The kitchen is often cited as the most important room in your home. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the kitchen is one of the most commonly renovated rooms in any house. When planning to renovate your kitchen, it’s important to strike a balance between style and functionality. After all, there’s no point in having a kitchen which looks great but is a pain to use every time you want to cook a family dinner. Moreover, it’s equally important to find a design that you connect with and would be proud to show off to friends and family.
Here, we’ve collated some of our favourite kitchen design ideas for your home, which cater for aesthetic appeal as well as ease of use.
All-white colour scheme with a wooden finish
One of the best small room ideas? Choose the colours carefully. Clean, fresh and bright, an all-white colour scheme is ideal for that understated but crisp kitchen feel. The room will feel comfortable and open, with lighter tones making your space feel larger than it already is.
When choosing an all white finish to your kitchen, it’s a great idea to add some natural wood colours to give an earthy and welcoming feel. The wood can be used as flooring, countertops or door handles to give a slightly rustic feel to the space. We do recommend shopping around if choosing all white, as you’d ideally like items which are durable and scuff resistant.
Adventurous wallpaper and bold colours
We’ve all heard about the idea of having a feature wall in a living room or bedroom, so why not try one in the kitchen? This works especially well when you place the feature wall as the backdrop to your stove, with lighter neutral colours on all other walls.
If you’re feeling extra adventurous and want to let your personality shine through in your kitchen design, why not try a vibrant wallpaper backdrop set against bold and colourful kitchen units?
Sometimes, being bold in your design concepts can really pay off. Wondering how to fund your project? Get a home improvement loan quote below.
Deep greys for a kitchen that makes a statement
How much of a statement do you want to make with your kitchen? If you’re looking for something a little bit different, opting for deep grey units can offer an eye-catching finish which oozes sophistication.
We recommend balancing these dark hues with lighter neutral toned work surfaces and flooring for a modern design that’s guaranteed to impress.
Hideaway hotspots for those short on space
If you’re not working with the largest of spaces, it can really pay off to be a little innovative with your kitchen design.
Hidden pull-out storage spaces, fold-up countertops and ingeniously concealed foldaway furniture can give you all of the benefits of a lived-in kitchen without cluttering your much needed workspace.
There are plenty of kitchen designs out there which make intelligent use of small spaces. Be sure to shop around and not try to cram too much into your small space, as you’ll want to keep the design fully functional.
Try tiling around your stove’s hood
Stove hoods can really stand out. Despite the fact that plenty of oven makers try to make their hoods as appealing to the eye as possible, there’s no hiding from it being function over fashion.
If you’re looking for a little extra style to your cook space, it’s worth considering a tiled wall that surrounds your stove’s hood. A well-designed version will ensure you still have enough space to reach up and use the controls on your extractor fan without any of the garish metal peaking out.
Green and gold match to add a splash of extravagance
Deep green units are renowned for giving your kitchen a luxurious feel. Try offsetting this with gold fittings like handles and chairs to make your kitchen a room of real extravagance. This works especially well when paired with stone or neutral work surfaces. You can apply this principle to other areas of the house too; it’s a great small bathroom idea.
Reinvigorate any kitchen with new lighting
Whether you’re renovating your kitchen from scratch or simply want to update your existing design, your choice of lighting can really make or break the room.
Think about the time you spend in your kitchen and consider how your lighting arrangement can be built around this. If you’re cooking, entertaining, relaxing and working in the room at different times, ensure your lighting is multi-functional.
Positioning your lighting at the right angle can make smaller rooms appear larger, can battle against poor natural light and even hide any less than favourable aspects of the space.
Think about more than just the overhead lighting too. Why not add LEDs under cupboards which shine down upon work surfaces? Consider adding lamps to feature walls which can be angled out to improve the room’s atmosphere.
Practical vs aesthetic shelving
If you’re looking to add a bit of style to the substance in your kitchen, consider adding shelving for aesthetic purposes. These can house any manner of items that fit the decor of your room.
When we think about shelving in our kitchens, we often lean towards the practical needs of the room. However, creating space for aesthetic only shelving can really bring your kitchen to life and add an extra layer of personality to your space.
U-shaped designs are ideal when space is a concern
If you’re only working within a limited space, opting for a u-shaped layout to your kitchen can really enhance the amount of storage and work space available to you.
If opting for this type of design for your kitchen, we recommend placing your oven, sink and fridge in a triangle, so each occupies one wall of the U. This will help to keep your kitchen balanced while allowing for each key aspect to be within easy reach of the other.
Don’t skimp on the appliances
While designing your kitchen, it’s important to make sure you invest in the appliances too. After all, what use is a beautifully designed space if your oven remains an eye-sore. It’s also important to ensure that style and functionality are once again balanced when shopping for your appliances. Consider the size of oven and fridge / freezer you’ll need based on the number of people in your household. Moreover, smaller appliances which match the aesthetic of your kitchen can really add that extra injection of style.
When shopping for appliances, try not to be caught up too much in gimmicky products. Kitchen technology has really come on leaps and bounds in the last few years, sometimes this is a good thing but it can also be a waste of money too. Keep your wits about you to cut costs on home renovation. Some kitchen appliances will offer gimmicky solutions to issues which don’t really exist, if you’re not careful you can pay a premium for items that you’ll barely use.
Keep it tidy with ample storage space
Even the most beautifully designed and kitted out kitchen will look grubby and unwelcoming if it’s not kept tidy. When browsing showrooms for inspiration or scrolling through your favourite interior design accounts on Instagram, bear in mind that you’re not creating a kitchen just looks alone.
Your kitchen will be used every day and will be home to plenty of utensils, pots, pans and appliances. If your dream kitchen doesn’t feature ample storage, it can quickly turn into a nightmare. Storage space is the antidote to messiness in the kitchen, so don’t undersell yourself here.
Create space for working from home
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of people working from home. Despite the fact that people can now go back to the office, it’s expected that much of the UK’s workforce will continue to work remotely. If you’re someone who will share their time between commuting and staying in, your kitchen renovation could provide the perfect opportunity to optimise your WFH experience.
Consider factoring in a designated work space to your kitchen design, somewhere you can feel comfortable sitting down with a cup of tea while clearing your inbox.
Open plan offers options for modern living
Your kitchen doesn’t just have to be somewhere that you cook and clean. More and more people are using their kitchens for entertaining guests, relaxing or working. With this in mind, opting for an open plan design can be ideal for your modern lifestyle.
Open plan kitchens can increase the perceived size of your room, it can increase the amount of light it gets and can give you a kitchen that truly feels lived-in.
Find a trusted architect for your renovation project
Now that you’ve got the inspiration for your new kitchen design, it’s time to find an architect you can trust. Find a recommended architect for your renovation project below.
Last Updated: August 22nd, 2023
