Our kitchen is not one of the areas in our home I had spent any time decorating. I’m lucky if it’s just kept clean, so decorating hasn’t been a priority. Years ago when we added additional cabinets to our uppers I wasn’t sure how to decorate them so all white or clear glass pieces were the only things added. In my mind I thought that would keep things clean and uncluttered looking, but over the years it started to feel very cold and stark. While the simple kitchen updates that have just been made are really very small, they helped warm up the kitchen and make it feel more like the rest of our home. If you’re feeling the same way about your kitchen or are looking for ways to freshen it up read on for solutions you can tackle in no time.

Al source list will be included at the end of the post. Some affiliate links are used. For additional information, see my Disclosure.

Kitchen Before

Zero color in the glass cabinets and only a small amount of wood tones out on the counter. The blown-out photos don’t help, but it felt very sterile.

Kitchen After

Now, do keep in mind that these after photos were taken with a newer camera so there is a difference in picture quality. Aside from that, here’s what changed in the kitchen. While some of the white pieces were kept in the upper glass cabinets, all of the clear glass pieces were removed, and baskets and darker pieces were added to draw the eye up. A large wood dough bowl was placed on the small counter next to the oven and microwave. Wood instantly warms up white spaces. The dough bowl looks pretty but is also very functional because it corrals all of our devices while being charged. You can check out my favorite outlet for charging devices in this post.

Adding Warmth to Cabinets

In the cabinets over the refrigerator a wooden cake stand and large vintage crock replaced the clear glass vases. Darker china was added to the cabinets over the coffee maker and all the way to the left side of the vent hood another vintage crock was added along side white serveware.

Adding Warmth to Counters

Wood cutting boards or serving boards are great for stacking against the backsplash. Displaying wooden spoons or spatulas in a crock instead of hidden away in a drawer are another way you can bring some warmth to your counters.

Greenery

The black vase with greenery is absolutely beautiful for photos because it brings some life into a room that has a lot of hard surfaces. However, in real life that island needs to be as cleared off as possible for meal prep and homework.

Vintage Looking Rug

The last thing I added to the kitchen was a vintage looking runner. I’ve always loved the look of a runner in a kitchen but felt like it wouldn’t be practical for our family because we have A LOT of food spills. Especially in this area between the sink and cooktop. Now, I’m sure you’ve seen this rug all over Instagram, which is actually why I was hesitant to purchase it myself. But, let me tell you why it is so darn loved and why it’s a great kitchen choice.

1. This rug has an incredibly realistic vintage looking pattern and muted colors that you would normally only find in expensive real deal vintage rugs, but at an incredibly affordable price. I was able to pick up this 2’6″x9’6″ runner for under $60. I know, right?!!
2. What makes this such a great choice for the kitchen is because it has a flat pile height. Meaning there are no long rug fibers for food to get trapped inside. The pattern is a print on polyester. If something spills you can easily just wipe it off. It’s still has a very soft touch to it so it feels nice underfoot. You definitely want a nice rug pad underneath it to add some cushion and keep it from sliding around. I ordered this rug pad.

Since it has been such a popular rug it does seem to come in and out of stock regularly, and different sites have them listed under different brand names and prices. I purchased mine under the brand name Alexander House on Overstock here (the label on the bottom of the rug says Loloi). You can also find it here and here. There are also several other colors and sizes available.

It feels so much better in here with these simple kitchen updates. I’m now wondering how I loved for so long without a cushy rug underfoot!

Sources

• countertop – Silestone Lyra
• counterstools
• pendants
• rug (here and here)
• black vase
• vintage dough bowl (similar here)
• marble fruit bowl
• white utensil crock
• wood cutting and serving boards – Homegoods

Shop the Look