Small decorating tips that pack a huge punch

Add some personality to your small kitchen

Simply adding new cabinet handles and knobs can reinvigorate your decor without costing a fortune. And don’t forget that all white is not the only option in a small kitchen—add a splash of colour by hanging a favourite colourful print, or even create an accent wall by putting up wallpaper in a subtle colour and pattern.

Play with different lighting

Lighting in a kitchen must be functional and must create a pleasant atmosphere. To do so, create contrasts by adding several light sources with different intensities. Lighting must be bright over the countertops and soft from the ceiling. Achieve this by installing a dimmer that allows you to choose the intensity and create the atmosphere you want based on the occasion. To light up your cooking area, add lighting under the cabinets and track lighting on the ceiling. Then, create a more dramatic look in the dining area—this is the best place to install that fabulous chandelier you’ve always wanted.

Mix white cabinets with patterns

Combining white cabinetry with white tiles can give your kitchen a classic look but may appear somewhat cold. To jazz it up, add textures and patterns with, for example, wallpaper with a retro print, a backsplash with tempered glass tiles, and colourful dishware.

Choose solid-coloured surfaces

To make the room look bigger and give off the illusion of space, design an area that is both to cook and relax by creating a continuous flow of cabinets and colours.

Create clean lines

Whether big or small, an open-concept kitchen flows better and looks larger when the floor is uncluttered. By doing so, the kitchen will flow into the dining room with ease when, for example, you use the same type of wood throughout the space.

Declutter the room

A kitchen that can store everything in it is an asset in an open-concept space. Everything from the kettle to the dishwasher can be behind closed doors. Plus, having an entire wall of matching cabinets makes the kitchen look orderly and gives the area a purpose compared to the rest of your open space.

Create a division in the space

You don’t always want to relax beside your stove and you sometimes want to move furniture around to add more space or create a more desirable area. Kitchen islands or cabinets on wheels are an excellent way to divide the room and reorganize your storage, depending on how you use the space. For a modern look, try industrial-style cabinets on wheels—they’re practical, movable and relatively inexpensive.
 

[photo via Modernhaus]
 

A recycled, bohemian style

Painting a second-hand table and chairs in white or other fresh colours makes the furniture come alive and adds a touch of bohemian country-chic in the kitchen. Adding a long dining table that you discovered at an antique dealer allows you to host large dinner parties.

[photo via Interior Design Ideas]

Function and favourites

Sober, functional kitchens filled with stainless steel and white cabinets were very trendy a few years back, but thankfully, today’s kitchen styles are becoming increasingly fun and welcoming! It’s easy to forget that the kitchen can be used for things other than preparing food, which is even more important to remember when planning an open-concept kitchen. Dare to decorate with sparkling light fixtures, works of art, plants, and unique wallpaper.

Stripped and colourful window coverings

The colour of your curtains sets the tone in the room, and stripes, which are currently in style, will make the room look appealing and dynamic.

[Photo via Le Journal des Femmes]

Colourful utensils and unusual cookware

Utensils in every colour of the rainbow are perfect to brighten up your countertops. Stainless steel and aluminum can feel clinical, while colourful pots and pans are much more amusing to use and look at.

Brightly coloured storage accessories

Sleek storage boxes in primary colours work well with the clean lines in a modern kitchen and add a spark of colour to the decor.

[photo via Kitchenisms]

Colour blocking

Choose a specific area of your kitchen, for example, the wall behind the exposed shelves or the wall behind the counter, and paint it in a strong contrasting colour. You instantly have an architectural division and a focal point in the room. To make this colour block even more practical, use chalkboard paint to change the wall into a message board.
 

[Photo via Modern Interior Design Trends]

Shelves

Install a colourful light source under shelves hung on a white wall to make them pop. Add a track under the shelves to hang utensils for a unique storage solution.

A wallpaper border as a backsplash

Using a wallpaper border as a backsplash will add colour and style to a kitchen without spending too much. To protect it, simply cover it with a clear glass panel and you’re done!

[Photo via Appartment Therapy]

Josette Buisson, Trends Analyst