10 easy kitchen updates to refresh your space
Focus on decluttering and brightening up your space with a few stress-free steps, without spending a fortune
Looking for easy kitchen updates? Want to refresh your kitchen for spring? You don’t need to go through a whole new kitchen installation to feel like you’re in a new space. It just takes a bit of decluttering, some clever rejigging and a splash of colour, along with a few carefully curated items, to get a whole new feel to welcome in the new season.
We have partnered with MADE.COM to curate a selection of great-value, stylish kitchen products and assist with how to make the most of them for your kitchen update. Our ideas are simple and stress free, whether it’s tidying out your cupboards and replacing clutter with streamlined containers; displaying linens, books and plants in new creative ways; or buying one or two centrepieces to brighten up and refocus your space. Read on for our full kitchen update guide…
Now find out 10 expert tips for designing your kitchen.
10 easy kitchen updates
Spruce up your storecupboard
Every storecupboard needs a rejig now and again. Spruce up yours by taking everything out and starting again, while wiping away any rogue pieces of spaghetti or escaped quinoa along the way. In doing so you might find some treasures hiding at the back – turn pomegranate molasses into date and pecan loaf, tahini into a lively salad dressings and lentils and coconut milk into creamy dahl with our storecupboard meal ideas (link). Make sure everyday and lesser-used products alike don’t get forgotten again and are easily accessible by sorting into containers, such as these stylish glass jars with acacia wood lids (£22).
Show off your shelves
Make your space sleek and streamlined by giving your shelves a reorder. Sort and categorise your cookbooks and magazines, then display your favourites on shelves alongside some simple curated items. We love baking a batch of cookies and showcasing them in a glass jar for that quintessential country kitchen feel. Or how about treating yourself to a new potted plant? Take a look at MADE.COM’s stylish shelves for all kitchen sizes here.
Bring out your bottles
Display your most valued bottles of wine, aperitifs and more without taking up surface or floor space by investing in a wall-mounted wine rack. This stylish option (£119) is made from black-stained clover acacia wood, and creates an artistic centrepiece out of bottles that would otherwise by clogging up storecupboard space. Plus, it’s always impressive when you have guests over and you carefully select a bottle from your rack.
Curate your cutlery
Cutlery is a kitchen item that people often have hanging around for too long, and investing in a new set will give your kitchen drawers a refresh as well as being great for bringing out when entertaining – not a mismatched knife and fork in sight! Make your cutlery a striking centrepiece with this matte gold set (£79), crafted in Portugal.
Refresh your rubbish
We think that boring bins are a wasted opportunity to add a pop of style and colour to your kitchen. Make your rubbish and recycling more elegant by buying a new bin. It will encourage you to be clean and tidy, and you won’t hesitate to be the one to take the bins out! We love this forest green number (£49) with a shiny copper lid and handy pedal.
Liven up your walls
Splashing out on one key piece of art is a simple way of giving your kitchen an instant lift. You can frame something you already own, choose a foodie print or create a collage of curated pieces in matching frames to design your own statement piece. We can’t decide which of these these MADE.COM framed noodle prints (£49) we love more….
Sort your spices
It’s so satisfying to be able to reach for your spices and know that you’re in plentiful stock so won’t get caught out mid cooking. Checking the stock levels and use by dates of your spices will leave your mind at ease, and it’s always handy to put in alphabetical order for easy access. Show off your newly arranged spices by displaying in full glory in this natural acacia wood spice rack (£59).
Line up your linens
Display your tea towels and oven gloves on a rack rather than having draped over a chair or constantly getting in the way of opening the oven. This will add a pop of colour to your kitchen, and there are so many great designs out there to showcase properly. Buy a sleek rack such as this wall-mounted mango wood design (£29) and let your towels take the limelight.
Bring the outside in
The outdoors has been a saving grace over the past year, so why not bring some of nature’s calming effect indoors? Choose a couple of plants (succulents are very easy to keep alive!) and nestle them beside your cookbooks, on top of your new spice rack or on a side table. We love these naturally-coloured mint and green earthenware planters (£39) that put the focus on the plants while adding a pretty decorative touch. Make sure you buy a watering can to keep them hydrated – how beautiful is this copper number (£35)!
Cast a new glow
Make a statement out of your lighting by choosing a new lamp shade to hang above your table. It will cast a new, flattering glow across your kitchen to help make it feel like a new space. This 70-style natural rattan light shade (£79) makes a subtle statement and won’t break the bank.
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