Be it Scandinavian, farmhouse, contemporary, or eclectic, finding your perfect kitchen style will make a big difference in the ambience of your home. If you are craving for a new kitchen look, here are must-have ingredients for spicing up your favourite style.
SCANDINAVIAN
With its focus on form and function, the Scandinavian style is perfect for the kitchen. A style shaped by the cold, dark winters of the region, it champions natural light, organic shapes and natural materials.
KEEP IT ORGANISED
Although it embraces a lived-in quality, be sure to avoid clutter. Ensure sufficient storage solutions with a mix of cabinets and open shelves. For example, open shelves provide a space for everyday items. You can also place your favourite trinkets to add personality to the space. Kitchen storage solutions such as ceramic holders and wooden kitchen tools align with the style for a cohesive look.
Image courtesy of Cosentino
WHITE AND LIGHT
Scandinavians cherish freshness and cosiness in the home to counter the gloom of winter. While other light colours are embraced, white has long been the main hue of the Scandinavian style. White reflects natural light into the home with ease, which is why it works beautifully in the compact kitchens of city homes. Instead of flat white surfaces, consider subtle patterns for the countertops or island to bring in visual texture.
Image courtesy of Cosentino
WOOD IS GOOD
Aside from a light palette, what differentiates the Scandinavian style from the minimalist look is the penchant for wood tones, natural materials and greenery. These accents bring colour and comfort to produce the now-famous Scandinavian idea of hygge. Consider bringing wood tones into the kitchen by way of these wood-like tiles for the backsplash. As for plants, aromatic herbs like mint and rosemary are perfect for the sunny spot on the countertop.
Image courtesy of Rice
FARMHOUSE
With the farmhouse kitchen style, it’s not only about how it appears but also how it makes you feel. With elements from a simpler era, it invites you to kick back and relax by creating a country getaway ambience in your city home.
SHAKER SHACK
While laminate is the go-to material for kitchen cabinets, the farmhouse style references the past. Shaker-style wood cabinet doors, which consist of four panels that frame a larger panel, signifies the style best. Want to go a step further? Vertical ridges on the cabinet doors add that extra detail to the farmhouse kitchen. Next, a wood-topped island seals the deal.
Image courtesy of Country Concept
ROOM FOR PERSONAL STYLE
Farmhouse kitchens in white are all the rage today. However, other neutral palettes with white, black and wood as the base colours are perfect for the style too. So, don’t let that stop you from exploring different colour combinations for your kitchen. The trick is in mixing the right hardware, textures and colours. For instance, rustic wood cabinets and a deep porcelain farmhouse sink set the tone instantly. As a style that embraces the beauty of imperfections, having wall tiles with uneven textures and edges contribute to the whole ambience.
Image courtesy of Hafary
RUSTIC HARMONY
From concealed cooker hoods and traditional handles to wooden beams on the ceiling, details matter for the farmhouse kitchen. Want a modern update? Grey stone-like quartz countertops add a surprising touch to the style while retaining its easy charm.
Image courtesy of Cosentino
CONTEMPORARY
If you don’t have a specific style in mind, the contemporary kitchen is an ideal choice. The contemporary style celebrates the finishes and colours that reflect the mood of our time.
LIGHTER SHADE OF PALE
For a long time, white has been the go-to colour for creating an airy, spacious feel. However, you can also achieve that – and more – with a combination of pale hues. Sandy and light grey colours give the kitchen a sense of simplicity while imbuing it with warmth. The contemporary style celebrates restraint, so ensure a streamlined space by doing away with handles. Subtle textures and patterns can be introduced via the island and backsplash to break any sense of monotony. With its focus on harmony, a consistent palette of colours is central to the contemporary style. Upon determining a base palette, don’t be afraid to work a statement colour or centrepiece into the space.
Image courtesy of Hafary
FADE TO BLACK
A trend that is captivating homeowners and designers is the matte black kitchen. Bold yet elegant, matte black surfaces evoke a sensuous, mysterious vibe. Match them with dark wood accents and a jet-black backsplash for a masculine, industrial mood. To avoid a dark and gloomy space, inject accents in white and other light colours.
Image courtesy of Hafele
ECLECTIC
The eclectic kitchen is for the rebel. By combining different styles, it asks not to be boxed in by labels. When done improperly, the eclectic style can appear messy and chaotic. But in the right hands, it feels effortless.
SOME WHIMSY PLEASE
Mixing black with an unexpected colour like pink results in a kitchen that is one part elegant and one part whimsical. Aside from adhering to a strict palette of colours, colour blocking gives a sense of order to the eclectic kitchen. Avoiding unnecessary details such as handles or knobs on the cabinet also keeps the attention on the colours and finishes. That said, the eclectic style is about wit and humour, so introduce art into the space where possible.
Image courtesy of Hafary
VINTAGE VALUE
If your heart is set on an eclectic kitchen, narrow down your preferred styles. Then, identify the specific details you love about them. A mood board of the various elements, from the flooring and finishes to lighting and accessories, is instrumental in visualising the concept. Want to mix vintage-style doors with contemporary cabinets and decorative patterns? Or maybe you would like to have farmhouse cabinet doors with trendy dark finishes. A core colour helps to pull everything together.
Image courtesy of Free Space Intent
LAYERS OF COLOURS
How can you update a traditional kitchen with white square tiles or subway tiles without going the whole hog? Introduce chic finds like a statement lamp. A fresh coat of colour can also transform and energise the space. The result is a space that is hard to define and easy on the eyes.
Image courtesy of Covet House
This was adapted from an article originally published in the October 2019 issue of SquareRooms.
