How to Have a Functional Yet Beautiful Kitchen

How do you want to have a beautiful kitchen yet still have it be functional? This article will list several ideas.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Ban the non-kitchen clutter. The kitchen countertop is not a place for mail, keys, backpacks, loose change, or any other clutter. Keep only necessary items in the kitchen.

2. 
    

   Light it properly. Do you have under cabinet lighting? Lighting on your countertop is important since upper cabinets create shadows on your work space. Above cabinet lighting is a nice dramatic effect. You can add decorative light fixtures such as a ceiling fan or chandelier.

3. 
    

   Have only functional accessories. Put away the fake plants, decorative platters you will never use, all the dish washing accessories that are not used every day, hanging pots that nearly hit your head, a tea kettle sitting on your stove that you never use, a cookbook holder that gets used twice a year, any small appliance that is not used daily, and other cluttery items. Replace them with clear glass jars for your flour, sugar, pasta, dry cereal, rice, beans, and other items that you will actually use. Do not have multiple canisters of cooking utensils - you know that you only use about 5 utensils regularly. The only things on your countertop should be things that are used at least once a week. If you do use an appliance daily, make sure it is a high quality decorative appliance.

4. 
    

   Purge duplicates and unnecessary items. Do you have multiple ice cream scoops, pizza cutters, can openers, or any other utensil? What about small appliances that you never use collecting dust in your cabinets - a fondue set, salad spinner, ice cream maker?

5. 
    

   Organize your items logically. Are your pots and pot holders by the stove? Are your cookie sheets by the oven? When you use the last of the cereal, do you have a convenient place to write that item on your grocery list?

6. 
    

   Be thoughtful with your artwork. Consider a large chalkboard to write your grocery list or the dinner menu. Since lighting is so important, a large mirror to reflect light around the room would also be nice. Artwork with lots of color will create a cheerful room.

7. 
    

   Consider removing the items from on top of your upper cabinets. Those items collect dust. Often cabinets with nothing on them look better than those with fake plants.

8. 
    

   Add cabinet hardware. Cabinet knobs and pulls are not only jewelry for the room, they also protects the cabinets from abrasion. If you have stainless steel appliances or a stainless steel sink, consider adding stainless steel knobs and pulls (not chrome).

Tips & Warnings

• Ideally, a beautiful kitchen should be free of clutter, especially the refrigerator. If magnets are required, consider putting them on only one side, the side that is not visible when entering the room.

Resources

• Fletcher Design Consultants

[mosscampion]

on 12/1/2008 I couldn't agree more with tip #1!!!! I hate non-kitchen clutter in the kitchen. Great article!