So here we are, not quite post pandemic yet, still hanging in there - our budgets are stretched and we are all prioritising our spend, which may not include the home upgrade or refurbishment... yet.
As we spend more time than ever in our homes, in our kitchens in particular - perhaps you feel it's time for mini-instant-upgrades.
Here are a few tips on how to be a self-appointed home stylist and some quick wins to upgrade your kitchen space, without breaking the bank.
1. Build Monochromatic Cluster Displays
Move beyond the utilitarian fruit bowl, and go large, go tall, go wide, go cluster of bowls. Choose display piece(s) that you can group together for effect. Monochromatic displays draws the attention in (oranges, lemons and limes smell great and repel insects - and last a fair amount of time too). It would work the same way for plants - grouped in clusters or similar colours for effect.
Don't be afraid to mix things up on a display tray- e.g put a bowl of oranges, with an orange scented candle and orange blooms, all on one tray. Or try crispy apple green and white combo - with a vanilla white candle. Works a bomb!
2. Balance Plants with Natural Textures (rattan, glass, wood)
Bring more greenery into your kitchen and dining areas. Not just as foliage (such as Olive tree branches or Eucalyptus leaves), but potted herbs can also be used in your cooking too and look great when placed next to wooden chopping boards or wooden spoon displays. (PS: Don't be tempted to mash up steel with wooden and plastic spoons in the display jars ... it won't cut the mustard, stick with the one texture)
Instead of cut flowers, consider using big glass jars with monster or bulbs such as tulips or lilies to slowly root, and later split them into more glass jars and share them between the bathrooms too.
On the whole, remember plants in a white kitchen, teamed with mirrors, rattan and wood is a great combination to upgrade a harsh white space . We also dedicated a blog to all-white kitchen upgrades here...
Take a look at some of these examples of simple upgrades using plants and natural textures.
3. Put a little bit more thought into your storage pieces
Sometimes the smallest and seemingly most insignificant things can make all the difference. Your storage pieces are functional items that are a huge part of your everyday life - just make them beautiful.
Megasize glass jars of rusks, or nuts or cinnamon sticks - is a quick win - and so is the organised cookie jar as featured by the Kardashians and also on The Home Edit (.... who has the time right - and how long would it really last? But it does look good!)
Below are pictures of a magnificent solid Oak Kitchen Island that we made for a real "foodie family". We were briefed to transform their kitchen into a bistro style space that could be used for food shoots and food blogging. See the full transformation
in our post here
