The Heart of the Home

Whether you realize it or not, chances are you spend a good deal of time in your kitchen. In fact, the average American spends around 400 hours annually treading the floors between the sink and the oven, the pantry and the fridge…..and back again. That’s 67 minutes every day in the kitchen, prepping food, unpacking groceries, or catching up with a loved one over a cup of coffee. However you spend your time there, you’ve probably formed some opinions about what you love the most about your kitchen space and what you’d love to change about it. But while kitchen remodels are costly and disruptive, it’s possible to give your room a minor facelift on the cheap that will keep you inspired and content for years to come.

Function and Form

With the holiday season upon us, it may be the perfect time of year to take note of what’s working in your kitchen and what’s not. Ask yourself a few questions. 

1. Do you need seating for guests who’d like to chat while you’re whipping up supper? 

2. Are your pots and pans difficult to access? 

3. The larger serving ware that comes out three or four times a year…are they given prime real estate that could hold more practical items? 

Think through every cabinet and drawer in your kitchen and decide if you need to change up where things are placed. If you’re rearranging, go ahead and start purging items you don’t need, don’t like, and don’t use. Chances are you’ve collected gadgets, one-off pieces, and lost and found items you can return or give away to free up space. And don’t forget to demagnetize! If your fridge is covered in magnets and pictures, take down most of them and only leave up a few that you’ll rotate throughout the year. Taking away excess is the easiest way to make your kitchen feel clean and new.   

When you’re happy with the arrangement of your interior spaces, work outwards and tackle your countertops. This is where you can really make an impact on the beauty of your space. Wrestle with every single item on top of your counters. Do you need this out all the time for function? Is it lovely or does it match your other appliances? You may find that you’re a sparse minimalist that likes to keep out only one or two items. Or you may prefer a busier, no-fuss style that allows your things to be set out in a balanced but highly functional way. Whatever you prefer, use this time to restyle and rearrange what you have. Just moving around the things on your countertops will breathe some fresh air into your space. Is there a cookbook that’s been inspiring your latest meals? Give it a place front and center, especially if it’s beautiful. Do you love coffee or tea? Create an area just for cups and mugs, special stirring spoons, cream, sugar, a kettle, and a box of your favorite teas to create a welcoming beverage station. Hang a lovely picture on the wall or add some family photographs to the window above the sink. Shop your home for things that make you smile and redesign with what you already have.

Accessorize

If you’ve got a little budget to work with, consider adding some accessories to your kitchen that will make it pop.  

• Lamps
  Lamps add warm light that makes your kitchen feel more like home and less like a prep station. A small lamp here or there can add to the charm of your kitchen and if you stack a cookbook or two beneath them, you’ve also created an attractive way to display some of your favorite cookbooks within arm’s reach. 

• Cabinet Pulls
  Rethink your cabinet handles and drawer pulls. Whereas cabinets are permanent, their pulls and handles are like earrings…easily changed out! Upgrading pulls and handles is an easy, budget-friendly way of giving the whole room an upgrade.

• Display Your Favorite Things
  Allow your finest pieces to help decorate. Set your favorite tray out on its side and prop it up with a pretty cookbook. Remove a cabinet door and set your prettiest serving dishes on the bare shelves. Even if you’re trying to minimalize, a shelf or two with simple white dishes can set the tone. Have an heirloom candy dish or a collection of spoons from all over the country? Find a way to display them on a shelf or shadow box. 

With a little time and a little money (or maybe none at all!), you can reimagine what you want your kitchen to be in the new year ahead. Maybe those 67 minutes will feel a little more inspiring in 2023.