
Kitchen Expert Advice
Room of the Week: An Open Area & Pretty Details Made This KitchenRoom of the Week: An Open Area & Pretty Details Made This Kitchen
By Vanessa Walker·4
Room Of The Week
Room of the Week: Simplicity Wins the Day in This New BuildRoom of the Week: Simplicity Wins the Day in This New Build
By Vanessa Walker·4
Room Of The Week
How to Survive a Kitchen RenovationHow to Survive a Kitchen Renovation
By Becky Harris·257
Most Popular
Before & After: An Entertainer's Kitchen in Soft Tonal Hues in NZBefore & After: An Entertainer's Kitchen in Soft Tonal Hues in NZ
By Vanessa Walker·6
Kitchen Renovations
Need a New Under-Bench Bin? Don't Buy One Until You Read ThisNeed a New Under-Bench Bin? Don't Buy One Until You Read This
By Georgia Madden·20
Kitchen Expert Advice
Room of the Week: A Practical, Beachy Keen Kitchen in NZRoom of the Week: A Practical, Beachy Keen Kitchen in NZ
By Vanessa Walker·1
Room Of The Week
Before & After: A Dowdy Kitchen Made Shaker-Style SpectacularBefore & After: A Dowdy Kitchen Made Shaker-Style Spectacular
By Vanessa Walker·11
Room Of The Week
10 Dos & Don'ts of Designing a Kitchen Island10 Dos & Don'ts of Designing a Kitchen Island
By Georgia Madden·21
Kitchen Expert Advice
Best of the Week: 27 Clever Kitchen Set-UpsBest of the Week: 27 Clever Kitchen Set-Ups
By Georgia Madden·25
Most Popular
Meet the World's Most-Popular Kitchens of 2020Meet the World's Most-Popular Kitchens of 2020
By Julia Bolotina·73
Kitchen Trends
12 Tactics for Creating More Kitchen Bench Space12 Tactics for Creating More Kitchen Bench Space
By Julia Fairley·19
Most Popular
Room of the Week: A Timber Kitchen With a Wraparound CeilingRoom of the Week: A Timber Kitchen With a Wraparound Ceiling
By Vanessa Walker·2
Room Of The Week
6 Ways to Whip Your Baking Centre Into Shape6 Ways to Whip Your Baking Centre Into Shape
By Patricia Lee·39
Kitchens
People who liked this story also liked
White, Out: 13 Ways to Use Colour in the Kitchen
White, Out: 13 Ways to Use Colour in the KitchenFull Story
Kitchen Experts Reveal: 8 Dos & Don'ts of Designing an Island
Kitchen Experts Reveal: 8 Dos & Don'ts of Designing an IslandFull Story
Room of the Week: An Open Area & Pretty Details Made This Kitchen
Room of the Week: An Open Area & Pretty Details Made This KitchenFull Story
Room of the Week: Simplicity Wins the Day in This New Build
Room of the Week: Simplicity Wins the Day in This New BuildFull Story
How to Survive a Kitchen Renovation
How to Survive a Kitchen RenovationFull Story
Before & After: An Entertainer's Kitchen in Soft Tonal Hues in NZ
Before & After: An Entertainer's Kitchen in Soft Tonal Hues in NZFull Story
Need a New Under-Bench Bin? Don't Buy One Until You Read This
Need a New Under-Bench Bin? Don't Buy One Until You Read ThisFull Story
Room of the Week: A Practical, Beachy Keen Kitchen in NZ
Room of the Week: A Practical, Beachy Keen Kitchen in NZFull Story
Before & After: A Dowdy Kitchen Made Shaker-Style Spectacular
Before & After: A Dowdy Kitchen Made Shaker-Style SpectacularFull Story
10 Dos & Don'ts of Designing a Kitchen Island
10 Dos & Don'ts of Designing a Kitchen IslandFull Story
  • Australia
  • ABOUT
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FAQs
  • CAREERS
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms & Privacy
  • © 2021 Houzz Inc.