Take your space from dull to delightful in minutes with these quick style and storage solutions, easy upcycles, clever hacks and simple paint transformations
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Quick updates and easy hacks
Upcycle an old window frame
Create a noticeboard by fixing cork tiles on to the back of an old frame using a glue gun or strong tape. Screw hooks into the bottom edge for mini buckets and fix to the wall with picture hooks.
Label your containers
Decanting your cooking supplies into jars yields a certain amount of satisfaction and makes it easy to spot if you are running low on ingredients, too. Why not mix up a variety of styles for a relaxed feel?
Mount baskets on the wall
Keep your kitchen surfaces clutter free by hanging a group of wire baskets on the wall. Use to display cookbooks, spice jars and condiments or to keep utensils handy.
Paint a blackboard
Use blackboard paint on the strip of wall above an open shelf up to the ceiling for a touch of café chic. Chalk on motivational quotes or family mottos.
Add a splashback
Pimp up your kitchen on a budget by using stained wood as a splashback and simple Ikea open shelving to create a rustic-style display for all your essentials.
Create bespoke herb holders
Wrap metal cable ties around the neck of a jar, leaving enough slack to slip over a cup hook screwed into a floorboard. Add gravel for drainage before adding soil and herb seeds.
WINDOW FRAME, £30, Symonds Salvage. Natural CORK WALL TILES, £9.37 each, Portuguese Treasures. NUMBER STENCIL, from a selection, The Stencil Library. BULLDOG CLIPS, £5.50 for three; BUCKETS, £1.50 each, all Hobbycraft. Glazed CERAMIC POT, £30, Rose & Grey. Herringbone PIZZA BOARD, from £39; FLOOR CLOTHS, £3 each, Willow & Stone. Black metal BASKET, £10, Homebase Stencil numbers in the corners with black paint
Use waterproof chalkboard labels or make your own clay swing tags
WIRE SHELVES, £125, Graham and Green. STORAGE JARS, from a selection at Habitat, The White Company and Anthropologie. Vintage CUTLERY, £26 for a set of six, RE. Rosa linen NAPKINS, £8.99 each, Linenme
WALL in Dark Lead absolute matt emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. BASKETS, £21.95 each, Little House Shop. BOWL, £39.95; CHOPPING BOARD, £12.95, both Nkuku. TEA TOWEL, £13, So Just Shop. Betty VASE, £70, Oggetto. PLATES, from a selection, Denby Create symmetry by hanging in pairs
Holland Park CHAIRS, £395 each, Ercol. Esbjorn CHAIR, £70; Lack SHELF, £19, both Ikea. PRESERVING CROCK,
£75, Homebarn. BASKETS,
£28 each, Bodie and Fou. GALLERY CLOCK, £125, Newgate Clocks Give a classic cream and oak kitchen a shot of sophistication by adding pops of black
Sandshult BRACKETS, £3 each; Bershult SHELVES, £35 each, all Ikea. SPLASHBACK in Rough sawn wood, from a selection; PAINTED IN Valspar Norwegian wood stain L10BW18D, £21 for 1ltr, both B&Q. ACCESSORIES, from a selection, Daylesford, Folk Interiors and Rowan & Wren A neutral palette creates a soothing feel and sits well with store cupboard ingredients
Plant an indoor herb garden in jars attached to rustic floorboards JARS, £5 set of six, Hobbycraft. Stainless steel CABLE TIES, £8.69; CUP HOOKS, from £1.99 for pack of 20, all Amazon. CHALK
PEN, £1.50, Hobbycraft. Weathered COUNTER STOOL, £225, Cox & Cox. French linen TEA TOWEL, £16, Labour & Wait