Mastering the minimalists’ kitchen? Here’s the thing: the kitchen is a hotbed of activity. It’s a lounge, a pseudo entertainment center, a dining room, a working kitchen, and a revolving door of friends, family, pets, and guests. One thing we know about the kitchen is, having less stuff to clutter up space means more of a chance at keeping it in a position to keep the dinner party or Monday morning coffee running smoothly.
Today, we’re talking about ways to master the minimalist kitchen aesthetic.
Toss Out the Clutter
Step one of mastering the minimalist vibe is to get rid of the clutter that’s keeping you from seeing the countertop. But further to clutter, it means more than taking out the trash and getting rid of old reading material and the grocery bill from the working surfaces. This is your chance to reconsider how you use the space and to purge the unnecessary stuff.
Start with the small appliances – many of them overlap in terms of their function, and truth be told, we can often do without them in the long run. Have a toaster, a toaster oven, and an oven? Get rid of that toaster oven that occupies the grey space. The same can be said for other specialty items we seldom use:
- Knife block – unless you’re holstering a $1k set of knives, put them in your drawer and free up space.
- Bread maker – use the oven.
- Espresso machine – tread carefully, but you could opt to nix the drip coffee maker if you’re an Americano nut.
- Rice maker – pots work well, too.
- Wok – That’s just an extra huge pan.
- Extra mugs – You can only drink from one at a time.
A lot of appliances and small daily appliances take up a lot of countertop space. Toasters and coffee makers come to mind immediately. A great way to hide them away is to research and invest in the idea of an appliance garage to house those appliances and keep them out of sight.
Next, consider how many mugs and knives you have. Take a look at the plethora of Tupperware you’ve likely compiled over the years – do you need them all? Chances are you have a few mugs you love and a bunch you don’t even consider using; ever. Same with knives. Ditch the stuff you don’t use, or think about from week to week. You don’t need it. Make a donation to your local Salvation Army or Good Will, or throw them up on Kijiji or Craigslist to a good home.
Let’s Talk Colour
Most archetypal decorating themes adhere to an aesthetic style, and minimalism is no different. Tackling your walls and readjusting your chosen colour palette is a key way to master the look and feel of a modern, chic minimalist space. Plus, choosing a neutral, bright colour palette that features little contrast is a great way to make awkward or cramped spaces feel more open and spacious.
Consider whites, creams, light yellows, greys, and other monochromatic shades of light green, ash, stone, and beige to breathe some life into the room and help create broad sightlines.
Features & Finishes
SLeek and simple are the two key pillars of minimalist style in the kitchen. Start by getting rid of anything in terms of knobs, handles, and excess or ornate woodwork that distracts the eye – the key is to keep the eye moving and to create one focal point rather than giving the eye a chance to fixate on 50 different things at once.
Start with the kitchen sink and faucet. Replace the old three-way faucet and knobs with a sleek and crisp one-tap solution that will reduce clutter around the sink itself – and take this opportunity to match your faucet in a chrome finish that matches the rest of the kitchen.
Next, consider replacing the cabinet knobs to a fresh and simple alternative that better suits a minimalist appeal, or all-out replacing the cabinetry doors with solid coloured fronts with no knobs at all.
Organization
Minimalism is also more than purging everything and making do with less – it’s also about maintaining an organized space that helps your routine and your lifestyle to become simpler and easier. The kitchen is an easy space to allow to become messy, cluttered, and a mix-match of odds and ends – take this opportunity to invest in drawer organizers and start from scratch in terms of where these things should live from now on.
You shouldn’t be digging for a garlic crusher in the BBQ tong drawer, and the forks and spoons don’t have to be mixed in with the spatulas and mixing utensils. Having an organized space is a popular and easy way to help keep things simple.
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Today, minimalism isn’t just a popular philosophy, it’s a canonical decorating theme that’s garnering huge respect from celebrated interior decorators and design houses thanks to its cleanliness, it’s open-ended linear lines, and it’s stunning simplicity.
Starting to overhaul your kitchen into a more satisfactory and aesthetically pleasing minimalist space doesn’t have to mean renovating your entire kitchen. Starting with these simple ideas is a surefire way to open your space, create some elongated sightlines, and give your kitchen new life. Book an online consultation today or simply contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.