It’s easy to tire of a decorating scheme, especially if you spend the majority of your time in one particular room. We’re increasingly using the kitchen not only as a space to cook, but also to eat, entertain, gather as a family and relax, so it’s natural we should want to mix things up from time to time. Changing cabinetry can be a costly business, but luckily you can transform your kitchen without putting in a huge amount of time or effort. Paint is the most obvious way to reinvigorate a tired scheme. From on-trend greys or minimalist white to a feature wall in a bold colour the possibilities are endless. Also consider a statement wallpaper or mural in a bold pattern, which is a great way to zone off a dining area.
Lighting also has transformative powers, from oversized pendants suspended over a table to subtle LED strips under cabinetry there is a wealth of choice when it comes to kitchen illumination that doesn’t have to cost the earth.
And what about furniture? The introduction of some colourful bar stools can take a scheme from ordinary to urban chic in an instant, while a secondhand dresser lovingly brought back to life with an unusual coat of paint will give a county kitchen a modern edge.
Read on for more of our top tips!
White and brick kitchen with pops of red
A splash of the right colour can cheer up any kitchen scheme. Here, the bar stools provide a welcome colour pop, and a handy spot to sit and grab a coffee or catch up on emails.
Cabinetry and worktops
Urbo from Roundhouse
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Stools
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Click or tap to zoom into this image
Kitchen with classic retro styling
Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a domestic goddess? This casual kitchen-diner is decorated in simple white with splashes of bright colours and 1950s-style accessories for a fun, retro feel. Spread them around the room to draw the eye in different directions.
Gingham tablecloth
Marks & Spencer
Fridge-freezer
Smeg
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Kitchen clock wall stickers
Wall stickers are a great way to add character to your kitchen at minimal cost. The clock wall stickers in this eclectic kitchen-diner are a novel way to stamp your personality on to a scheme.
Wall sticker set
Spin Collective
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Kitchen wall art
Love decorative wall art? Add an arty element to your kitchen with a fabulous print. This cockatoo painting adds quirky charm to this modern kitchen design.
Similar prints
Easy Art
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Floral kitchen wallpaper
Who says you can’t wallpaper a kitchen? You can, and to great effect. Floral wallpaper provides a pretty backdrop in this shabby-chic kitchen scheme.
Wallpaper
Sanderson
Jug
David Austin
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Kitchen with simple industrial good looks
A pared-back warehouse look is created in this kitchen-diner with brick-effect wallpaper and a mix of warm wood and natural materials with tougher, industrial-style furniture.
Wallpaper
Rockett St George
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Modern kitchen space with neon lights
Slighty unconvential but with heaps of character – the not-so-subtle glow of neon signs lights up the darker reccesses of a modern kitchen. They add warmth and interest to a plain space.
Sofa
Circus Antiques & Interiors
Similar lighting
Neon Creations
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Click or tap to zoom into this image
Blackboard kitchen wall
This is one you can get the kids involved with. Painting on a wall with magnetic blackboard paint is perfect for those all-important reminders, shopping lists and toddler scrawls.
Blackboard paint
Dulux
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