For most people, the kitchen is a central room in their house where everyone who lives there spends a lot of time together. You cook there, eat there, work there, and talk there. So much of your life happens in your kitchen, so it’s important to make the space as open, bright, and inviting as possible. After all, you won’t want to be spending all of that time in a dim, stuffy-feeling room. No matter what kind of kitchen you have, there are things you can do to help open up the space and make it feel brighter, so here are a few good tips to try!
Reflecting Light
When you want to make a space feel larger or brighter, reflecting light is the name of the game. The old decorating wisdom that mirrors make a room feel bigger comes not only from the fact that they give the impression of space extending past the walls, but also because they amplify the light by bouncing it back into the room. Reflective surfaces in your kitchen will achieve the same effect. Stainless steel fixtures and cabinets or appliances that have a mirror shine will maximize any light that you already have in the space.
White Cabinets
White cabinetry is a great option to make your kitchen feel brighter and more open. Since white is a neutral color it can work with almost any color scheme and interior design style, and since white bounces light back into the room instead of absorbing it like darker colors do, it amplifies the brightness of the space. If you happen to have a very accident prone kitchen, white cabinets might not be the best choice for you as spills and stains will stand out on them, but as long as you’re usually able to keep your cabinet doors clean, this is a great choice to brighten up the space!
Light Countertops
This is another one that might not be the best idea if you’re a bit of a messy cook, but countertops in a light shade do the same things that light or white cabinets do by diffusing light and making the space feel bigger and brighter. Marble-look quartz is a great choice for light countertops, as is a butcher block countertop with a light colored wood.
Pops of Color
All-white kitchens have a bit of a reputation for looking very stark and clinical while also being difficult to keep clean. Striking the right balance between bright, interesting colors and white will help to make your kitchen welcoming and comfortable, and keep you from feeling like you can never cook or eat in there for fear of a splatter. Things like tile backsplashes, your kitchen chairs, or even your dishes can help to add some visual interest to the room with pops of color.
Under Cabinet Lighting
Most tips for brightening up a kitchen have to do with bouncing light around the room, but this one adds more light in the first place. Under cabinet lighting works in a wide variety of kitchen styles and is a subtle touch that makes a big impact on how your kitchen looks. You can DIY this addition with a few sticky lights if you want to spruce the room up on short notice, but getting it professionally installed and wired with the rest of your kitchen lighting will give you the sleekest and most sophisticated effect.
If you’re looking to make some changes to your kitchen that will help the space feel brighter, Schuler Service can help you. Our expert remodeling specialists can help you to choose the best options for your home, and our high quality services will have your kitchen looking great. Contact us today to start discussing your project!
