Decorating a home seems to be one thing that many, if not most, struggle with. This can be particularly true when decorating the most lived in rooms of your home like the bathrooms and kitchens. One struggle most face when decorating a kitchen is how to make it look elegant, or beautiful, while keeping it functional. After all, who wants a kitchen that you can’t use?
It’s true that there are so many styles of kitchen decor, it’s hard to know where to start. Well, choosing a style is always the first step. The challenge for many is that they don’t know the styles, or which style they prefer. To help you get started with this, consider spending some time (a month or so) collecting designs you like from magazines, catalogs, home décor showrooms, etc. After collecting pictures of designs you like, look for central themes. Usually you’ll notice that most of the things you selected look very similar. Then, try to match the rooms you like with one of the five most popular styles noted below.
1. Country Classic - This has also been referred to as “Early American” or “Classic Colonial,” but either way, it’s noted by its simple, useful elegance. This design features a quaint farmhouse look and feel with natural or white wood, along with exposed elements like pot racks, spice racks, or fruit baskets.
2. Modern Contemporary – Extremely popular during the 90’s, this style is noted by its clean and simple lines, along with the use of metals, plastics and other man-made materials, which give it a modern and somewhat futuristic look. Many are shying away from this style due to its emphasis on clean and cold, and opting for a more warm and livable style.
3. Classic Shaker – Simple and functional, this design features flat panel doors, wooden countertops and brass hardware such as handles, door pulls, etc. The accent colors are often light and warm, and its defining characteristic is simplicity and usability.
4. French Farmhouse – This classic style is noted by its use of warm and inviting colors and earth tones. It usually features lots of natural wood, with stickly, or chunky furniture.
5. Crafty Chic – Gaining popularity in recent years, this style features the use of glass doors and natural wood tones finished in a matte finish. Central to this décor style is the use of decorative items such as tiles, plates, and other objects. While warm, inviting, and fun this style can sometimes become cluttered if a designer gets carried away with too many “trinkets.”
One important note worth mentioning is that you must also consider the style of the other rooms in your house when selecting your kitchen style and décor. Pay particular attention to the rooms adjoining your kitchen when selecting your style, or redesign these rooms to match your kitchen. One trick is to use transition areas such as hallways, entry ways, etc. as a transition point between styles.
Brittany is an interior decorator who specializes in creating unique home decor by fuzing classic design with trendy elements such as wall words, etc. If you'd like to know how to buy vinyl lettering to use in home decor, feel free to contact her.
Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Interior Design Articles Via RSS!
