Words by Nicholas Smith, from bespoke kitchen supplier The White Kitchen Company
If you’re looking for the perfect time to upgrade your kitchen, now is an ideal opportunity. Summer is on the horizon, which is a time when many of us like to host get-togethers and enjoy spending long evenings with friends and family. Plus, you can take inspiration from the best of the season to upgrade your kitchen, such as by displaying beautiful bouquets of summer blooms. But how can you make these changes a little more luxurious?
The good news is that there are plenty of both small and large ways to add a little luxury to your kitchen to impress your guests. Read on to discover my tips for upgrading your kitchen this summer.
Declutter your space
Whether you use your kitchen counters to store your recipe books, tea bags, or chopping boards, it’s easy for your space to become cluttered. By finding a space to store these kitchen essentials away instead of having them out in the open, you can make the area feel clutter-free and spacious. This can also make the room feel a touch more luxurious as it will allow your countertops to shine.
It may be worth doing a sort out first to see if you have any unnecessary clutter to donate or recycle. But if you don’t have anything to get rid of and you still don’t have the space in your kitchen, it could be time to upgrade your kitchen cupboards or invest in a couple of extra if you have the space. A pantry is another great way to incorporate more space, and is often considered to be a luxury addition.
Those with a large empty awkward space in their kitchen layouts may also want to consider investing in a kitchen island. Not only do they come with storage space for your essentials, but they can be a beautiful luxury feature. Plus, they can be a great centrepiece for kitchen entertaining when hosting your summer get-togethers.
Refresh your colour scheme
If you can’t remember the last time you updated the colour scheme in your kitchen, or you simply want a change, now is the perfect time for a refresh. There are plenty of ways to do this in your home, from small additions such as finding artwork that fits your new palette to larger changes like painting the walls. You can also consider changing the shade of your kitchen counters and cupboards to fit your new colour scheme.
When it comes to choosing luxurious colours, fortunately there are a variety to choose from so you should find a palette to suit your taste. Shades like gold and burnt orange are often associated with luxury, and orange is said to encourage conversation too – perfect for hosting parties in your kitchen! There are plenty of other bold shades which can make a luxurious statement too, such as royal blue, forest green, and deep purple.
Neutral shades are popular versatile choices and ideal for adding a touch of sophistication to your kitchen as well, such as white, ivory, cream, beige, and light grey. With a neutral base, you can easily swap out your artwork and décor to adapt to new trends in the future.
Take inspiration from nature
Summer is a season full of life and colour, so finding a way to incorporate this into your kitchen ahead of summer entertaining is a great idea. This may involve simply adding floral touches like fresh bouquets and stylish houseplants, or tea towels or artworks with floral or summery design. For floral bouquets, a good way to add a touch of luxury is to display them in a translucent crystal vase with an elegant pattern.
If you’re looking to take inspiration from nature for longer-term upgrades, you may want to invest in wood kitchen counters. As well as being a durable material and a timeless style, they are versatile and work with a variety of styles. Darker shades of wood like walnut work particularly well with luxurious interiors. For those looking to bring natural elements in lighter shades into their kitchens, marble is a natural stone and a sleek and stylish choice for a luxury kitchen.
Choosing the perfect tableware
For those happy with their current layout who are looking to make smaller changes, upgrading tableware and cutlery can be a great way to impress guests while entertaining. Investing in high-quality plates, bowls, and platters can make a huge difference to your overall presentation when presenting your dishes. Try to opt for the best quality materials when purchasing new tableware, like porcelain and ceramic.
It’s also a good idea to spend time considering which shades will work best in your kitchen. White is always a versatile colour that works well for tableware, but you may prefer a shade which better matches your overall kitchen colour scheme and style.
Upgrade your flooring
Many of us don’t realise how much flooring can impact a room. The flooring is often one of the first aspects of the room that a new guest will notice, so getting this right can make a huge impact during your summer gatherings.
When it comes to luxury flooring, there are a number of high-end options for you to choose from. Hardwood is a classic versatile choice and perfect for adding a little warmth to your room. Porcelain tile flooring is another choice ideal for adding luxury to a kitchen, and as it’s a light shade it can make the room seem larger too. It’s also the ideal option for luxurious kitchens with bolder styles and darker shades, such as black and royal blue.
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, so it deserves to look fantastic. Use the tips above to add a touch of luxury and elevate your kitchen in time for summer get-togethers.
