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There are plenty of reasons to renovate the kitchen, whether it’s to give it more space, to make it easier to clean, or otherwise. However, it’s not all about the practical use of the kitchen, it’s important to consider how the kitchen feels, as well. When you enter your kitchen, do you feel welcomed and positive about it, or do you tend to associate the room only with work and being busy? With the tips that follow, we share how to create an inviting, bright kitchen.
Give it some clean and gentle colors
One of the things about the more minimalist aesthetic approach is that it doesn’t exclude anyone. A more personal and bold color choice might make the bright kitchen feel more like you, individually, but what does that mean for people who don’t share your sense of style? Painting your kitchen white, or something that’s close, be it on the walls or any wooden cabinets, can make it a more inviting place for more people. This neutral color also makes it a lot easier to work with both modern and traditional styles. White is a great choice for making the kitchen seem both brighter and bigger than it is, too. You just need to really stay on top of keeping it clean or it can look a little gruesome.
Cut the clutter
There’s nothing more unwelcoming than a mess, even if it’s only a perceived mess. There might be plenty of order to your clutter and you could even find it convenient to have things placed where you can easily access them. However, clutter is undeniably messy looking, which isn’t good when you want a relaxing family space to dine in or you want guests to feel welcome in your kitchen. As such, there are plenty of ways to cut the clutter, whether it’s by using the vertical space available in the kitchen to add more organized storage options or simply cleaning things away and storing them out of sight unless they are immediately being used by you or the family.
Get that natural light in
If there’s one thing that can make a room feel brighter and friendlier, it’s good old natural light. It’s important to have good lighting regardless, but there is something a little special about the glow of the sun through the windows that makes it a little more affecting. There are plenty of ways to include more natural light in your room, with one of the most effective being choosing lighter window treatments that let more light into the room. If you have plenty of privacy around your garden, you can even choose to get rid of the window treatments entirely, simply letting your windows let all of the sunlight in that they can. If you have the option, you can maximize the effect even more with a skylight.
Better connect it with your garden
A sense of connection with the surrounding environment is always a good thing. If you have a garden, then you might want to open the kitchen up to it a little more. This is because being more in touch with the greenery of the garden has genuine well-being benefits, from helping you stay on top of stress to making it easier to relax at home. Finding patio doors near you is one of the easiest ways to open the kitchen up to the garden a little more. It also offers a lot more natural light (as we have already mentioned) and can help with the ventilation, keeping a more comfortable space even when you’re busy cooking up a storm.
Make sure that it has a space to congregate
Of course, it’s not just about how the room looks and feels to individuals, but how it is used by the family or by others spending time in the kitchen. Having a place to come together, whether it’s for a meal or for a quick chat, can make a big difference. This can be the kitchen table, of course, but you can also install an island if you have the space for it. Not only does this give you a place for people to hang out and get comfortable while they’re talking to you in the kitchen, but it also offers more preparation and storage space to meet your practical needs, too.
Add some extra seating if you can
If you have the opportunity, you should make sure that it’s easy to sit more people than usual in the kitchen. You can do this by simply adding a larger dining table that has more room to seat more people, for instance, or you can opt for seating that isn’t centric to the table at all. For instance, more people have been adding things like bar tools that they can keep hanging around the kitchen island or underneath the counters. This can make it great for when you want to hang out for a quick bite and chat in the bright kitchen but you don’t want to really set the table.
Natural materials work well
If you’re looking to make some big changes, then there are few that can have as much of an impact as changing the surfaces in the kitchen. There are plenty of criteria by which you might choose yours, but when it comes to warm and welcoming looks, there are few better than the appearance of natural wood. A hardwood floor, timber framing, and even wooden floor or finished wood countertops can add a very homey factor to your kitchen. Wood isn’t the only natural material. Granite can also feel much more welcoming and clean when it comes to your countertops and, if you have the money for it, marble can add a touch of the luxury appeal, to boot.
A bright kitchen is always going to need work and time to maintain. However, with the tips above, you can make sure that it’s a welcoming spot in the home that you and your family are much more eager to spend more time in.
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