The Great Kitchen Identity Crisis
We’ve all been there. You start a “Kitchen Inspo” board on Pinterest and, within forty-eight hours, it looks like two different people are living in your brain.
On one hand, you’re drawn to Contemporary: you want crisp lines, handleless cabinets, and surfaces so shiny you can check your teeth in them. You want a kitchen that says, “I have my life together, and I definitely know how to use a sous-vide machine.”
On the other hand, there’s Cosy: the siren call of warm wood grains, soft lighting, and a “lived-in” charm that practically begs you to wrap your hands around a mug of cocoa. This kitchen says, “Sit down, stay a while, and don’t worry about the flour on the counter.”
So, which one are you? Are you a “Sleek Minimalist” or a “Rustic Soul”?
The truth is, choosing your kitchen’s personality shouldn’t feel like a high-stakes personality test. It’s not about picking a side; it’s about figuring out how you actually live in your space. Whether you’re dreaming of a cutting-edge culinary hub or a snug sanctuary, finding your style is easier than you think.
In this guide, we’re going to break down the “Cosy vs. Contemporary” debate and help you find the perfect balance—because, let’s be honest, you probably want a kitchen that looks like a million pounds but still feels like a giant hug.
Lifestyle and Personal Style
More than anything, you need to consider your lifestyle and your personal style.
This is a great starting point when trying to choose between a contemporary kitchen and a traditional kitchen.
Striking the right blend of cosy and contemporary is made easier with the right kitchen design elements, such as a modern kitchen island or a traditional dining table.
Your lifestyle and personal taste should be at the front of your mind when thinking about how you can incorporate elements like kitchen cabinets and kitchen lighting to create a unique space.
A Kitchen Design is About More Than Just Functionality
Kitchen design is not just about functionality but also about creating a space that reflects your own character and style, whether that’s through the use of marble worktops, dining chairs, or a galley kitchen layout.
A good kitchen designer can help you create a space that is both functional and beautiful, with elements like kitchen units, cabinet doors, and kitchen inspiration to guide the design process.
Kitchen Units and Layout
The layout of your kitchen is crucial to its functionality.
Choosing the right kitchen units can help create a space that is both beautiful and practical, with elements like a kitchen island or breakfast bar with bar stools to enhance the area.
The Flow of the Kitchen
Consider the flow of your kitchen and how you can use kitchen units to create a sense of openness and space, with elements like open shelving and neutral colours to reflect light and create a sense of calm.
Think about the style of your kitchen and how you can use kitchen units to create a unique and backdrop that has character.
The clever use of smaller details to add visual interest, such as a wine cooler.
Don’t forget to consider the overall kitchen scheme and how you can use kitchen units to create a sense of cohesion and style.
Getting the Layout Right
This is really in a kitchen designer’s remit, but if you are designing your kitchen yourself, there are a few very important things to bear in mind.
Firstly, is everything where you need it? Think carefully about how, when and where you use different items in your kitchen. Place everything accordingly and conveniently.
For example, the breadboard and storage should be near to the toaster. Plates should be stored near to the dishwasher, and so on.
You’ll never get everything perfect, but doing what you can will make a big difference.
If you are installing a kitchen island, ensure there is sufficient space around it.
Ideally, all paths through the kitchen should be 1m wide and a little wider through the cooking zones.
If your island is going to have a hob, it’s a really good idea to install a prep sink at the same time so that you don’t have to walk back and to the main sink all the time.
Choosing the Right Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are a crucial element in any kitchen design, and choosing the right style and material can make or break the look of your contemporary kitchen or traditional kitchen.
This is a key factor in finding your kitchen’s personality.
Consider the style of your kitchen, whether it’s modern or traditional, and choose cabinet doors and colours that complement it, such as neutral shades or bold accent colours.
Think about the layout of your kitchen and how you can use kitchen cabinets to maximise space and create a functional cooking zone, with elements like counter space and bar stools to enhance the area.
Consider the kitchen cabinet style you want from a purely aesthetic view.
You may love the traditional, classic feel of a Shaker kitchen, but it may be that the sleek lines of a a handleless design suit the ultra-modern feel of your contemporary kitchen better?
Think about the extent to which the handles and fixtures you are eyeing would complement the other fittings around the home.
Choosing the Perfect Colours for Your Kitchen
Base your choice of kitchen cabinet colour on how you think it will make the room feel.
A big factor here is where the kitchen is positioned and the amount of natural daylight that comes into it.
If you have a darker part of the kitchen, lighter colours on cabinets will reflect the light and make the space feel larger.
On the other hand, if your kitchen is south-facing and gets good natural light, choosing darker colours for your cabinets is an excellent option.
This can make the kitchen feel more homely.
Adding Texture and Interest
Choosing the right colours for your kitchen isn’t just about light, however.
Bold colours add instant personality to the kitchen space.
This should be done in moderation though. Bold colours can create a point of contrast from the rest of the room, but using too much can be overpowering and spoil the effect.
For a different vibe, consider a grainy wood finish for your cabinets to add texture and interest.
Overall, the colour of your kitchen cabinets should reflect the colour schemes and themes that you have elsewhere around the home.
This will ensure the whole home has a more cohesive feel and a better flow overall.
Pick the Right Finish for Your Kitchen Cabinets
Picking the right finish for your kitchen cabinets mostly comes down to the style of your home.
If you have a period property and a more traditional home, a high gloss finish might not work. Matt finishes will probably look better suited.
On the other hand, in a modern property, high gloss cabinets will fit perfectly.
Too much high gloss can look sterile and clinical. It’s a good idea to add the likes of natural wood elsewhere in the kitchen – perhaps the flooring or worktops.
This will create interest and a more homely feel.
Similarly, pops of bright colour around the space injects contrast and texture.
Lighting Your Kitchen
Don’t forget to consider the interior design of your kitchen, including the use of pendant lights, wall lights, and task lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Lighting is a crucial element in any kitchen design, and choosing the right type and style of lighting can make a big impact on the look and feel of your kitchen, with elements like ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Consider the natural light in your kitchen and how you can use lighting to enhance it, with elements like pendant lights and wall lights to reflect light and create a sense of brightness.
Think about the style of your kitchen and how you can use lighting to create a unique and characterful look, with elements like modern design and a traditional feel to guide the design process.
Don’t forget to consider the functionality of your kitchen and how you can use lighting to create a sense of warmth and welcome, with elements like kitchen island lighting and dining area lighting to enhance the space.
Make the Most of Your Kitchen Lighting
Lighting is an often overlooked aspect of kitchen design but you shouldn’t underestimate it’s crucial importance
As well as ensuring you have suitable lighting to prepare food safely and conveniently, lighting can help establish a cosy and inviting feel to the kitchen.
Getting the lighting right makes a massive difference to any kitchen.
Other Great Ideas to Find Your Kitchen’s Personality
We’ve covered the main elements of kitchen design so far: layout, cabinets, colours and finishes, and lighting.
Often though, it’s smaller details and extra little touches that really add personality to the space.
Here are few ideas to give you some inspiration.
Adding Colour and Textures
Your main colour scheme is important, of course, but adding an accent tone to your cabinets or walls can bring it all together to stunning effect.
Display Ornaments , Pictures or Crockery
Minimising clutter as much as possible is always important in the kitchen. However, having a few choice items on display is a brilliant way to show your personality.
Open shelving works well and is very much on trend at the moment, but by fixing a simple shelf, you could make sense to display crockery, art, photos, ornaments, or whatever you like.
Choosing items of different heights is the best way to create the maximum visual interest.
Splashbacks
While splashbacks can be purely practical, a statement splashback can be a genuine focal point and add visual interest to the kitchen.
A metallic or mirrored splashback can add a feel of luxurious – but bold colours can work well too. Choose according to your personal taste.
Soft Furnishings
Soft furnishings are perfect for adding colour and texture to any space.
Of course, the kitchen isn’t an obvious place to start introducing soft furnishings – but if you have a seating area or a kitchen island, you have the opportunity to add further personality to your kitchen.
The kitchen can be both a cosy and a contemporary environment. The secret to success is to find the interior designer within you and bring your personality to the entire space.
From the design of a kitchen island to the choice of bar stools and the colour of the kitchen walls, there are a whole host of incredibly versatile ways to bring your personality to the fore in the kitchen.
Get in touch with the Kitchen Warehouse team if you have any questions.