Previously, kitchens were just utilitarian spaces separate from the rest of the house. People only cooked in kitchens and ate their meals in their dining rooms or bedrooms. But now things are different: we cook our meals, eat them, talk to our family and friends, and even work in the kitchen. It is a vital room in the house that deserves to be well-decorated.
Food out in the open
It’s really convenient when you don’t need to go to the basement to get some potatoes or onions, but storing them right in the middle of the kitchen is not a good idea. This way, we make the place look messy and we might actually spoil the food. Potatoes go bad very fast at room temperature and under direct sunlight, they lose some of their good qualities. It’s better to store any food where people can’t see it.
“Naked” window
The right curtains can completely transform the appearance of any room, including the kitchen. However, regular long curtains are not a good idea because they will absorb odors, become dirty, and look unappealing. It’s best to use them in the dining room, but you can also use them in areas where you want to make food look more appealing with Roman curtains or blinds.
They look great, are simple to clean, and do not have the appearance of an office. Avoid models made of cotton, linen, silk, or other materials that are prone to fading when exposed to moisture.
Windowsill garden
Many people grow onions and other vegetables in their kitchen gardens. There’s nothing wrong with that, but many people keep them in plastic containers, which make the area look unappealing. Why not invest in some more visually appealing reservoirs? Onions can be planted in a decorative pot with soil or a decorative reservoir with water and pebbles.
Different and old-looking cutting boards
In the kitchen, you should have 2 cutting boards — one for meat and one for vegetables. It’s recommended to replace them right after you start to see some damage on them. It’s not only healthy, but also attractive because cutting boards with dents, cuts, and dirt look ugly. What really makes the place cozy are good-quality wooden boards. More than that, they don’t break your knives like boards made of glass and metal do and they are way more durable than the popular bamboo.
Tons of stuff on the microwave oven
This mess not only makes the place look bad but also negatively affects the device itself. All this stuff may prevent the door from closing the way it should and block the ventilation holes, which means the air in the oven won’t circulate properly. If you like to store stuff there, buy a special cover with pockets.
Old or mismatched sugar and spice bowls
Spices should be kept in reservoirs that are firmly closed, and old boxes and jars are not the right places. They don’t look good either. You don’t need any really expensive sets — cheap ones can also look great. For example, you can put the spices into glass flasks and put them into a wooden box. Or you can put them into jars with bright labels and arrange them on a magnetic board.
Sugar bowls should be made of porcelain or stainless steel which are both durable and good-looking.
Really old kitchen towels
Cheap towels shed their threads and get so crumpled after washing that they are impossible to iron. Choose good-quality fabrics, ideally, cotton or microfiber. The color can be anything that you want — from classic white to contrasting geometric prints. What matters is how the towel looks in the kitchen’s overall interior design.
Dish soap
The bottles themselves are fine, but they don’t contribute to the kitchen’s appearance of coziness. You can purchase special bottles that look far superior to regular bottles. You could also hide the dish soap under the sink, where no one can see it.
Used teabags left near the sink
Some people leave wet tea bags on their kitchen surfaces. This is not attractive at all, and it’s better to buy a ceramic plate for this.
Plastic containers from different sets
Some types of plastic contain chemicals that are potentially hazardous to your health (for example, potentially dangerous bisphenol A). Furthermore, plastic containers are not long-lasting: they are easily scratched, their surfaces darken, and they deform at high temperatures. Also, stacks of containers on the countertops do not improve the appearance of the kitchen.
Instead, you can store food in glass containers.
Messy sponges and cloths
You can’t avoid them entirely, but you can make them look nice. There are sponge holders that are very inexpensive, but they completely change the look of your sink area. If you have a deep sink, you can conceal the holder by attaching it to the inside wall of the sink.
Duplicate kitchen utensils
We often buy new kitchen utensils and forget to throw the old ones away. Or we think that we will definitely use 2 wooden spoons and the half dozen spatulas that we have sitting in a coffee cup on the counter. It’s better to remove the duplicates — once you do this, the whole place will shine.
When you are cleaning up, ask yourself, “Do I use this thing?” or “Does it make my life any simpler?” If the answer is no, throw it away. It’s also good to check all the drawers and get rid of all the things you don’t use.
Bread baskets
Baskets look appropriate in many interiors, but let’s face it: bread goes bad much faster when it’s open and every time you move the basket, crumbs get all over the place. A good bread box is both practical and looks good. Besides, there are models with a drawer that can be used to collect all the crumbs.
Old oven mitts
Oven mitts have hard lives: they are burned and covered in stains that are almost impossible to remove. Silicone tools are way better. Besides, they come in many different colors, they are easy to wash, and they are pretty durable.
We recommend the models with an inside lining — they are better for high temperatures and they are nice to touch
People’s bowls and plates for pets
Having “human” bowls all over the floor looks weird. Besides, our pets love taking the food out of the bowl and playing with it.
We think that every cat and dog should have their own personal bowls that make it hard to play with the food inside. You can also buy special non-slip mats to prevent the bowls from turning over.
Cabinetry that is unfinished at the bottom
A lot of dirt and dust accumulates beneath the legs of this kitchen furniture. And obviously, if you can see this, it will look as if you’ve never cleaned the kitchen. Installing a baseboard under the cabinetry will solve the problem. This plank can be purchased from a hardware store or made by hand. You could also install a drawer there if you have enough space.
Small but noticeable flaws
Even minor details, such as old light bulbs or a ripped piece of wallpaper, have an impact on the overall appearance and atmosphere of the room. The author of this article had unfinished countertop trim in the corners of their kitchen, and the flaws were extremely irritating. It appears to be a minor detail, but it has a disastrous appearance.
