Practical Kitchen Decorating Tips
Learn useful and stylish kitchen decorating tips.
Read all the practical information you will need to redesign or update your kitchen.
...and lots of stories, ideas and photos from readers of this site.
If you get stuck you can even ask your own question...
Thinking about your kitchen...
The kitchen is, and should be, the hub of the home.
I think it is the most important room in your house - especially if you have the space to squeeze in a seating area, to eat at.
What Do You Want From Your Kitchen?
I guess you will want your kitchen to look good - even fantastic.
But, it is equally important that it is practical and functional.
There are a lot of jobs that need to go on in your kitchen - so it is worthwhile taking a little time to plan it well...
Particularly so if you are lucky enough to be planning a whole new kitchen re-fit.
If you've got a lovely large kitchen you can really take the opportunity to make your kitchen into a warm and welcoming family room, where friends and family gather while you cook, for a lovely chat...
...if you're very lucky they might even help out, or offer to do the washing up!
Gathering around the kitchen table used to be a family tradition, to do our homework, eat tea, and chat to mum while she washed up or cooked...
We're trying to create the same feel in our kitchen at home, but I think we need to clear a bit more clutter before we can get the same relaxing feel sitting around our kitchen table!
Even if you've only a got a very small kitchen, the kitchen is still a very important room in your house - we all still have to eat, after all!
And with a very small space to still do all the same tasks, your storage, design and layout will all be of even more importance!
So definitely check out some of our helpful kitchen decorating tips for more ideas...
Whether you are having a whole new kitchen design, or just want to re-vamp and update your existing kitchen, read on, for my best tips for decorating kitchens, to help you make an easy job of it.
Starting your Makeover
For any kitchen makeover, or complete re-design, planning is all important - far more than for any other room in the house, in fact!
There's so much you'll need to consider, from practicality, safety, layout and logistics - and that's without even starting on style yet...
Firstly, let's take a look at the six crucial questions you need to ask yourself before you start any interior decorating kitchen project.
Next, it's one of the best kitchen decorating tips to concentrate on your layout.
Kitchen Layouts
Perhaps you've inherited a layout in your current kitchen? ...we have - and we don't think it's the most practical design someone could have chosen.
However, it does cost a lot to completely gut your kitchen, and either move units (with considerable scope for damage and mistakes!), or start again from scratch.
So, for now, we've learned to live with it...
Whether you are thinking of a cosmetic makeover (just changing cupboard door handles, or a coat of paint can make a huge difference!), or a complete re-design, it really pays to think the layout through...
Maybe there's something you can easily change, that would make life in your kitchen a whole lot easier? Or perhaps a simple change can create loads more space, or storage...?
For a complete re-design it's very important to get the layout just right for your needs...
Take a look at the layout of your new kitchen, and how the work triangle can help you with decorating kitchens.
Creating your Kitchen
Here is some more information on positioning your appliances and fixtures, storage, designing your kitchen and decorating ideas for kitchens.
Choosing the best quality materials you can afford are excellent kitchen decorating tips - we all want to choose materials that will last.
Sadly, for most of us, cost is a factor, that we will also need to weigh in.
Quality (expensive!) items usually last longer though - so if you can afford it, it could be a false economy to buy cheap, and hope it will last!
Not only do we need to look at quality and practicality when decorating a kitchen, but style and looks too...
...if we're spending all that money on a brand new kitchen, we definitely want it to look stylish, and reflect our tastes and interior design styles from the rest of the house too...
These kitchen decorating tips for style and design can really help...
Read more kitchen decorating tips for fixtures, finish, style, design and decor in your kitchen decorating project.
You might like to do the work yourself, it's not so hard for a reasonably competent DIY-er...
...particularly if you go for cosmetic changes only, without actually moving the whole kitchen layout around...
Doing it Yourself
Guide to installing your kitchen countertop
There's actually lots you can do yourself to interior design your kitchen, without having to go to a lot of expense or hassle...
Quick and Easy Kitchen Decorating Tips
There are even lots of quick and easy kitchen decorating tips that you can use to make a massive difference to makeover your kitchen...
Without making it into a massive project (with all the associated expenses!)
We've used plenty of the following ideas, several times, to create the kitchen style we want, quickly, easily and on a strict budget!
Learn how to paint kitchen cabinets
Discover some more cheap and easy interior design and decorating ideas for your kitchen makeover plans.
Style Inspiration
If you're looking for inspiration we've got lots of that too - take a look at photos and styles to help inspire your own kitchen makeover...
Look at photos for kitchen decorating themes and ideas, on these gallery pages.
Check out this cutting-edge, up-to-the minute trend in modern kitchen decorating theme and design.
Conjure up a tranquil Mediterranean landscape in your kitchen - decorating a Tuscany style kitchen.
Create a timeless kitchen with a country kitchen decorating style.
Our Own Makeovers
Take a look at my own country kitchen decorating project...
...and our retro wallpaper inspired kitchen makeover...
And our most recent pretty, vintage style, cottage kitchen makeover
Readers' Kitchens
Readers share their own kitchen makeovers, problems and photos...
Get inspiration form the Q&A - or ask your own...
Question or Comments about your Kitchen?
Do you have kitchen concerns? Stuck for color and style ideas? Do those tiles go with that floor? Really?
Could you do with a second opinion?
Or would you love to show off work done in your own kitchen? Or show us work in progress?
Anything kitchen-related is welcome here...
I love helping you out with your interior design questions and dilemmas.
But due to the volume of enquiries I've been getting recently, and other time constraints, I can now only answer a small amount of quick questions for free...
If you think your question requires a lengthy, time-consuming or more complex reply, please consider paying me for the time I take to answer your queries, and get a quote for my help with your design dilemma.
(Please note that some of the Q&A you see on the site were responded to when the site was much smaller and I had more time available to me to answer all of your questions.)
While I always make every effort to answer your questions, I'm sorry but sometimes not all submissions will receive a response.
To improve the chances of your submission being included in the website, please let me know as much information as possible about your current interior decor, and what your problem is.
Other Readers' Kitchens...
Click below to see kitchen projects from other readers of this page...
Lots to learn about kitchen decorating...
See if some of the Q&A can help your project...
Color choice for kitchen walls and cabinets 
We want to update our kitchen on a very low budget. It has white cabinets, grey walls, greyish counters, white backsplash, white appliances, and white …
Need help in narrow kitchen layout
Hi,
I am very thankful there is such a nice web-site.
I'd appreciate if you could help me to layout my kitchen.
I'm attaching my kitchen's schematic …
Open plan kitchen/dining area
Hi I have just rented a house with an open plan kitchen/dining area, I was wondering what colour scheme would work best to pop some colour into the room, …
Open plan kitchen requirements
I need some information on kitchen requirement in a lounge? ...I am doing a thesis on lounge, I need to know what are the requirements while doing the …
Kitchen Nook Help Please
Small apartment, very small kitchen nook, need ideas to make pub style table and area look more attractive.
I use this space to eat, study and pay …
Help selecting kitchen paint color
I have a paint color choice dilemma for my kitchen and can't find a solution. Kitchen cupboards are oak, medium-dark stain that includes golden/orange …
Kitchen bead board
We are going to be painting our kitchen cabinets a cream color, our wall color is a sage green.
We have pine bead board that is unfinished and I am …
Bench top and tile options for a cottage style kitchen
We have just put in a flatpack kitchen (antique white) looking great so far..
need help with the bench top.. the budget doesnt allow for the more expensive …
Kitchen Cabinet & Flooring Colors
My interior design style leans towards rustic/exotic with a lots golds and punches of greens, ambers and burgundies.
We are preparing to remodel our …
Veneer or laminate for kitchen cabinets?
Please let me know which one will be better? Veneer or laminates on top of plywood, for the kitchen cabinets and wardrobes? What are the maintenance and …
Kitchen - Copper and Blue
I have dark copper metal base cabinets in my kitchen and a cobalt blue glass collection.
What color do I use on the walls, floor and upper cabinets? …
Brown kitchen cabinets - color suggestions?
One, I am out of money....
We just had really nice dark brown hardwood floors installed.
Since then my lighter colored, vineer cabinet that are …
Colors in my Kitchen Makeover
I am re-doing my kitchen. Here are all the elements:
Wall: Benjamin Moore Heaven on Earth (blue)
Floor: Procelain -Mirador - Cameo Beige
Countertops …
Wall color needed for my kitchen Not rated yet
I have ivory units with slate effect work tops and floor what color for walls do you recommend?
..........
Comment
By Charlotte
2 February …
Kitchen Quickies - Short Q&A Not rated yet
I have medium brown oak cabinets in my kitchen which I cannot paint, and light gray walls. What I want to do is use black and white checked curtains and …
More Readers' Kitchens
Sally shares creative paint techniques on her kitchen cabinets
A reader asks about the differences between veneers and laminates for your kitchen cabinets
Judy needs color inspiration for red kitchen cabinets
A reader has kitchen tile color confusion...
Can Candi put sunflowers in her burgundy kitchen?
Still Stuck?
Then ask your decorating kitchens questions, here...
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