It’s the small, personal things that tie a room together, and your kitchen is no different. Your floor, backsplash, and lighting are all items in the design concept, or big picture, of your kitchen design. As a result, none of these things should be selected in isolation. They all need to work together. Here are the choices that await.
You might also like…
Are You Over-Improving for Your Neighborhood?
Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Countertops
Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Cabinets
Flooring
The potential for moisture and lots of foot traffic in your kitchen calls for a resilient material. So wall-to-wall carpet is probably not a good idea. Wood flooring is classy, classic, and great for integrating an open kitchen with the rest of your home. To help blur the lines between the family room and the open kitchen area, utilize the same flooring material in both spaces. Tile flooring is the epitome of simplicity, tile resists dirt and water and looks good doing it. Besides porcelain, you can choose ceramic, quarry, or marble options. However, it is expensive to install and if you don’t like cold feet in the winter you will want to install a radiant heating system. Finally, another popular option is laminate flooring which includes brands such as Formica, comes in a wide variety of colors and textures. It is scratch-resistant, withstands heavy sunlight, is easy to clean, and is quick to install, even for a DIYer.
Rugs
Once you’ve got your flooring covered, you need something to accent it. This is especially true if you’ve chosen a neutral or all-white kitchen. A rug can “add a pop of color and intrigue. Flatweaves are a good idea since they hold their own against foot traffic. For ease of cleaning, consider a cotton rug that you can toss into the washer when it starts looking grimy. You can also hand-wash a rug that’s made of natural fibers such as bamboo or sisal.
Lighting
Lighting is critical to the design of a good kitchen. Sure, you could stick with a can or recessed lights, but why not think about the following. Under-cabinet lighting which is LED strips or pucks that won’t replace your main lighting, but they can help get rid of the shadows in your kitchen and give your space a warmer feel. Toe-kick lighting is an LED strip beneath your bottom cabinets that will add some stylish light to the perimeter of your kitchen. Plus, it’s a subtle way to provide some safety lights. Pendant lights are available in a variety of shapes, these hanging lights are great over sinks and islands. Sconces are a traditional light fixture affixed to the wall with a bracket, sconces can provide wither task or ambient lighting.
Backsplash
Don’t settle for counter material to fill that space between your counters and upper cabinets. The backsplash is where we have the opportunity to showcase our personalities a little bit. It’s a small area that can have a big impact, be it 3D tiles or colorful patterns reminiscent of old Havana hotels. Brick is obviously the natural choice for modern industrial-style kitchens.
Furniture
If you didn’t opt for a built-in island rolling kitchen islands continue to be a hot trend. What’s great about a rolling kitchen island is that they’re versatile pieces that can be used for cooking and storing and displaying dishware and decorative accents. Since they have wheels, they can easily be moved around the kitchen or dining space. You will also need seating that goes beyond your kitchen table, be that a standalone chair. if room allows, or stools at your island, sideboard, or counter. Eye-catching bar stools are an easy way to jazz up a kitchen and can be easily swapped to match the season or occasion.
How to tie these touches together
If there is something that inspires the theme of your kitchen, take note of its colors and textures and try to incorporate that into the design. Maybe it’s the color palette of your favorite dish pattern or an inherited piece of art. Pay attention to the lines of the appliances and the knobs and switches on the range, as they’re all styled in different ways, from traditional to modern.