Kitchen Charisma: 10 Ways to Give Yours a Lift
These easy updates to walls, storage and furnishings can give your cooking space the pizzazz it needs
If you’re trying to eat healthier or cook more meals from scratch, but your kitchen is looking a little forlorn, it’s time to revamp it. These 10 doable project ideas will help to revive your kitchen and make it an inspiring space you can’t wait to spend time in.
2. Try a pegboard in the kitchen, à la Julia Child
Julia was onto something when she designed the now-famous pegboard pot rack on the wall of her kitchen. You can do the same by hanging basic pegboard on your kitchen wall and using hooks and baskets to store cooking items and implements. Paint the pegboard to match your walls for a seamless look.
Julia was onto something when she designed the now-famous pegboard pot rack on the wall of her kitchen. You can do the same by hanging basic pegboard on your kitchen wall and using hooks and baskets to store cooking items and implements. Paint the pegboard to match your walls for a seamless look.
3. Paper the interior of a glass cupboard
This is the perfect place to use up any wallpaper scraps you may have lying around. If you don’t have wallpaper, pretty shelf paper or even quality gift wrap can be used instead.
This is the perfect place to use up any wallpaper scraps you may have lying around. If you don’t have wallpaper, pretty shelf paper or even quality gift wrap can be used instead.
4. Glam up your shelving
Another easy way to spice up basic wall shelves is by coating the brackets with gold paint. Or, for a similar effect with less fuss, pick up a roll of copper tape at the hardware store and carefully apply it just to the edge of your shelves – this works best if your shelves are the same thickness as the tape, so measure first.
Another easy way to spice up basic wall shelves is by coating the brackets with gold paint. Or, for a similar effect with less fuss, pick up a roll of copper tape at the hardware store and carefully apply it just to the edge of your shelves – this works best if your shelves are the same thickness as the tape, so measure first.
5. Bring in fresh blooms
You probably buy fresh flowers for other rooms in your home from time to time, so why not snip a few for the kitchen? A vase with slots for individual blooms, such as the one shown here, is ideal because it is so easy to fill.
You probably buy fresh flowers for other rooms in your home from time to time, so why not snip a few for the kitchen? A vase with slots for individual blooms, such as the one shown here, is ideal because it is so easy to fill.
6. Add a splash of unexpected colour
Transform a plain step stool with a lick of vibrant colour, paint the interior of your pantry, or line your drawers with polka dot paper. A bit of colour or pattern where it’s least expected is especially welcome when it’s grey outdoors.
Transform a plain step stool with a lick of vibrant colour, paint the interior of your pantry, or line your drawers with polka dot paper. A bit of colour or pattern where it’s least expected is especially welcome when it’s grey outdoors.
7. Give a plain basket a neon makeover
French market baskets are some of the most useful little accessories to keep around the house. Spruce one up with a simple painted-on star or heart in a neon hue and use it as a mini hamper for dirty tea towels and cloth napkins. For an even easier (and temporary) take, simply cut and stick on neon-coloured tape.
French market baskets are some of the most useful little accessories to keep around the house. Spruce one up with a simple painted-on star or heart in a neon hue and use it as a mini hamper for dirty tea towels and cloth napkins. For an even easier (and temporary) take, simply cut and stick on neon-coloured tape.
8. Borrow baskets from the living room for produce storage and display
Have some lovely woven baskets just hanging around with nothing in them? Put them to work storing long-lasting produce such as potatoes and onions, or colourful piles of lemons and limes.
Have some lovely woven baskets just hanging around with nothing in them? Put them to work storing long-lasting produce such as potatoes and onions, or colourful piles of lemons and limes.
9. Hang food magazines on a ladder
If you refer to your favourite food mags for recipes and menu ideas, keep them handy. A short ladder leaning against the wall is a perfect spot for stashing a rotating selection of your favourite foodie magazines – and in a pinch, even smaller cookbooks could get slung here, too. Paint the ladder in a hue to match your room, or leave the natural wood as a feature.
If you refer to your favourite food mags for recipes and menu ideas, keep them handy. A short ladder leaning against the wall is a perfect spot for stashing a rotating selection of your favourite foodie magazines – and in a pinch, even smaller cookbooks could get slung here, too. Paint the ladder in a hue to match your room, or leave the natural wood as a feature.
10. Paint your breakfast-table chairs in a rainbow of pastels
Love pastels? I say, go for it. After all, why shouldn’t your breakfast nook be the cheeriest spot in the house? And if you don’t feel up to painting the whole of the chairs, even giving just the legs or seats a dip in pastel hues would make a big impact.
TELL US
Please share your creative kitchen ideas in the comments section below.
Love pastels? I say, go for it. After all, why shouldn’t your breakfast nook be the cheeriest spot in the house? And if you don’t feel up to painting the whole of the chairs, even giving just the legs or seats a dip in pastel hues would make a big impact.
TELL US
Please share your creative kitchen ideas in the comments section below.
If you have open shelving in your kitchen that rests on brackets, as shown here, extend their usefulness by sliding thoroughly cleaned branches through the base of the brackets. Then use simple S-hooks to hang small pots, spoons and other implements from the branches. You can even hang small vases or mason jars filled with flowers – just wrap the mouth with twine or wire to form a loop, then hang it from an S-hook.