The kitchen - it's the hub of the home, a place for social gatherings as well as culinary creativity. Making this room pop with personality and your own unique style is just as important as it is for any other room in your home, and it doesn't have to come with the costly price tag. The key is all in the detail. To get that revamped look without renovating, here are a few tips to brighten and lift any kitchen.


Image via Pinterest

1.  Add colour
With natural tones often used for cupboards and benchtops, stand out colours like blues, reds or even brass in your decorative pieces will bring your kitchen to life. Kitchen utensils and small appliances are bolder and more colourful than ever and can be used for both styling and functionality. Vases and decorative bowls will also add a splash of colour. "Choose a statement fruit bowl to sit on your counter," suggests Head of Styling Jessica Bellef.  Add colourful stools or chairs as a feature. If you want to go one step further, give you kitchen a mini facelift by painting cabinets or changing the handles.


Image - Brittany Ambridge

2. Stylish storage
Storage space is a valuable necessity but that doesn't mean it can't look beautiful. Accessories like hanging utensil racks or magnetic strips keep the benches clear and creates a display. Jessica also recommends decanting your dishwashing liquid into a shapely bottle or dispenser and choosing interesting jars or canisters for food storage. These will bring character and a personal touch to your benchtops or pantry.


Image via dougelissa.blogspot.ca

3. Shelve it
If you have it, open wall shelving is great to show off your best china, accessories, books and more.  Keep open shelving de-cluttered, organised and simple and add a few standout items that will draw the eye. As Jessica explains "There's a risk that open shelving will add to the cluttered feel of a kitchen.  Avoid this by displaying items that are the same or similar in colour. This will unify the collection and reduce visual clutter."


Image via Vogue Living. Photography - Mikkel Vang

4. Wall Art
Kitchen wall art doesn't have to be limited to images of food. Vintage signs, old advertisements, black and white photos, colourful art and framed recipes of old family favourites are great. If you want a homely feel, Jessica suggests displaying framed photos of loved ones and family artworks. Remember to avoid placing wall art over the stove to avoid steam and grease splatters.    


Image by Ashley Capp

5. Au Naturel
Many kitchens are full of hard surfaces and straight lines. To counteract this, add something hand-made or natural. You can do this with accessories - think natural fibre storage boxes and baskets and potted plants.  Jessica also suggests featuring "rustic timber finishes and weather-worn materials - add a herb planter box, use textural linen tea towels and display handmade ceramic vessels."


Image via Lulu & Georgia

6. The Kitchen Library
There might be a master chef in all of us, but we all need a little help from time to time. Display your books and add quirky bookends as a feature. If you don't have the shelf space, think about placing books in a small storage basket on the countertop, it's a neat way to display them as well as have them handy.


Image via Homelife.com.au

7.  Lighting
Lighting can have a dramatic effect on the look of your kitchen. Pendants hanging over the bench or kitchen table set a cosy ambience and double up as a design feature. If possible, one or two different light sources (not just downlights) mean more choice when it comes to setting the mood - helpful if your kitchen is also your eating space. The kitchen above, designed by Mardi Doherty, features task lighting for the preparation area and pendants for the island, perfectly mixing practicality and ambience.


Image via House of Turquoise

 8.  Flooring
To add some colour and design to your floors Jessica recommends that you add a patterned rug.  This will help soften the hard flooring and bring a burst of colour into your kitchen.  As kitchens can be messy, consider an outdoor rug since these are usually made from hard-wearing polypropylene and are easy to clean. Use a rug pad if necessary to avoid slippage.

See these and 180 more inspiring kitchens on our Pinterest board.