Kitchens are the most important rooms in people’s houses. They are hubs of activity, where cooking, eating, and socialising take place. On average people will spend more time in their kitchen than in any other room, besides their bedrooms. Because of how important kitchens are, properly designing yours so that you get the most out of it should be one of your main priorities. Without experience in interior decoration, however, tackling a kitchen redesign will likely feel somewhat daunting. Don’t worry though because this post will tell you everything you need to know:

Upgrading Flooring

In the average person’s kitchen, you will find laminate flooring or very basic tiles. As you can see from the many tiles from MSI Surfaces, there are an almost endless number of tiles for you to choose from. Basic flooring is therefore wholly unnecessary. Upgrading your kitchen floor can change the room’s entire dynamic. Spend some time searching for the perfect tiles so your kitchen floor looks its best.

Replacing Cabinets

Unless you have redesigned your kitchen before, there is a very strong chance the cabinets that you have in there are the same ones that came with the house. Using old cabinets to store plates, cutlery, and food is like sleeping on a used sofa. Replacing the cabinets in your kitchen can be a highly effective way of improving the room’s entire design. The good thing about cabinet replacements is that they can be done independently, without a contractor’s help.

Window Furnishings

If you have ever been to Morocco and stayed in a riad before, you will be familiar with metal grates covering windows. Metal window coverings in Morocco typically have a strong Islam influence, due to the nation’s history. You don’t have to live in Morocco or be a Muslim to make use of them, however. Metal window grates are a highly effective way of beautifying your kitchen. When light passes through them it is cut into thousands of shapes and shadows that will dance across the opposite wall.

Plantation Shutters

An alternative to Moroccan window grates is the traditional plantation shutter, a staple of European manors. Plantation shutters get their name from their usage in colonial plantation houses. Typically they sit over sash windows. The good thing about them is that they double as blackout blinds, completely preventing light from getting into the rooms they are built into. If your kitchen looks out on a road or path, plantation shutters will give you more privacy.

New Countertops

Like with cabinets, there is a strong chance the countertops used in your kitchen are the same ones that were there when you moved in. Most people go through their lives without ever refitting kitchen countertops, mainly because of the costs associated with them. Changing yours can significantly enhance your kitchen’s design, especially if you make the other changes listed here. Marble countertops are the most expensive but also the most attractive. You can buy faux marble if you are on a budget.

Hanging Pictures

Pictures in people’s kitchens are not common, mainly because the steam that is released by cooked food stains and distorts them. Despite how uncommon it is for people to hang pictures in their kitchens, hanging some in yours could be a great way of improving your kitchen’s design and making it look more unique. Rather than hanging oil paintings or anything of value, hang prints. Ensure that they are covered with glazing to prevent any water damage from occurring. You can buy cheap prints online, used and new.

Dining Table

Putting a dining table in your kitchen will give you somewhere to sit with your family, enjoying meals and each other’s company. It is not unusual for people to eat on their sofas or in front of the television these days. Encouraging this kind of behaviour will set a precedent for it and when your children leave home, they will copy this behaviour and do the same thing. Family meals should always take place around a dining table, nowhere else. Dining tables should ideally be made from solid woods like oak and mahogany, as these look better and last longer.

Pots and Pans

A kitchen is a room with a purpose. While you should always be concerned with improving its design, interior design is not more important than functionality. To this end, invest in pots and pans, good quality appliances, and plates and cutlery made from high-quality materials. Do not compromise on quality just to satisfy your desire for a pretty kitchen. The pans you buy should be made from iron and steel. Copper is good also. Avoid aluminium as studies suggest it can leach into foods and cause poisoning.

Appliances

New appliances might not make your kitchen look beautiful but they will definitely make it a lot more functional. A functional kitchen is something everybody deserves. When you have one preparing and cooking meals will become a lot easier. You won’t have to worry about using a multitude of different tools, because your appliances will automate things like chopping vegetables for you. Modern appliances are incredible – they have come a long way from how they used to be. Naturally, they are a lot more expensive than they once were too, however. Mitigate costs by buying on finance and shopping around. You can even buy appliances used if you need to.

Installing Television

People spend a lot of time in their kitchens. If you spend time in yours then why not add a television in? You can put a television on your counter or fix it on the wall. Make sure you buy a model that has a good protective casing, so steam does not get inside and damage it. A very steamy kitchen can destroy a television in a matter of minutes. You should do your research and try to find a model of television that’s designed for use in kitchens. An alternative to television is a radio. Again try to find a radio with a protective casing. Steam can be just as detrimental to a radio as it can a television. Being as neither of these things are cheap you should take steps to buy the best quality ones that you can.

Upgrading a kitchen isn’t something that takes much time. It doesn’t cost a lot either. As long as you have a reasonable budget you can change yours for the better. Making upgrades can actually have a positive effect on your property’s value too. Nice kitchens are the first thing homebuyers look for.