By nature, humans are programmed to strive for more. Some things, like nicer clothes or a faster car, are within our grasp. Others, like a less annoying mother-in-law, are purely wishful thinking. One goal that’s very attainable, and well worth attaining, is to upgrade your kitchen cabinets.
As the focal point for many families, the kitchen plays a huge role in the feel and functionality of your home. But like your wardrobe, what seemed the perfect fit when you first bought it may be in need of a makeover. Since cabinets are an integral part of that room, they can be a key ingredient in satisfying your hunger for change.
Opposites Attract Attention
If your old, drab kitchen is getting you down, maybe it’s time to mix things up. Placing light colored kitchen cabinets next to dark ones is a simple change that makes a powerful statement. For even more differentiation, install glass doors on one of the kitchen cabinets to showcase elegant wine glasses or decorative dishes. Then bring it all together with a modern backsplash that incorporates both colors.
The result will be similar to your relationship: A generous helping of common ground with enough contrast sprinkled in to keep it interesting.
Paint, Paper, Pop
To really make open or glass-front kitchen cabinets pop without the need for a major overhaul, try painting their interiors with a bold color or hanging wallpaper in the back of kitchen cabinets. Choose a color that contrasts with the items being displayed yet ties in nicely with the rest of the room’s décor.
As with any of these changes to kitchen cabinets, a custom designer can offer valuable advice on what works and what doesn’t. Best of all, even if they do all the hard work, you can take the credit when the rave reviews come in.
Put a Cork on it
A bulletin board or corkboard is a great solution to staying on track and minimizing clutter. But from an aesthetic standpoint, it’s somewhat lacking. It’s a problem that cries out for a creative solution, and kitchen cabinets are up to the challenge. Imagine a message board on the side of a pantry with a cabinet door enclosing it. For the person who wants it all, this approach to kitchen cabinets will keep them organized without detracting from the overall design scheme. Get the message?
Colorful Character
There’s nothing worse than taking a “less is more approach” to home decorating, only to realize that in some cases, “less is really less”.
If your neutral-themed kitchen is bordering on boring, let kitchen cabinets save the day. Choose a vibrant color like yellow or red and strategically splash it on a panel of kitchen cabinets. Don’t go so far that it’s overpowering; just add enough to really spice up the space. If the old look was draining your enthusiasm, this one is bound to put some color in your cheeks.
Look Within
As your mom tried to tell you when you lost the battle with a prominent pimple, it’s what inside that counts. Maybe you didn’t buy it then, but it’s an easy sell when it comes to storage for kitchen cabinets. A slide out drawer beneath the sink helps you organize cleaning supplies while keeping them readily accessible. Like your mom, it’s the perfect blend of inner and outer beauty.
So if your current kitchen has seen better days, view it as an opportunity for a fresh start. And if your mother-in-law is really getting to you, maybe you just need to see her in a new light; or a new area code.