Patterned tile

Patterned tile is super popular right now, but it is a style we expect to stick around for a while. Incorporating tile and floating shelves is a great way to make a kitchen more visually appealing. If you have a hard time committing, peel and stick tiles are getting to be higher quality! They look almost as good as the real thing now. Patterned tile also works great for back splashes and the back side of kitchen islands! 

Art

Art is another way to spice up a space! It is easy to forget that wall art can also work great in kitchens! Something bold and daring, featuring a bright color is the perfect way to bring interest to a space. 

Wallpaper

Wallpaper is making a comeback, but not like it used to! Not only are there super neat new wallpaper products that make it a heck of a lot easier to apply, they are also easier to remove when you decide to change your mind in a few years!

Adding an accent wall, or using the wallpaper as a back splash alternative are both great options to make a more visually interesting space!

Statement lighting

Light fixtures are a great way to make a space more interesting. Incorporating lighting that is bold, and a little off the beaten path, is the perfect way to make a space feel risky, without being too risky! 

Why is lighting so important?

The kitchen is the backbone of the household, generally being used from dawn to dusk. Proper lighting is necessary! Between all the mundane and exciting tasks that take place in the kitchen, without proper lighting, may end up being very unsafe. Beyond functionality, the amount of character and charm lighting brings is what takes the looks of a kitchen from dull to dreamy!

Plan lighting as early as possible

When planning a full remodel, lighting should be the first thought. Rewiring and repainting costs really add up, especially if everything else is already in place.

What is layered lighting?

Layered light involves using different shades of light. To create an interesting space, playing with shadows and colors will highlight the best features of the room as well as keep your kitchen functional. In the kitchen, task lighting for cooking and prep takes priority over everything else. Ambient lighting is to add character into the space and create a general light for the space. Accent lighting is to accentuate specific traits and features such as your beautiful countertops for backspalsh. 

Choose the right style

When it comes to choosing your accent lights, take inspiration for the rest of your home. Choose similar styles and/or finishes will create a sense of unity and flow throughout the home. This is especially important in the loved ‘open concept’ home designs.

When it comes to what is in style for 2018, industrial lighting, wood/natural materials, and Scandinavian elements are the most sought after trends.

Make sure it is proportional

Make sure pendant lights are hung at the correct height. A good rule of thumb is 32″ above a table or counter. This is to prevent bumping heads.
Also take into consideration the size of the fixture. Too large and it may overwhelm a small space; too small and it may get lost!

Start Fresh

Starting off with a clean slate is the best way to start any project, big or small. To see your kitchen in positive light, start off with a deep clean. Do not stop once it is clean however. Take this opportunity to get rid of clutter. Broken appliances, duplicates of things that you do not need etc. Make the effort to keep your counters clean, with only a few of the daily items you use out. 

Personalize the space

Now that your space is clean and clutter free, it is time to add a touch of “you”. This is as simple as a new piece of art, new ceramic containers, or a new plant for your windowsill. (I recently bought an Easter Island Head planter for my windowsill, it makes me smile every day) If this isn’t enough, and you feel up to it, try adding a new paint color. Also, a DIY Herb Garden, or swapping out some cushion covers will add the extra pep to your step!

Replace overhead lights

Replacing overhead lighting is fairly simple and straight forward, but it can completely change the feeling of the space. Proper lighting will make the space feel light, bright, and will make spending time in there more appealing. 

Add storage solutions

Add cute woven baskets onto a shelf, under an open prep space, or just on the counter. Extra storage is never a bad thing, but a way to keep things organized and fashionable can make a kitchen feel new and you may just fall in love all over again. 

Appreciate what you already have

Day dreaming can be fun and a great pass time, but there is something special about accepting things as they are. If we pick apart our lives, there will always be something more we want to change. There is no reason to keep a negative mindset in life. If you find yourself getting frustrated with the way things are, stop, and find the things you love. Whether this is in your kitchen, or your life, positivity is the key to loving and appreciating the things you already have!

When remodeling a kitchen, try contrasting

If you are set on white cabinets, try contrasting with other elements. Hard wood floors will make a space feel much warmer, no matter how white your kitchen and walls are. Contrasting upper and lower cabinets (or a contrasting island) will create depth and keep the space feel warmer, without sacrificing the beautiful white cabinets. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your marble/white or light gray countertops either! Using wood is really all you need to keep the space feeling warm.

Accessorize with warm colors

Accessories are a huge part of keeping a space feeling ‘warm’. White cabinets in a kitchen will keep the space feeling extremely clean and open, however, without accessories, may start to feel too white. (This includes cabinet hardware) The best way to counteract this is to choose a color theme for your kitchen. I personally chose oil rubbed bronze/copper/rose gold as my base accessory color. Since these are on the ‘warm scale’ they worked quite well.  Think reds, oranges, and yellows. Right now, the copper/rose gold tones are extremely ‘in’ so it will be really easy to find accessories at your favorite places to shop. Home Goods, Target, Ikea, and even Wal-Mart had exactly what I was looking for. 

Furniture

It is funny to think of furniture as an accessory, but it is true! I personally chose cream furniture and white washed wood for my living room. I’m not a fan of having too many different types of woods in the same room. Not everyone agrees with this, but try to keep the wood stains a similar color when it comes to furniture, it keeps everything looking more uniform. This isn’t to say you can’t contrast with bold colored furniture however (Whether it be black, red, blue etc.). As previously stated, wood makes a great accent, because it will keep the space feeling warm.

Bold lighting

In your home and kitchen, bold lighting can really keep a space feeling warm, especially if you use ‘warm’ lights. I previously mentioned that I am not a fan of warmer lights, so I compromised with myself. I kept all my overhead lights ‘daylight’ bulbs, but all my lamps and pendent lights have LED ‘vintage’ Edison bulbs, which all give off a warm tone. This is perfect for evenings. Blue light actually makes the brain think it is still daytime, while orange/yellow light doesn’t affect the brain the same way. In the evening, keeping the warm lights on and they daylight bulbs off will let your body wind down naturally. Here is my current living room, it is still a work in progress, but all the walls are white, furniture and accents are cream and black, with a bold light fixture which is black and bronze.

Install Extra Lighting

Light can real open up a space. Adding under-cabinet lighting is not only functional, but very classy. Having your kitchen lit up with an under-glow effect will keep your kitchen light and bright, day or night, without being blinding! (They are great for those late night glasses of water). There are many options of under-cabinet lighting out there: plug-in, battery operated, and hard wired. No matter which way you go, it will definitely be a great upgrade to your home and kitchen.  

Reface Your Cabinets

There is always the option of cabinet refacing. This will be the most dramatic change that can be done in a kitchen without entirely gutting it. The process can be found on my previous blog here. This is a great, cost effective option that only takes a few days and makes a huge impact!

Add New Hardware

The easiest way to change up your kitchen without investing much time or money, is by installing new hardware. Hardware alone can completely change the style of your kitchen. Adding different pendent lighting to match can change your kitchen from drab to fab in the blink of an eye.

Add a Wine Rack

A wine rack is both practical and a beautiful display that adds character. A wine rack can be almost anywhere, but it is very popular to install them at a wet bar or the end of your kitchens island. 

Install Cabinet Crown Molding

Cabinet crown molding a great quick way to upgrade! If you have basic carpentry skills, it is also a very DIY project. It can make “cookie cutter” kitchens look expensive and custom.

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Before Purchasing

The first decision that you should make is how you want to power your lights. There are all sorts of options; hard wired, battery operated and plug in. Battery operated is definitely the easiest and most cost effective -but- you have the hassle of replacing batteries when they die. Plug in is also fairly simple, as you just plug it into an existing wall outlet. Downside to this is that you will be sacrificing the outlets you use for your appliances. The most convenient, but costly, option, is hard wired. This will most likely require a professional, but you’ll have the ease of turning them on with a switch or setting them to a timer.

Puck Lights

Puck lights are little, round lights that are very popular because of how easy they are. They come in multiple styles, and can be used by any of the power sources listed above. The best part about these is that they come in many “peel and stick” varieties. These will be battery operated,  but with all the LED options, batteries should last a while!

Fluorescent Strips

Throw everything you know about fluorescent lighting out the window. Current fluorescent lights are so much better than they used to be. With great light output, and no more humming noises, they are a very viable option for the modern kitchen. Fluorescent strips are usually hardwired, but can also be plugged into a wall socket.

LED Strips

LED strips are similar to fluorescent, however the bulbs have a much longer life. There are many typed of LED strips available. Diffused, exposed diodes, etc. The nice thing about LEDs is that they are cool burning, so they don’t produce much, if any, noticeable heat. Traditional white LED lights generally has a cooler temperature, so make sure to test them out in your kitchen before purchasing. However, with LED, there are RGB options available. With infinite color options available, you can really have any color you’d want. (You could even throw a dance party in your kitchen with all the fun effects RGB LED lights offer these days)