How do you give your kitchen the wow factor? What does that actually look like in practice? If you’re not sure, then this post is for you. We run through some of the features that you might want to include to really impress your guests and feel special every time you walk into the room.
Build a statement island
Start by adding a statement island to the middle of the kitchen, as long as you have enough space. This serves as the room’s dramatic centrepiece, a bit like the fireplace in a living room. Make sure that the island has curved edges or uses mixed materials. Ensure that it develops visual interest in the person viewing it. Also give it chairs and stools so that it can become a sociable hub for people coming in and out of the kitchen all day long.
If you have the room, you could also go for a double-sized island. This can provide even more seating, secondary sinks, storage, refrigerated drawers, and prep areas. This is useful if you want to reduce the clutter in your kitchen.
Add bold, textured materials
Next, you’ll want to think about the materials that you’re using in your kitchen. Making them bolder and more textured often has profoundly positive visual effects.
For example, think about whether you could add more honed stones or woods. Also, look into the idea of reeded or fluted panels on textured cabinetry. Even grounded greens, terra cotta elements, and warm neutrals can be effective.
If you’re struggling for inspiration, use some of the keywords mentioned above in a Pinterest search. You’ll soon come up with various designs that people have already tried.
Add under-cabinet lighting
You should also seriously consider adding under cabinet lighting to your kitchen. Not only is it practical, but it looks great too. Under-cabinet lighting can be a lifesaver when you want to rummage around in the kitchen during the night without blasting bright lights from the ceiling lamps into your eyes.
These days, adding under-cabinet lighting to your kitchen is relatively cheap. Most companies just use LED strips.
Add expressive tiles\splashes
Next, think about adding some expressive tiles and backsplashes to your kitchen. These are one of the biggest bang-for-the-buck options out there and make a huge difference to how your kitchen appears, especially behind your stove. Many home owners like bold geometric patterns and mixed mosaics. These can even be created by hand from skilled artists and craftspeople.
Just make sure they’re full height and colorful. It’s very difficult to overwhelm the space if the rest of the kitchen is neutral.
Use unexpected details with personality
Finally, think about how you can add unexpected details and give your kitchen some more personality. For example, these days a lot of people are opting for hand-hammered copper basins, but that’s not the only option. You could have a focal hood which extends further down than usual. You could also have walk-in pantries that look like they are behind ordinary-looking doors. You could even use jewelry-like hardware for bling.