24 simple tricks to make your kitchen new

Making changes in the kitchen does not have to involve craftsmen and a costly budget. You may not always need a large and extensive kitchen renovation to create wonders in the kitchen. Here are 36 simple tricks, both high and low, that you may find inspiring to renew your kitchen.

1. Add some color to the kitchen

See the kitchen below. Out of color you get happy! And keep in mind that you can play exactly as much as you want with color yourself. Paint your kitchen cabinets today!

2. Review the details of the kitchen

You've probably heard it before, but here it comes again: The easiest way to renew your kitchen is by replacing knobs / handles on all kitchen cabinets. If you have standard standard hatches, the look can change radically just by spending some time finding the perfect fittings.

3. The details of the sink

It is easy to just wash your hands with the detergent if you stand by the sink. A gentle soap is so much better. When you are still running, prepare a nice bottle of soap by the sink.

4. Clean out

Sometimes it can be as simple as a proper cleaning of all cabinets and pantry will make your kitchen feel new! Give away unnecessary gadgets that you never use and discard old spices from 2011.

5. Paint the tile

Are you not really satisfied with the existing tile in your kitchen, but feel that you have neither the time, the desire nor the money to tear everything out. Try painting the tile, the easiest and most effective shortcut to a new kitchen!

6. Lighting

Look over the lighting in your kitchen, which in all other rooms requires good working lighting, but also other lighting that makes your kitchen feel cozy at all times of the day.

7. Disk rack

What kind of dishes do you have? Maybe you never even reflected on your dishes. But take a look at what it really is you put wet dishes in day after day. Hint: There are many good looking dishes! And maybe you could hang it on the wall for better placement. Or maybe even remove it completely ....

8. Small storage

Store the kitchen utensils you use most easily in a beautiful pot on the bench near the fireplace. Both practical and decorative.

9. Herbs

Create a small herb garden with fresh herbs in pots or mini greenhouses.

10. Clear the piles

This tip for getting a new kitchen you can start with right away: Clean up the kitchen counters, remove with piles of paper, old magazines and receipts. The feeling afterwards is guaranteed indescribable beauty!

11. Message board

Invest in a stylish message board for all important notes, but also nice postcards and other things you want to save and display.

12. Vintage

Replace some or all kitchen cabinets with an old, beautiful display cabinet. For who has said that everything in the kitchen must necessarily be stored in modules from a kitchen supplier?

13. Still life

You probably arranged some kind of still life in the living room for example, why not do the same in the kitchen? Candlesticks in group on the kitchen table or any other relief area, beautiful bowls, ornaments, fruit or fresh spices. You may want to replace your still life by season.

14. Tile wall

A wall in the kitchen is nice. And here's the best tip: Create a wall with your best recipes (see below). Both beautiful and practical (you always know where you have your favorite recipes), but also a bit of a snack if you have guests!

15. Kitchen chairs

There are two camps of kitchen chair users. Those who think it is important that it looks uniform, as well as those who love a mix of kitchen chairs. Either way, it is a fun way to renew, mix your kitchen chairs, odd chairs create an interesting and relaxed atmosphere.

16. Open storage

Open storage makes little demands. It can easily look messy. But it also gives you the opportunity to showcase your finest kitchen accessories. Set up open shelves in any selected location and store your beautiful glasses, or jars there.

17. Plate shelf

A plate shelf for extra nice plates, or cookbooks will be a nice eye-catcher in the kitchen.

18. Refurnish

Finding unexpected and different solutions for how your kitchen furniture should be placed can easily change an entire kitchen.

19. Take care of your worktop

It's easy to become blind at home. But take a look at your countertops. Maybe it's time for, for example, grinding and oiling any wooden boards? If you do, you have come a long way when it comes to a new kitchen!

20. Brick wall?

For some reason, a brick wall fits extra nicely in a kitchen. Is there a brick wall to knock out in your kitchen? If not, there are very natural-looking wallpapers with different types of brick patterns to cheat on.

21. New kitchen towels

The feel of fine kitchen towels should not be underestimated. Looking for fine in linen for a mock stealer on flea ice cream is the best tip.

22. Curtains

You get a quick and noticeable change in the kitchen by replacing your curtains. There are many ways you can think of curtains, such as: season, holidays and decor style.

23. No curtains

Not everyone is a curtain lover. They might hang there "just because". Try Or simply remove the curtains and let in the light.

24. Wallpaper wallpaper

Wallpaper one or all of the walls in the kitchen. A favorite wallpaper will do wonders for the mood and feeling in the kitchen!

KITCHEN FITTINGS

Good kitchen decoration means taking into account your wishes and needs and at the same time making it suitable for the kitchen. We provide specific tips to help you use the space and get a good workflow in the kitchen

Your dreams

There may be many things on the wish list when designing your new kitchen. Stylish design, more storage, less unused space or maybe more seating around the table.

Before you start with the kitchen decor, it's a good idea to think about what you like about your existing kitchen and what you lack.

Make a list of pros and cons of the current kitchen interior and take it into account when the new kitchen is to be designed. It ensures that you get your dreams fulfilled.

Frames

The room in which your kitchen is located provides the natural framework for how you can decorate the kitchen.

If you build completely new, you can draw your own frames before the walls are erected. In the case of a major renovation, it is possible to move walls and have the kitchen adapted to your wishes and needs.

If the frames are fixed from the beginning, the kitchen decor must be adapted accordingly.

Furnish a good workflow

When we are going to decorate your kitchen, we often use the so-called work triangle . It is a simple method to decorate the kitchen in an appropriate way. We draw three invisible lines that connect the most important work zones: sink, stove and refrigerator and thus get a triangle.

The idea is that the three zones should be relatively close to each other to create an efficient workflow that saves time. You move more in this area than any other area in the kitchen.

In order to achieve the most efficient kitchen decoration, it is a good rule of thumb that the three lines together measure between 3.5 and 5 meters.

The 6 basic forms

There are six basic forms that cover most kitchens. You can start from the shape that most closely resembles your kitchen and get tips on how to best decorate the kitchen.

Kitchen with kitchen island

A kitchen with a kitchen island is a type of kitchen interior that many choose for open kitchens.

The kitchen island divides the room and provides extra work and storage space. You can choose whether the kitchen island should contain one or two work zones when applying the work triangle in the kitchen interior.

Parallel kitchen 

A two-sided kitchen or a parallel kitchen is a good solution for an elongated room and for passage rooms.

The solution provides plenty of space for cooking and consists of two good work zones facing each other. When you decorate your parallel kitchen, the sink, stove and refrigerator can be placed so that the working triangle becomes optimal.

Corner

The angled kitchen is also called an L-kitchen  and can be decorated so that the individual work zones in the work triangle are connected in the best possible way.

Often, the angled kitchen allows a dining table at the opposite angle of the kitchen, thus transforming the kitchen into a dining area.

U-shaped kitchen

If you have a large kitchen you can decorate it as a U-shaped kitchen.

Then you get plenty of storage space and table space. Make sure that there are not too great distances between the three work zones - sink, stove and refrigerator - as you will then waste energy moving between them.

I-shaped kitchen

For small rooms, an I-shaped kitchen is a good solution.

In the I-shaped kitchen, it is important to have a suitable distance between the sink, stove and refrigerator to ensure a good workflow and enough table space. Here the work zones extend beyond each other and the invisible lines between them do not form a triangle.

G-shaped kitchen

A G-shaped kitchen requires plenty of space and is a rather unusual kitchen shape.

In an open space, the G-shape helps to clearly define the kitchen area and allows for three perfectly located work zones. If you want integrated seating, it is often possible in a G-shaped kitchen.

The best tips for a sustainable kitchen renovation

Environmentally friendly kitchens are becoming more common and today many of the renovators want to do so in a sustainable way. But what does it really mean that a kitchen is gentle on the environment? How should you think about materials, energy consumption and design? Kitchen Life has the guide to help you succeed with a sustainable kitchen renovation.

1. Keep and reuse

Start by reviewing your existing kitchen - is there anything you can save and use again? One of the cornerstones of sustainable thinking is about taking advantage of what is already there instead of tearing it out and buying new. Whether your new kitchen is environmentally friendly to a thousand, it will not be a sustainable business if you throw out a fully functioning kitchen to make room for it. Maybe you can repaint, rebuild or otherwise update parts of the kitchen so that you get a whole new look without having to replace everything.

2. Choose organic, eco-labeled or used

If you still decide to partially or completely replace your current kitchen, there are a lot of environmentally friendly ways to go. A few years ago, for example, kitchen manufacturer Puustelli launched its  organic kitchen  Miinus, which takes into account everything from the amount of material and waste reduction to transport in connection with production.

You can also look for other eco-labels , such as the Swan label, to find sustainable kitchen options. The Swan entails tough environmental requirements that are updated every four years in order for the labeling to be up to date with the very latest in technology, research and science. In kitchens that are allowed to bear the markings, for example, the chipboard is made energy-efficient, the plastic is free from harmful additives and the wood is not shredded in threatened forests. Marbodal, Vedum and Electrolux Home are some of the manufacturers that have Swan-labeled kitchens, and via Swan's own search function you can find, among other things, cabinets, paint and floors with the markings.

A third option is to buy the kitchen second hand . Yes, it does! Whole kitchens or selected items such as hatches, cabinets and fittings can sometimes be found on, for example, the block. Here you can also sell or give away what you do not want in your own kitchen - so you create a sustainable cycle.

3. Paddle with the water

By replacing a dripping crane you save both the environment and your own finances. In addition, if you buy an energy-efficient mixer, you can, according to some manufacturers, halve your energy and water use! In other words, the management of water is an important factor behind an environmentally friendly kitchen renovation. The market has a lot to offer in this area, such as Gustavsberg's recyclable mixer "Coloric" and FM Mattsson's model "9000E" with cold start to avoid unnecessary hot water use. Many manufacturers also sell variants with adjustable heating and flow functions designed to save extra energy.

Tip! Add new, sustainable habits while changing blenders. By only running the dishwasher when it is full and not washing dishes under running water, many valuable drops are gained.

4. Buy low energy classified technology

If it's time to change the fridge, freezer, stove, oven or dishwasher - choose energy-efficient models in the A-class (the more + in the designation, the better). Just as with efficient and modern mixers, you earn both money and environmental points by purchasing appliances and other appliances that consume less energy. In fact, you are recommended to buy new if your current fridge and freezer are older than seven years, just as the technology is advancing and becoming more sustainable all the time. Also, be sure not to buy larger machines than you need, even if you have room.

Tip! Buy a fridge with built-in carbonated water so you don't have to buy home from the store. Both environmentally and wallet friendly.

5. Use good materials

Choose plastic that often has a major environmental impact when it is produced, in favor of natural materials such as stone, tile, glass and steel. Instead of plastic flooring in PVC, you can use wood (for example, avoid tropical woods), linoleum or cork. If you choose wood, you can look for the FSC mark that stands for “Forest Stewardship Council”. The labeling means that the material is produced in a guaranteed durable way, without contributing to deforestation or illegal logging. Paper wallpapers are a good alternative to the walls, compared to vinyl wallpapers. If you can buy Swedish material, it is often better than imported, as kitchen decoration means heavy freight with a lot of emissions. However, if you live near a national border, the neighboring country's producer may be closer, so be sure to compare before making your choice.

Recycled materials are another sustainable alternative, especially for those who still want to use plastic and would prefer to do so with good conscience. Consciously investing in high-quality, long-lasting materials is also significantly better for the environment than cheap variants that need to be replaced much faster. Also, take the time to carefully plan how much material you need. A detailed material specification means you are less likely to receive material that just ends up in the dump.

6. Paint environmentally friendly

Unfortunately, paint can contain many boring chemicals that are a disaster from an environmental point of view. The same goes for glue, grout and other building accessories that are often a must in a kitchen renovation (if you do not want to try to put up the tile with tape, but this is not something we recommend at Kitchen Life). But here too there are tricks to take!

Waterborne plastic paints are often marketed as good for the environment as compared to solvent based paints. While it is true that the old colors with solvent were more harmful to the painters, the new products are also not problem-free. In fact, unlike the more stable older colors, they emit harmful substances in the indoor air for a long time. They are also based on fossil oil, which has many environmental disadvantages and is a finite resource. A further minus is that these colors tend to attract dirt to a greater extent and do not age well. Therefore, try to completely exclude plastic paint when you repaint. (Substances to avoid are, for example, lacquer naphtha, thinner, turpentine, xylene and toluene.)

What you want instead to look out for are colors based on environmentally friendly pigments such as linseed oil, sludge paint, silicate paint, clay paint and egg oil temperature paint. Eco-colors made from natural raw materials are also a sustainable alternative. There are many products on the market, including adhesives and sealants, labeled with the Nordic Ecolabel or Good Environmental Choice, which do not contain the worst ingredients.

7. Set up smart lighting

The most environmentally friendly way to carry out a kitchen renovation and at the same time light up your home is with LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps . LEDs of this type require less energy than other types of light sources and contain no hazardous heavy metals. They are also very durable and can be made smaller than ordinary lamps, which saves on transport and materials. Low-energy lamps may sound like a good choice in terms of energy, but contain mercury that is harmful to humans and the environment.

If you want fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps are better than a regular model because they consume less energy and last longer. Halogen lamps are also better for the environment than ordinary incandescent lamps, as they do not draw as much energy and contain no mercury. However, they do not last as long as LED or low energy lamps.

Tip! With dimmers in the home, you save a little extra energy because you can adjust the lighting's strength as needed.