5 easy ways to cheer up your kitchen

22nd April 2022Marie Alcober Share:

It’s always said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Not only is it where all the cooking, baking and mess-making happens, it has also become more of a hub where the family likes to gather – so it’s important to keep the space as welcoming as possible. If your kitchen is looking a bit drab, here are five easy ways you can brighten it up for spring without breaking the bank.

Pretty and practical storage

An easy way to brighten up the pantry is to store baking ingredients, coffee, tea and any miscellaneous kitchen items in pretty and unique storage tins.

Lemons and Harissa storage tins (set of 2), £8.95

Finding stylish storage solutions are a great way to be practical when sprucing up your kitchen. You can also install open shelving or kitchen rails for spatulas and other utensils. The open shelf trend allows you to showcase your colourful crockery and have space to place small plants and decorative trinkets.

Go green with indoor plants

Having plants in the kitchen are a cheerful reminder of the blooms outside! The heat from baking and cooking is not ideal for all indoor plants, but there are hardy ones – like herbs and flowering plants – that have adapted well to this environment.

Make sure you’re moving your plants around the room depending on the amount of sun they need. This is also a great way to keep your kitchen looking fresh and newly-decorated with minimal effort.

A red tin with a mint plant on a kitchen table. Blue and white stripy wallpaper in the background,

Fish storage tins, £8.95

If you’re tight on counter space, consider a hanging plant – whether it’s a succulent or those trendy air plants – by a sunny window. If you have a windowless kitchen, then fake it 'til you make it with an artificial plant.

Artificial cactus in glass. Was £6.95, now £1.95

Play with pattern

Whether it’s on a feature wall, on the floor or with your backsplash tiles, picking a stylish pattern to adorn one part of your kitchen is a great way to add visual flair to the room. The key is not to overwhelm the space with too much, as picking a pattern that looks too busy can also make a space look smaller than it actually is!

It’s best to stick to one signature pattern that shows off your personal style. We love the bold blue and white stripes of this kitchen wall, which belongs to one of our regular guest writers, Georgia Coote.

If you’ve got a big enough space, you can incorporate two subtle patterns with linking colours for a cohesive look. If you’re not ready for a big commitment, introduce pattern with small or moveable kitchen items. Made from recycled plastic, this handy bag has three separate compartments, ideal for sorting your recycling.

Vintage Apple recycling bag, £6.95

Cheer it up with colour

Colour (or the lack of) is a powerful design tool. There’s no better way to add personality to a kitchen than adding a splash of colour on your cupboard doors or kitchen island. If bold colour isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Painting your dark wood cabinets white is a simple but effective way to brighten up the kitchen and allow more light to be reflected in the room. Alternatively, putting up wall art or a bright wall clock is a way to add colour without having to bring out any paint rollers.

Stop for Tea framed wall art, £14.95

Finishing touches

Think carefully about your all the little details and kitchen accessories and how they can add character to the space. Display some stylish kitchen linens, or maybe nab a new set of colourful plates and bowls.

Periodic Table tea towel, £5.95

Pick a shelf or the top of a kitchen dresser and neatly stack pretty tableware and crockery, grouping them by colour, pattern or theme. Make sure not to have too many loose items out in the open, but carefully select ones that add brightness and a pop of colour to the space.