5 ways to add design flair to your kitchen

The kitchen has to be a practical room in the house, of course, you need somewhere to prepare meals and store ingredients and utensils. However, there is no reason why you can’t use some creativity and add some sparkle to the design to make the space fun as well as functional.

From fixtures and fittings to lighting and decor there are lots of ways to fit a feature in your kitchen. Check out these 5 ways to add design flair to your kitchen for some inspiration:

Add a feature splash back

A quick way to make an impact in the kitchen is to add some colour or texture in the form of a feature splashback. These hard, smooth surfaces usually made from glass or acrylic protect your walls from stains when cooking and are incredibly easy to keep clean – simply wipe clean.

Splashbacks almost make a great design statement! Most suppliers offer coloured acrylic splashbacks in a wide range of colours, materials and finishes so it is easy to find the right one to suit your kitchen units and colour scheme.

For a bold look choose a material in a bright colour or pattern which catches the eye or for a more subtle look try matching your splashback to the cabinets, worktops and other fixtures.

Upgrade your worktop

Swapping out your worktop is such a quick way to add some flair to your kitchen. There are so many options; from laminate, classic granite worktops, solid wood, concrete, Quartz, glass, silestone worktops and stainless steel.

There a number of things you should consider when looking to upgrade your worktop including budget and possible added costs, your kitchen layout, your desired profile as well as material and what you intend to use the worktop for.

Hard Wood is great for food preparation and dining areas, for example, islands and breakfast bars. Granite is very versatile and works in any area of the kitchen, including around the sink and next to the hob or oven. Stainless steel is great for around the sink, by the hob and in all food preparation areas.

A new worktop is a big investment so don’t be afraid to take your time choosing, visit showrooms and get a feel for each of the listed materials to see what best suits your needs. Don’t forget that any upgrade to your kitchen can add value to your home.

An eye-catching extractor hood

Gracefully enhance the kitchen and add a sense of style to your living space with a feature extractor hood. Originally designed to remove airborne grease, odours, and cooking fumes from your kitchen these practical appliances now come in a range of styles and be a real feature.

There are five types of cooker hoods to choose from; built-in, chimney, freestanding, integrated and island. If you’re looking for a sleek modern look try a chimney style hood; these hoods are shaped like a chimney and need to be fitted to a wall. They are usually made from modern stainless steel and they can incorporate a stylish glass canopy to catch steam and a telescopic section to extend to the ceiling.

Add a splash of colour

Although the ubiquitous white kitchen is always in style why not give the heart of your home a bit of personality with colour? From bold hues to subtle neutrals, selecting the right shade of paint for your walls is essential in establishing the tone and atmosphere of any room. 

Consider how you use your kitchen and what sort of cook you are to help you choose the best palette for your kitchen. if you’re an adventurous cook you might opt for more exciting colours that spur creativity; if you’re looking for a calming environment for family meals, you might prefer cool tones. 

 If you’re not sure what colours go together best look to nature for inspiration! The great outdoors is made up of complementary shades of blues, greens, sandy whites with driftwood grays of the seashore naturally work together.

Undercabinet lighting

Having good lighting is important in a room where you will be using knives and other potentially dangerous utensils. For something a bit different why not try under cabinet lighting which helps brighten a kitchen and provides crucial task lighting for meal prep and cleanup.

Under-cabinet lighting allows more variations of light bulbs than the common ones. You can explore more and add variation based on your bulb choice. LEDs come out as the best option as they use around 10% of the energy of halogen bulbs, and about 40% of the energy typically consumed by a fluorescent light making them an efficient option.

Does your kitchen have a funky design feature?