Sometimes less is more! This is especially true with the minimalist home design trend. Minimalism is a movement focused on improving your lifestyle through simplification. But it isn’t just a life philosophy. This home décor theme has been growing in popularity.
The kitchen is typically one of the most-loved room in your house. Kitchens are highly functional, and with use, they also are prone to clutter. These are both reasons that kitchens can really benefit from simplistic designs following the minimalist trend. Implementing a few minimalist methods can have both aesthetic and practical benefits, for beautiful and easy to use designs.
Simple doesn’t mean boring. Here are some tips to help you create a stunning minimalist kitchen for your home:
De-clutter
De-cluttering your kitchen is the first step towards a simple, minimalist room. Get rid of all the clutter in your kitchen, from magazines and bills that litter the counter, to small appliances, and decorative items that live in your kitchen. Determine which items you can put away, and which you can get rid of.
The key to minimalist décor is creating a much empty space as possible. You’ll want to make the most of hidden storage. If your kitchen is smaller or doesn’t have a lot of storage space, consider donating or selling some of the kitchen items you don’t use often. Unless you are an avid baking enthusiast or chef, there are probably some tools you don’t need, but take up valuable counter or cabinet space. Here are some items that Becoming Minimalist suggests you consider getting rid of:
- Knife block
- Bread maker
- Espresso machine
- Rice maker
- Panini press
- Wok
- Extra mugs
Everything In Its Place
For a clean, clutter-free kitchen, you want to ensure every item has its proper place. Relocate anything that doesn’t belong. Often kitchens become home to odds and ends that belong elsewhere. Find a new home for items that don’t belong in the kitchen, including radios, televisions, etc. Designate drawers for silverware and cookware, find space in the cabinets for plates, containers and small appliances, and utilize closets or shelves for food or items you don’t use as often.
Switch Out Your Faucets
With minimalist rooms, you want to keep it sleek and simple. One easy way to start with your minimalist theme in the kitchen is your sink and faucet. Adding a sleek, chrome faucet will add a fresh, modern feel to your kitchen. Check out your local Vague & Vogue to see a variety of options. A consultant can help you find the perfect faucet to match your décor.
Put Away Daily Appliances
Daily-use items like toasters, coffee makers and spice racks can take up a lot of precious space on your countertop – all in the name of convenience. In reality, these appliances and items spend more time as clutter than they do for food preparation. They don’t need to cause distraction out in the open! You can find a new, easily accessible spot for each item in your cupboard or closet.
When it comes to creating and maintaining a minimalist kitchen, change your mentality about your counters. Instead of thinking of your countertops as a convenient home for frequently-used items, keep them clear. This will help you take another step towards the simple kitchen of your dreams.
Simplify Your Colour Palette
One easy way to make a big step towards your dream minimalist kitchen? Rethink your colour scheme and get painting. Go for a solid colour palette in neutral tones. Not only does this make the room look simpler, using colours that are in the same family with minimal contrast makes the area look more spacious, says Apartment Therapy.
Say Goodbye to Knobs
Here’s a weekend project to take you one step closer to minimalist kitchen goals: swap your current cabinet doors with plain, solid-coloured doors without knobs. You can even opt for a simple bar instead of round knobs if you don’t want to go with completely plain doors.
If you don’t have time to swap out all the cabinet doors, you can even just replace your knobs with simpler options for a quick update.
Ditch the Extras
Key strategy for kitchen minimalism: only keep the things you use and kitchen necessities. Toss everything else. For example, many people have dozens of knives, but only use a few. Why keep the unnecessary extras when you only need the essentials? Invest in a few, high-quality knives to use for food prep and ditch the rest. That way you can get rid of that chunky knife set on your counter.
Invest in a high-quality chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a bread knife—these should be the only knives you need for food prep. Then, ditch the others you don’t use and get rid of that chunky knife set on your counter.
Next, think of how much of your dishware you actually use. You don’t need to throw out your family’s fine china, just minimize your daily dishware and plates. Many people have much more plates, glasses and cups than necessary. This clutters cabinets and counters. Think realistically about how many pieces you need for the number of people in your family.
Also, take a look at your dishware. How much of it do you actually use? This doesn’t mean you need to toss out all your china that’s been in the family for decades. Rather, minimize things such as daily dishware and plates. Most of us have more plates and glasses and cups than necessary, which clutters our cabinets. Take a realistic look at how much dishware you need for the number of people in your family.
Extra gadgets are another common clutter-maker. They’re also unnecessary in a simple kitchen. For a minimalist kitchen, reduce the number of extra kitchen gadgets, keeping only necessities in your space. For example, while avocado slicers are all the rage, a simple knife does the trick. Make a list of kitchen essentials for your family and stick to it.
Ready to transform your kitchen with a minimalistic design? Visit a Vague & Vogue showroom for kitchen necessities and expert advice to help you create a sleek, simple design.
