What’s next on the menu for your kitchen?

Chances are, your kitchen became the hub of your home during lockdown – the space where you ate, worked, homeschooled and entertained. If you’re now looking to give it an update, ideas worth considering include…

BRIGHT OVENS

If your kitchen lacks any pop of colour, why not invest in a bright oven? Aga ranges come in 16 colours including duck-egg blue and pistachio. Brighter still are Stoves Richmond Deluxe cookers in Hot Jalapeño (red) and Days Break (blue.) If your kitchen needs a focal point, it’s easily achieved with a bright oven – and it will inspire you to add other accessories and small appliances in the same shade.

STATEMENT SINKS

We’re not talking double vs single bowls or even a supersized butler’s sink. Designed in an assortment of materials – ceramic, granite, marble, hammered copper and glass – and featuring intricate detailing like stencilling, your stainless steel sink is overdue an upgrade. Finish it off with a feature tap to make a real splash.

STYLISH SPLASHBACKS

There’s more to creating a stunning splashback than a trip to the tile shop. In fact, why not forget tiles altogether? A modern alternative is to lay strips of wood or fix on larger slabs of marble, mirror (antiqued looks particularly effective), painted glass, stainless steel or other metals such as patinated copper and brushed brass. If you can’t commit to anything that’s not tile-based, consider mosaic patterns or tiles with texture. Think about the aesthetic as much as the practicality.

PATTERNED FLOORS

Kitchen floors have to be hard-wearing. After all, no other room in your house has to cope with as much foot and paw traffic (or spillages). Whether you opt for a luxury vinyl or traditional tile, consider one in a geometric pattern. If you have a plain kitchen, a feature floor will add a real touch of interest and similarly to the bright ovens, open up a wealth of possibilities for adding more colour to your space.

EXPOSE YOUR BRICKWORK

If you’re lucky enough to have bricks beneath your plaster, strip it back. Even just one exposed-brick accent wall will give your kitchen real character, along with an injection of warmth. If you aren’t able to chip away existing concrete, fit a faux brick wall. Real or not, whether you commit to their natural tones, whitewash or paint them to match an existing colour scheme, is up to you.

TUXEDO CABINETS

In other words, upper and lower cabinets painted in mismatched colours; or mixing up painted and natural wooden finishes. Going down the two-tone route is an easy way to makeover an otherwise all-white or all-grey kitchen. Black and white, grey and navy, green and oak, don’t underestimate the power of a paintbrush to completely change the look of your kitchen.

ADD A PANTRY

If you’re not short on floor space, pantries have been proving to be a popular search on social media. They’re a great way to free up space in your kitchen cupboards, plus a neat line-up of perfectly labelled Mason jars will satisfy any house-proud organiser. If you’ve not got spare room in your kitchen or garage, look at free-standing pantry cupboards instead.

METAL SHELVES

Open shelves aren’t a new idea; they’re a great way to add interest via showcasing items that may not be kitchen-related. But gaining popularity is the idea of sacrificing wall cabinets completely for rows of metal shelving or wall racks. Your kitchen will get a modern, more industrial vibe plus a look of more width. Just don’t fill your shelves with clutter – be sparing with what goes on display (less clutter equals less cleaning).

DECORATE THE WALLS

Blame the pandemic, but people are gravitating towards warmer, more soothing tones when it comes to choosing paint colours or wallpaper designs. In particular, green and blue hues that create a feeling of calm are hitting the spot for kitchen makeovers. Easier still, are hanging up a few prints, creating a gallery wall or fixing on a neon sign. How you curate your kitchen walls is down to your personal style but it proves how even a small change can make a massive difference.

SHOP NEW TABLEWARE

New crockery, glassware, cutlery and table runners are a great way to refresh your day-to-day kitchen life. Even if you complement existing items with something new, you deserve it for getting through the past few months. While many of us will always go for pieces with classic, clean lines (ie, perfectly round), others will be tempted by more unusual shapes or the latest homeware trend – anything with a bee motif.

LAY DOWN A RUG

What, in the kitchen? Isn’t that dangerous? Not if you choose a hardwearing one. Set to be a big trend next year is flooring in every room of the house which is pleasant to sink your bare feet into. It makes perfect sense to throw down a heavy rug on your kitchen floor. Not only will it add comfort and character, it’ll also hide any nasty scuffs or stains.

LINEAR LIGHTING

Selecting the best lighting fixture to update your kitchen isn’t always easy. If you want to be switched on to the latest trends in kitchen illumination, go for a linear design. Hanging from the ceiling in larger kitchens or fixed to the wall if space is more minimal, it’s all about clean, sharp lines. Let there be light!