I wish I had an expensive kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, mine does the job, but just last week, the cabinet above the oven came off its hinge, and now I need my partner to access the baking trays…
I want things to look a little more premium, but I don’t have the budget for any major upgrades. That’s why I spoke to six interior designers – to find out if there’s any cheats I can try to give a luxury façade, without breaking the bank. Here’s what they recommended.
1. Use the chopping board as a centrepiece
Chopping boards are something you’ll already have in the kitchen for everyday food prep. But, according to Michelle Squire, founder of Studio SQUIRE, displaying a wood or marble board can do so much more.
‘A single oversized end grain board leaned against the backsplash reads as intentional in a way a stack of plastic boards never can. It replaces the everyday chopping board shoved in a drawer, and my tip is to actually use it. A board with knife marks and a little patina looks more expensive than one that has been untouched.’
2. Update your tea towels
‘Another easy update is swapping basic tea towels for linen or textured cotton, which adds softness and visual interest without requiring a significant investment.’ says Vanessa Arenas, designer at Mackenzie Collier Interiors. ‘Replace worn or overly basic towels with a simple pattern or colour that complements the kitchen and adds another layer of personality to the space.’
Don’t throw the old tea towels away though! These can still be used as makeshift cleaning rags or napkins (if they’re unstained). If you want to remove any stains, wash at the highest temperature as recommended by the care label and use biological detergent. If that fails, you could also try soaking them in an oxygen-based, colour-safe bleaching agent.
3. Decant your cooking oil into glass bottles
Rather than having an array of plastic bottles gathered on your kitchen counters, Lucia Fuentes, interior designer and professional organiser with Coastal Maid San Diego, says decanting these into glass bottles makes a phenomenal difference.
‘Transferring your cooking oil, washing up liquid, and hand soap into simple matching glass bottles is one of my top recommendations. The reason is it makes a very "expensive" appearance due to eliminating the visual noise of the mismatched branded plastic packaging (which always appears cluttered regardless of how beautiful the rest of your kitchen may be).’
Opt for refillable eco cleaning products to save on plastic. Once empty, give the bottles a refresh by running them through the dishwasher in the upper rack.
4. Invest in new cabinet handles
‘Changing cabinet handles is one of my favourite inexpensive ways to elevate a kitchen,’ says Holly Scott, interior designer and founder of Holly Scott Interior Design. ‘Replace basic chrome or generic handles with something that complements the overall scheme. I particularly love brass or aged brass for adding warmth and a more luxurious finish.
‘Before buying, measure the distance between the existing screw holes. If you choose handles with the same hole centres, you can simply swap them over without filling or drilling new holes. You can transform a whole kitchen surprisingly inexpensively.’
To clean brass effectively, you can either use a solution of soapy water applied via a microfibre cloth, or you can just slice a lemon in half, squeeze that onto a cloth, sprinkle some salt on top and use that instead. Rinse thoroughly afterwards. Failing that, there’s always dedicated brass cleaners available.
5. Cover clutter with cabinet curtains
Is your kitchen a magnet for clutter? It’s easily done – especially when it comes to hefty appliances that are left out on display but never see use. Laura Townsend, design manager at Magnet, says she has found a solution.
‘If you’re not currently looking to upgrade your lower kitchen cabinets, create cabinet curtains using woven fabrics such as linen or cotton. This is a great - and quick - way to immediately hide any clutter that is currently throwing off the space. You can opt for plain and neutral colours or go for a more playful pattern. Gingham is having a big comeback moment so this could be a fun pattern to go for. Alternatively, striped fabrics always look great too, loosely tying into existing colour schemes found in the kitchen.
‘Alternatively, you may want to keep your current cabinets on display and simply refresh the colour to bring it up to date. Giving your cabinets a lick of paint can create the illusion of a brand-new space. Deep burgundies are a really popular choice. Previously seen as a more autumn/winter colour, burgundies are now being used all year round as a rejection of overly clinical, minimalistic design. Similar can be said with butter yellow which is also a fun colour trend of the current season.’
6. Add some greenery
Sophie Barnden, interior designer at Roost says: ‘I consider a single stem of dried or fresh flowers in an unexpected vessel, like a used wine bottle or an old jam jar to be minimalism with intention, and it can be as personal as you like. In my own home, I use an old champagne bottle I was gifted by my wedding venue! Dried stems like wheat, eucalyptus or pampas grass last for months, so it's a one-off cost for a look that doesn't fade.’
Adding dried stems can also introduce scents into your kitchen, which are as pleasant as they are pest repelling. Dried lavender can repel clothes moths as well as ants, while eucalyptus will also keep silverfish at bay.
7. Frame a recipe
If you’re looking to add a little personality to the space, Sophie goes on to say: ‘A framed piece of vintage packaging or a handwritten recipe hung on the wall or positioned on the countertop looks niche, tasteful and personal without breaking the bank. Replacing the generic 'kitchen quote' signage, it gives a high-end feel and becomes a lovely asset for staging.’
You could switch the recipes over every so often to refresh the space and suit the season. Alternatively, hanging storage baskets gives you more room to organise your kitchen, and these are brilliant for holding utensils, tea towels, or even herbs.
