1. Set your kitchen apart with pendant lights
Personalise your space and hang interesting pendant lights at varying heights, in clusters or in a line. Just don’t forget the dimmer switch for cosy dinners à deux.
How I customized my kitchen: Three gun-metal grey Tom Dixon Beat lights dangle above my breakfast bar.
2. Minimum effort, maximum impact: change cupboard doors and handles
While a brand new kitchen can be a costly affair, quick weekend DIY fixes pack a punch on the individuality front. Look at alternative doors and drawer fronts. Or replace existing kitchen handles with coloured glass, bone handles, petal shapes or square.
How I customized my kitchen: For an earthy touch, I added pebble handles.
3. Introduce colour to your kitchen
Get creative with a lick of paint in your kitchen but be warned: reds and oranges stimulate and increase your appetite while blues will curb your hunger.
How I customized my kitchen: My cupboards are an artichoke green.
4. Add your own touch with an original splash back
Show off your creativity with functional items like your splash back, which protects walls from splashes and spills behind the hob and sink. Create a mosaic wall mural or use coloured glass.
How I customized my kitchen: I installed a green and cream Moroccan tiled splash back.
5. Make use of dead zones
Hang a shelf high above surfaces to display interesting jugs, cook books, photo frames and different sized decorative plates.
How I customized my kitchen: My walnut floating shelves exhibit trinkets from my travels.
6. Dress up your kitchen with ‘soft’ accessories
Most kitchens brim with harsh materials like granite and stainless steel. Alleviate the look with beautiful olive oil bottles, garlic bulbs, dramatic pot plants and fresh herbs.
How I customized my kitchen: My huge gnarled olive tree fruit bowl is a soft nod to nature.
7. Decorate your kitchen walls
Although splash-proof vinyl wallpapers exist, it’s wise to avoid wallpapers in a kitchen. Instead, paint a blackboard wall or use wall stickers to make the space more personal.
How I customized my kitchen: I hung eight different sized black and white pictures.
8. Use glass to your advantage
Instead of solid center door panels, consider glass doors and shelving to show off your individuality. It’s also a great trick for making a room feel less crammed.
How I customized my kitchen: Granny’s vintage wine tumblers dazzle in my glass cabinet.
9. Hang pots and pans
A great space-saver – and way to customize your space – is to hang unusual mugs or items on S-hooks on a stainless rail under any open shelving or your cooker hood.
How I customized my kitchen: Vintage copper pots glisten under the shelves.
10. Use your fridge as a moodboard
Kitchens often look harsh and cold. Create a friendly mood by covering your fridge with photos, invitations and children’s drawings in magnetic photo frames.
How I customized my kitchen: My fridge is a mass of holiday snaps and friends’ postcards.
Visit mydeco for more kitchen inspiration
Top 10s
See the full range of top tips from around the site
