The kitchen is commonly known as the heart of the home — and for good reason. It’s the space where we celebrate, socialize, and enjoy countless shared meals with people we love. Not surprisingly, this room is high on the list of priorities for homeowners. According to a recent study conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, more than 10 million U.S. household remodel their kitchens on an annual basis.
Of course, many of those kitchen renovations likely followed well-known trends. Some of the most popular kitchen designs involve brightening up the space, incorporating whites and neutrals, and generally making the room look fresh and clean. While this can be an effective tactic, it’s also easy to take this trend a bit too far. If you aren’t careful, the abundance of white can make a kitchen space look sterile and unwelcoming.
Whether that scenario sounds familiar to you, or you are simply tired of having a kitchen that feels a bit drab, there are some very easy ways to make this room feel a lot more welcoming. When discussing plans with your kitchen remodeling contractors, be sure to consider the following ideas.
Add Hardwood Floors
Tile floors are commonly chosen by homeowners who enlist kitchen remodeling services, as they’re easy to clean and are relatively durable. However, this isn’t your only option when renovating this room. Hardwood floors can add an immeasurable amount of beauty and warmth to any space. It’s not a traditional choice for a kitchen, as hardwood isn’t naturally water-resistant, but it can be an excellent way to make this space feel more welcoming. As long as you use area rugs to your advantage and clean up any spills promptly, you can keep your hardwood floors looking gorgeous even in the kitchen. If the rest of your design is clean and white, hardwood floors can act as a statement that invites guests to make themselves at home.
Include Some Texture
Textural elements are another good option for warming up a space. You can accomplish this by adding a unique backsplash, a wall tapestry, a sliding barn door, or some decorative bar stool cushions during kitchen renovations. You can even add texture with an interesting countertop or table material such as stone or reclaimed wood. An accent wall can be another option for adding texture, which can easily be accomplished with some natural shiplap, brick, or even a cheery paint color. Include these possibilities when discussing your kitchen renovation with your contractor. Rustic elements typically have both texture and warmth, so your choice in small decor elements can make this space feel more lived-in, as well.
Use Earth Tones
One of the easiest ways to add warmth is by using warm-toned components as part of your design. Browns, tans, oranges, yellows, soft grays, and even sage green can make a space feel vibrant and welcoming. Whether you utilize these colors in your flooring, cabinetry, countertops, backsplash, wall paint, appliances, seating, or fixtures, they can make a big impact on how you (and others) feel in the space. If your goal is to make the space feel warmer, you may want to minimize your use of blues, teals, purples, and certain grays during kitchen renovations.
Whether you love the clean and neutral look or you want something a bit more old-worldly, remodeling your kitchen with some warmth in mind can make this room an amazing asset to your home. To learn more about improving the look and feel of your kitchen, please contact us today.
