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Interior decoration is an expensive affair, right? Not always! With proper guidance and planning, you can transform your place in style, and even with a modest budget!
Your first kitchen is always special. It lets you taste the joy and liberty of independent cooking for the very first time. But quite often, your budget may not permit you to go all-out and design an expensively appointed kitchen like the ones you see in home decor magazines. So, you will be glad to know that, even with modest financial means, it is possible for you to give your kitchen a unique touch. Here are some simple tips that can you help plan and put together your first kitchen without burning a hole in your pocket. Take a look!
With plenty of things to be stored, the kitchen is often a claustrophobic place. You would probably like your kitchen to embrace more openness. A kitchen island can help incorporate this aspect effortlessly. A kitchen island is a great choice for several reasons. It can be small in size, which makes it easy for it to be included in homes with small kitchens. No extra space is required for the setup. A well designed kitchen island can help pep up the kitchen with its unique style and design. Also, it blends with the surrounding décor and offers space for a sink, chopping vegetables, and so on.
Here are a few things to keep in mind while designing a kitchen island. For a big kitchen, you can even consider having two kitchen islands.
1. Fit to the flow of traffic: The kitchen island must have 36 to 48 inches of space around it so that it can accommodate the foot traffic.
2. Go with the trend: Pick a kitchen island that is in sync with the latest trends in the market.
3. Space for legroom: Make sure there is adequate leg room in the counter.
4. Opt for openness: Go for shelves that are open so that you can display your dishware. It is economical and also involves less labour.
5. Create a high impact: The kitchen island is bound to capture the attention of the visitors. Hence go for visually appealing ones. It is best to use a countertop material such as marble or granite
6. Material matters: Opt for a material that is in line with your frequent usage. For example, stainless steel is good for hot pans and a butcher block is best suitable for chopping.
7. Remember the kitchen work triangle: The kitchen work triangle connects the centre of cook top, sink and refrigerator in a triangle layout. Make sure this triangle does not cut through the island by more than 12 inches.
Plants are a quick win in any interior décor. They instantly change the atmosphere and add a kick to the space. You can use a cosy corner of the kitchen to arrange the plants or hang small pots against the kitchen wall for an interesting look. If your kitchen is spacious, you can also fill a small rectangular space with pebbles and soil, and then grow the plants. To add some originality to your home décor, opt for planters hanging from the ceiling to conserve the floor and wall space.
Another interesting idea to make your kitchen look refreshing is to grow a vertical herb garden. Make sure that you place the vertical garden in an area with plenty of light or shade as required. The kitchen windowsill can also hold small containers with aromatic plants.
Make use of all the space you have got. No matter how big the kitchen is, we usually always need more space. Having a good storage system makes your life easy, and also helps you to keep the kitchen more organized. Make use of appropriate containers to lend a uniform look to your kitchen. With readymade shelves and organizers readily available on the market, it only makes your job easier. However, they can be pricey. But there are several DIY ideas that can help you to transform even a simple timber box into a storage space!
Ingenious corner drawers are a very innovative solution to avoid the awkward corners in the kitchen. What’s more, you can store all the cutlery, like spoons and knives, in this little space you create. Always hide all the clutter behind closed doors. No one likes to have a messy kitchen. It just spoils the mood for cooking, doesn’t it?
Do you have a small kitchen with a budget to consider? If so, when it comes to painting your kitchen, opt for a white shade without a second thought. White makes the kitchen look bigger and spacious. Though it may get dirty often and show stains, you can remove the stains easily. You can create a magical kitchen in a classic or contemporary style with the colour white. Use white for stools and cabinets too.
Personalise the kitchen according to your taste and preference with the help of wallpapers. They are affordable and can add great visual appeal to any kitchen. Bold patterns are a good choice as they lend a lively feel to the room, and motivate you to prepare hearty meals. Wallpapers depicting food items can be a quirky and unique pick.
The best part about the wallpapers is that it hides all the dirt on your kitchen walls, and as they are cheaper than fancy tiles, you get to stay within your budget too! This refreshing lime and lemon wallpaper is by Demural, an online shop from London.
Now after all the hard work, it is time to flaunt your kitchen. Do not be afraid to show it off. Display your new kitchenware on the shelves for visual interest, or neatly arrange them inside cupboards with glass doors or on open shelves for easy viewing. This will also encourage you to be more organized in the kitchen, and clear the mess from time to time.
So get started with decking out your new kitchen today! And if you need more inspiration, check out another ideabook - 5 simple small kitchen ideas.
