As the root of all warm meals, the kitchen has been the heart of every home. Every element within the space should coordinate with the rest of the room. Pouring a little extra for the kitchen space will make a huge difference to the visual impact of the space. It does not necessarily mean you need to extend the expenses. Instead, make the most out of the cheaper alternatives you can get. Allow us to release your inner creativity and work on DIY ideas to transform your kitchen’s decoration. It may be quite a challenge to make the warm space more cohesive but we have rounded up 13 ideas on how to decorate the kitchen for a modern aesthetic for 2022.
1. Breakfast Nook
What is not to love about breakfasts? It is the most important meal of the day and it makes a huge difference if it is provided with extra attention. As seen in the inspiration above, the designer designated space specifically for breakfasts or small meals. This is the perfect idea if you have extra space to spare in the kitchen. It can also act as a resting space if you are tired of cooking and cleaning. Whether it be a sectional bench or dining chairs, having a separate area for breakfast makes a sweet ambiance to starting your day right.
2. Rug
To add a cozier touch to the kitchen, adding a rug will do the trick. The way it acts for the living room is the same way how it will act for the kitchen. As much as we want to add more textiles to the space, a single rug would suffice. The kitchen is designed for both wet and dry activities. Having a rug will be a huge help for accidental spills and such. You can work around it by working on different rugs every now and then. This is a perfect touch-up for the kitchen.
3. Dried Plants
As much as we love fresh flowers and plants lingering throughout the kitchen space, it can be a bummer how easily they dry up. Having dried plants will solve half of your problem in replacing the water keeping them fresh. They help in introducing an antiquated look for the kitchen. It matches different modern and vintage kitchen designs that make a huge difference to the visual impact. You may not worry about them drying up but some types easily crumble. We highly recommend placing them somewhere that is beyond the reach of children. Fragile pieces should be located in corners or safe places where they are not prone to breakages.
4. Mirror
To create a more spacious illusion for the kitchen, you will love having a mirror hung on the wall. It would serve your kitchen best to play with shapes and textures. We are well-acquainted with how edgy kitchen designs can be. But, having a mirror will turn the tables in highlighting the best features of the kitchen. As seen in the inspiration above, the space on the left would seem a little odd to have it empty. Instead of wasting space, hanging mirror spices up the design of the kitchen.
5. Wooden Boards
Whether it be modern or antiquated designs for the kitchen, wood is a favored material. Its cuts and creases reveal their natural look. Wooden cutting boards always have a space in the kitchen. They come in handy for cooking, preparing, and serving meals. At the same time, they also make a huge difference in acting as decoration. We highly recommend having a fair few. It does not necessarily mean they all need to be used. Some may serve as a back up while some can be used as decoration. For the decoration ones, it would serve the wooden boards best if they are polished to perfection.
6. Hanging Bar
We all have the habit of storing everything in the cabinets. Instead of pushing everything inside, why not have them hung on the wall? It accentuates the wall and keeps everything organized. This is an ideal decor if your kitchen is quite busy with cooking and preparation. Having the cooking pans and ladles all hung on the wall will keep them within proximity of the cooking area. You do not necessarily need to use every element on the hanging bar. In some cases, they can be purely for the sake of decoration.
7. Painted Ceiling
If you want a cheap yet impactful decoration, think simple. Having the ceiling painted is a cheaper alternative than working on extravagant decor for the kitchen. In the inspiration above, you can see how they played with the color of the ceiling. It is not something you will expect in a kitchen but the color gave away a refreshing and vibrant vibe for such a busy space. We highly recommend using a glossy or eggshell finish to acquire natural light for the kitchen. This is one way of managing the natural lighting for the kitchen considering how too many windows can make the space too vibrant.
8. Pendant Lighting
Yet another decorative idea to invest in are pendant lighting. They are often used as a main lighting source in the kitchen. These fixtures come in three to illuminate the kitchen island or bar. Choose a piece that you think would complement the existing design of the kitchen and has potential in any other design style. Pendant lights are ideal for high-ceiling kitchens. If you are not given generous floor-to-ceiling space, you can opt for recessed lighting or wall sconces alongside. This will help in illuminating the kitchen without the need for extra space.
9. Accent Wall
Yet another means of spicing up the kitchen interior is by working on an accent wall. Create an area that is different from the others. This will help in identifying the busy zone of the kitchen. As seen in the inspiration above, it is a white kitchen with a pastel turquoise accent wall. It gives away a refreshing vibe for the kitchen because of the color. Having the preparation area in tiles will help in maintaining the quality of the wall. It is a protection from moisture preventing the growth of molds and mildew. Work with materials that you think would prolong the functionality and aesthetic of the space.
10. Extended Dining
If you have more room to cover in the kitchen, why not add space for extended dining. We gave you an idea of how breakfast nooks work but having extended dining is also a great idea for the kitchen. This is perfect if you prefer an intimate dining setup. It makes it easier to travel to and from the wash area and cabinets. It does not need to be something grand but furniture that will make the kitchen space more cohesive. Make the most out of the kitchen space by entertaining other activities that will buy the household and guests convenience.
11. Glassware
Unleash your inner creativity by displaying a variety of plates and vases on an area. This will catch the attention of anyone who will walk inside the kitchen. It draws attention considering the shapes and finishes. What we love about this idea is how the plates that we love are put to good use. The variety of colors makes the plain canvas wall pop. Choose plates that look grand and filled with patterns. Ensure that the adhesive to be used can work on different materials because we would not want the plates breaking around the kitchen. On the other hand, you can also work with hooks attached to the other side of the plate.
12. Floating Shelves
A simple and cheap decoration for the kitchen walls is floating shelves. They may not be as aesthetic as the other options but it keeps everything organized and look visually pleasing. This way, you can even work with scraps of wood that you can cut yourself and polish for the shelves. They can be easily attached by adhesive or hooks. On a more sleek design, you can even work with laminated sheets to wrap around the wood planks. Floating shelves are more than just for the design but as well as its functionality.
13. Wallpaper
To make the kitchen space more appealing to the eyes, why not make a difference with the use of wallpaper. As seen in the inspiration above, we love how well-coordinated the entire space is. Work on patterns, details, and colors when it comes to the wallpaper of the kitchen. Be selective in order for the kitchen to be more cohesive. What we love about wallpapers is how they can be easily attached and detached from the wall whenever you want to. Considering its sheer material, it can be easily torn apart and replaced with a new one when they are damaged.
