We’re continuing where we left off HERE to consider more calm kitchen spruce ups for kitchens. I know this serene look isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I am hoping more folks consider the possibilities in case life outside their kitchen grows chaotic or overstimulating.
Calm Kitchen Spruce Ups
Adding natural materials is always a smart move. There are inexpensive accessories made with stone, marble, woven textures and wood that will bring natural warmth and integrity from nature.
For our former kitchen’s sink wall, I took the polished Venatino marble tile to the ceiling…a calming look for the eye since it isn’t broken up with shelves or trim. Even simple seagrass placemats and wood cutting boards bring a serene, simple, pared down look.
They also function well and can extend the life of counters and tabletops with their protection.
Give vinyl cabinet doors new life and fake the look of wood where you can with paint. In our former fixer upper, the kitchen’s existing cabinets were worn out, broken, warped, and vinyl like this:
Paint is Everything
Similar vinyl cabinets were continued in the laundry area. Since they were otherwise in good shape, I simply painted them with chalk paint. Super easy DIY that packed a huge punch!
To create a more adhesive and matte look, I mixed a few tablespoons of plaster of Paris into ordinary flat latex paint, and you would not suspect they are not wood.
The addition of natural elements to that entry from the garage (real marble backsplash, wood beadboard, natural woven baskets) paid off and provided a more pleasant space to pass through.
A prime time to assess whether a kitchen could improve with nature elements is after the counters are cleared and before essentials return. Assess it. Good balance of natural elements? Overly artificial? Lack integrity to balance with more authenticity and nature?
Sometimes it is easy to see when things are all wrong…
Could you trade a plastic table for a wood or glass one? Have a sunny location plants can grow? Can plastic storage containers be upgraded to wood, glass, stone, or a natural fiber? If the floor is vinyl, can you layer it with a woven cotton rug or simple jute runner?
GAINS FROM MINDFUL CALMING SPRUCE UPS
Here’s where things grow philosophical. The reason these improvements help is that we are not simply creatures inhabiting the earth. We ARE the earth, so the non-manmade things growing here resonate at deep, subconscious levels. Natural elements: are sustainable, age better, and add both harmony and wholesomeness.
No. 3: Breezy Spare Simplicity
An airy feeling in the kitchen can happen in a number of ways, and we already discussed in another post the power of subtraction to achieve a tranquil feel.
Color palette surely is another strategy to lighten up, and in most cases, pale and tranquil cooler tones work effectively.
Dig into my archives for paint color ideas.
Think about visual weight. Dark stained woods often impart a mood of formality, seriousness, and weight.
Lightening the visual weight can make a significant difference. Whites, light woods, and softer shades lend themselves to more of an airy feel.
If you’re taking a long hard look at your kitchen and want to remove visual weight without renovation, you could begin by assessing paint color, lighting, and windows.
Address Paint Color, Lighting & Windows
First, decide which colors feel tranquil to you and try samples on the walls to see how they marry with other design elements. Tranquil light greys are timeless, and I love how they work with warm natural wood.
As for lighting, think beyond simply shopping for wispy or woven light fixtures. Rather, look for ways to infuse pleasing light into the space.
Can window treatments be removed for more natural light to stream in? Is there a fluorescent cloud fixture casting unflattering artificial light into the space?
Would a table lamp on the counter or floor lamp in a corner bring a soft source of calm glowy ambience? Lamps in the kitchen may not be sensible in every kitchen, yet they are often overlooked. Let’s face it…our kitchens are where a whole lotta life happens beyond food prep.
Decide whether window coverings in your kitchen help or harm. Removing them may shed more weight than you might imagine. If privacy is a must, consider whether a light-filtering option will lighten things up.
WHY Calming Spruce Ups MATTER
Modern life can be a challenge with its stains and burdens. Maybe an airier space to prepare meals, happily bake, gather around the table, and breathe will unburden your spirit and bring buoyancy.
No. 4: Carve Out a Cozy Moment
When we mapped out design plans for our Georgian kitchen’s renovation, an important point of contention was a corner sink and windows.
It was not a small thing to decide to leave that corner alone as it locked us into plenty of other decision decisions. I’m not into angles (lookin’ at YOU, 1992 architecture!), yet the designer of this home was a big fan. But we lived with the arrangement for months before tackling the reno. Sticking with the windows and sink placement allowed daily nature-watching. While eliminating a window or two often can frequently make way for a functional new design, the value of daily communion with wildlife (deer, chickadee in the hydrangea) sunrise watching is priceless.
Is there a cozy moment in your kitchen or potential to create one? I already mentioned lamps which add cozy factor, but here are a few more ideas.
First, a visually pleasing vignette can often become a moment for cozy. Cookbooks with a simple glass vase with branch or eucalyptus can be a start.
Second, vintage decor brings warmth, character, and cozy charm. Shop your house for treasures you may have tucked away.
Thirdly, candles or fairylights changes the mood of a room and YOU.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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