How does a kitchen look like today? Many people would probably say that it looks like a “junk” kitchen because of the number of kitchen appliances that they use, and the extra dishes that they keep on top of the shelves. Kitchen styling has become more important than ever in recent years to produce a clean, uncluttered, and seamless flow from one area of a house to another. Kitchen decorating used to be mainly concerned with the walls; it was all about coordinating the colors and the textures that would be used in the kitchen so that it would blend in perfectly with the rest of the house. It still is, but with kitchen decorating ideas becoming more advanced, kitchens these days can have the feel of an art gallery or a fine dining restaurant.
In order to appreciate kitchen decorating, it helps to consider the fact that there are three major camps of kitchen decorating; the Practical/ Functional, the Conventional/Plastic and the Elegant/Glamorous. Let’s explore each of these in turn. Practical kitchens deal with the practical aspects such as what type of utensils and appliances are used in them, how much storage space is available, etc.
The Practical kitchen design uses stainless steel appliances, wall mounted pots, pans, racks, drawers and shelves. While it is functional, it also takes into account the usefulness of modern day technology. This kitchen design is very much dependent on what is currently on the market and what is popular at this moment. What may be popular ten years ago may not be considered so today. So it’s important to keep up with current trends. The Practical kitchen design may also include custom cabinet makers, like Crate & Barrel, that will hand craft your kitchen flooring, cabinets and accessories.
A lot of the Practical kitchen design kitchens use a granite countertop over an expensive wood or tile one. Another option for practicality is a laminate or vinyl countertop. Many people are starting to use white kitchens, which are becoming more popular. Some kitchen ideas are based around timeless looks.
When it comes to the Conventional kitchen flooring, it is all about maintenance. Most people think of laminate or vinyl flooring in these types of kitchens. However, you can find ceramic tile, stone, brick, stone and wood flooring in some of these kitchen designs. The Conventional kitchen flooring is often stain proof, which makes it easy to keep clean. The main point is that it is practical and the most popular option for a lot of people.
Gray and black cabinets have become very popular kitchen ideas. They match a lot of other modern appliances and fixtures and make the kitchen look very trendy. The kitchen itself doesn’t have to be very modern or a cutting edge design. Many gray cabinets are inspired by the classic Tiffany’s kitchen design.
For the contemporary kitchen, a common feature is a stainless steel or chrome kitchen splashback. A stainless steel kitchen splashback is often chosen because of its modern look. This type of kitchen has a simple theme and a sleek look to it.
In order to get a rustic kitchen, you need to use a material that is very rugged. Usually, this is wood. However, you can use stone, granite, tile and even brick if you want to. Because of the lack of textures in a modern kitchen, you will usually find natural elements like brick, concrete and stone. All materials have their place in a modern kitchen and should blend well with the rest of the decor.