After our big kitchen renovation we were left with a nice polished looking room, but the space still felt so bare and devoid of warmth and personality… and we just didn’t know where to start.
Slowly we amassed some great items that gave our new kitchen a lot more character and charm. Whew. So we’re here to share a few simple (and cheap) ways to up the ante in your kitch with eye-pleasing and functional additions that will look good while providing convenience and usability to boot.
1. Jars for cereal. We got ours for $6.97 each at Walmart last October and we love that we can easily pour our cheerios or granola (which they keep nice and fresh).
2. A chic olive oil jar from Williams-Sonoma. This is a one time purchase that might run you a bit of money the first time, but it’s totally an investment since it looks so lovely and can be refilled with cheap ol’ store bought olive oil when you run out of the good stuff (which feels oh so decadent while it lasts). And placing a collection of a few charming olive oil containers – or other bottled cooking ingredients – on a regular old plate on the counter is an easy way to protect it from oil stains while everything looks tied together and neatly corralled. Oh and you could also opt to take the store-your-oil-in-a-chic-glass-bottle approach. That trick can also look very swanky indeed.
3. A cake stand. You can grab one from TJ Maxx (like we did) or at Marshall’s, Target, and Home Goods on the cheap. It can be used to display anything from cupcakes or pound cake to ceramic fruit or even ornaments for a seasonal effect.
4. And upgraded fruit bowl. Be it a faux clam shell from Z Gallerie (like ours) or a nice wood, metal, or ceramic bowl, sprucing up your countertop fruit situation can really make all the difference. Ikea has this great metal option and we’ve seen great rustic varieties, like a trio of wooden bowls online and at thrift stores, so you definitely don’t have to break the bank for this easy upgrade.
5. Glass canisters for flour, sugar, salt, and beyond. Heck you can even use them to store oatmeal, cous cous or rice if you use those ingredients most often (ours are currently to the left of our stove and full of flour, sugar and rice since those seem to be common cooking necessities for us). Of course it’s handy to have them at arm’s reach instead of tucked away in the cabinet (just like our cereal jars) and they look so charming and kitchen-appropriate that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them once you snatch them up. Ours were gifts from West Elm but they can be found everywhere from Home Goods and Marshalls to TJ Maxx, Walmart, and Target. Note: learn more about that cabinet full of decorating items that we love to keep corralled here.
6. A nice soap and lotion pump by the sink. It just feels luxe to have lotion on hand after all that dish washing, and our $32 Anthropologie set (which came with an awesome ceramic caddy) has paid for itself a million times over since we love refilling it with cheaper soap and lotion without losing the high-end look. It’s up there with our fancy olive oil container- which we also refill- when it comes to feeling like we live the pampered life (without dishing out cash for such indulgences on a monthly basis). Oh and just as we mentioned the glass bottles with a spout as a chic way to store your oil, many people love using those bottles to store soap next to the sink for a chic effect as well- so that’s another affordable (and DIYable) option.
7. A swanky cutting board. Ours hails from TJ Maxx and we just love the layered tones of wood that pick up everything from our rich mocha floors to the lighter honey colors in our striped jute rug. Definitely think beyond the plastic or the basic wood cutting board (you can spend the same amount at a discount store like Home Goods or Marshall’s for something a lot more expensive looking to give your kitchen some added oomph). And of course you can still keep a plastic one tucked away in a cabinet for cutting chicken if you’d like.
8. An area rug. It just makes our kitchen feel homey. You can easily see the difference the $34 addition made to our space, and the striped jute pattern that we picked hides tons of crumbs and can easily be vacuumed or shaken out in the backyard when it catches a few too many spilled substances. After over a year of use ours still looks great (think of jute like the bristles of a straw broom- it repels wet stains so they can’t soak in). So as long as you choose something durable for a high traffic area, not only can it add interest and be super easy to care for, it can even offer up a softer surface to stand on (your knees and back will thank you after a marathon cooking sesh).
9. A ceramic caddy for utensils. This is such an easy item to place next to your cooktop to store all of your wooden spoons and metal spatulas so they’re functional and charming in one fell swoop. Ours was just $4 at Marshall’s and we love how easy it makes unloading the dishwasher (we just gather all the long spoons and ladles and stick them right in the caddy). We really appreciate that we don’t have to sift through drawers or cabinets to find the items that can instead be within reach while we cook. Oh and don’t mind that it’s pictured next to my vintage V-day gift for John below- the utensil caddy is much more functional now that it’s next to the stove).
10. A cute stainless blender and toaster for the counter. If you’re like us and you use these items frequently, there’s nothing more functional than choosing to store them right on the counter at arm’s reach. Of course this means that investing in some nice stainless versions will upgrade the look of your entire kitchen (and tie in with your appliances if they’re also of the stainless variety) so think about splurging just a bit (we especially love our Oster beehive blender, which actually gets complements for sitting out on the counter). And it was oh so worth it since they perform amazingly well and we never have to bother with pulling them in and out of a cabinet.
Extra credit: Charming patterned Ikea glasses and cute decorative Target bowls. Both stores make great options with tons of color, interest, pattern and texture so they can really add a lot to your kitchen. Whether it’s just stacking four bowls from Target and filling the top one with fresh strawberries or grabbing a few brightly colored ceramic dishes and using them to store pistachios next to your fruit bowl, there’s not enough we can say about a few pops of color and interest in the form of affordable glasses and bowls.
So there you have ten- well, eleven- ways to add warmth and personality (along with lots of affordable function) to your kitchen. Do you guys have other tips to share with anyone who’s looking to spice up their blah cooking space? What’s your favorite countertop item in your kitch? Do tell.
Dana says
I just found your blog a few days ago, and I’m so excited! Thanks for this kitchen post. I bought a lovely glass container today for my breakfast oats. One small step at a time . . .
Ashley says
Thank you for this list! We just bought a house and are getting married in a month so I used your advice to create a great wedding registry:)
Carolyn says
I think I had a momentary lapse of crazy when I made my first comment :) I like to keep our counters bare, but I neglected to say that we do keep a fruit bowl on the counter. Currently I’m using a stainless steel salad bowl to house our fruit. We have our kettle on the sliver of bench space opposite (between the microwave and stove) Other than that, I like to keep the counters nice and clear of kitchen stuff.
Liz says
I’m generally on the “less is more” side of this issue, but I was so inspired that I bought a $5 olive oil dispenser from Home Goods so I can keep the dish soap at hand. I love it! I also pulled out the flour and sugar canisters from the pantry. Looks better already and it’s so much more functional! Now I’m on the hunt for a soap/lotion caddy. Your kitchen was among our many kitchen inspiration photos for our recent renovation!
Gloria Ruff says
Thanks for a great post. It gave me some new ideas to rearrage my counter tops. I moved the kitchen aid and my new favorite toy (my blendtec blender) to different spots and it opened up some space. Then, I was inspired to bring the flour and sugar out of the cabinets and onto the counter. Need to get some clear or white containers, but for now, the old ones will do. Thanks for helping me rethink my space!
Robin @ keep home simple says
I love your blog! I’ve been reading it for probably a year now. I LOVE your kitchen style as well. It’s gorgeous! {as is the rest of your home!}
Just wanted to share this: http://keephomesimple.blogspot.com/2010/06/easy-peasy-cake-stand.html
Did you know you can make a cute cake stand out of supplies from the dollar store or a thrift store! I just made one for myself a couple of weeks ago and it really does make my home feel more “homey” & cute too!!!
Thanks for all you share on your blog!
It’s fabulous and inspiring!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! Thanks so much for the link!
xo,
s
Lois says
Love love love your style. I am thinking about redoing my kitchen, and want it to look like yours. My only question is if you were to choose a tile backsplash (beside white subway tile), what type of tile do you think will be gorgeous and timeless? Thanks for all the great ideas!
YoungHouseLove says
We would say white subway tile, but since that’s not allowed we also love opalescent mini mosaic tile or soft greeny-blue glass subway tile. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Gen says
love reading the blog. if you have a chance to update – the store name is actually called williams-sonoma, not William’s & Sonoma.
YoungHouseLove says
Fixed! Thanks for the tip.
xo,
s
Katharine says
Okay… I’m a little late commenting, but two things:
1. Art in the kitchen. We had an awkward deep corner in the countertop, not very useful for anything. Pretty framed art + display easel = tada!
2. I LOVE storing dry goods in those glass canisters, and at least in my region, they are extremely plentiful at garage sales. I’ve picked up probably half-a-dozen of various sizes at sales, usually for 25 or 50 cents apiece. If I don’t need any more for dry goods in the kitchen, I can always think of some craft supplies or bathroom stuff or office items or something to put in them.
Kristen says
I love the area rug in your kitchen – however, I’ve found that I need rugs with some sort of non-skid/rubber backing so they don’t always slide around. (This means less cute rug options.)
I was wondering…does your rug have any sort of non-skid backing? Or did you buy some to put under it? (Which I’ve also found to not work very well – as it never stays put.)
Thanks John & Sherry!
YoungHouseLove says
We just picked up a rug pad at Home Depot to keep it from skidding around (it’s double sided jute so it didn’t come with any built-in pad). It works like a charm! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
Allison says
Hey Guys!
Love all your stuff … your big shell that you got from the Z Gallerie is it the one that can be found on their website for $49 or the $99 one? I must have it!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Allison,
Our is the $49 Large Atlantic Clam Shell, not the Extra-Large. So now you can use that extra $50 to go buy something else! :)
-John
Leigh Anne says
In regards to upgrades, the kitchen is next on my to-do list. However, we don’t plan on starting from scratch like you and John did. In terms of painting the walls and cabinets and getting new countertops, what is the best order to make these changes? Countertops before painting or vice versa? This post is exactly what I needed for fun decor ideas, and I appreciate your help on the bigger upgrades too!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Leigh Anne,
This is the age old question and there’s really no right answer. If you paint the walls before countertop installation, they can get a bit dinged. But if you install the cabinets and then paint the walls you have to deal with paint getting on the counters and such. We painted our walls first and then got the counters installed, which just called for a few light touch ups afterwards, so that worked for us. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
lori says
Great ideas! One word of caution, though. The IKEA metal bowl (the Stockholm), while lovely, is HUGE. As in, wider than my coffee table. As in, makes my dining room table look silly, when it’s only set up for four people. So, just please take that into account, if you purchase it. However, I DO adore it, and it provides a lovely amount of sparkle. (I use it during the holidays, with a collection of simple red and silver ornament balls and some sprigs of evergreen … on a large surface.)
Michelle @ Italian Mama Chef says
Those are some great ideas. I came here by way of Tina @ Life Without Pink. We are repainting our kitchen and I have been searching for a crock or utensil holder and yours reminded me of one I have in storage. Thanks! I am glad to see that someone blogs about inexpensive ways to decorate.
Nicole says
I hope this hasn’t been asked yet, but I love your paper towel holder, can you tell me where it is from? I’ve been in my house almost a year and I haven’t bought one yet because I can’t find one I like enough! LOL
Thanks guys!
YoungHouseLove says
We picked that up at Bed Barth & Beyond a while back. Hope it’s still there!
xo,
s
Lindsey says
We have cute teal and green como tumblers from Crate and Barrel… but when one of the teal ones chipped, I couldn’t bear to throw it away. So I repurposed it!
My favorite two countertop accessories?
IKEA ceramic salt jar with wooden top
and
my chipped teal tumbler now holding all my teeny measuring spoons with mini tasting spoons/forks to make sure dinner tastes delicious before it heads to the table!
To create countertop room in our teeny apartment, we got a $2 suspension rail from IKEA and hung up ALL of our utensils. So helpful for a cook who has a lot of tools.
just adore your blog, and have it linked on my own cooking blog. thanks for all you do!
truly,
Lindsey
Tara says
Sherry-
I am not sure if anyone has told you but the Cucina (which means Kitchen in French/Spanish) soap set that you got from Anthropologie is actually from a store called Fruits & Passion. They are originally from Canada but now they have opened stores in the US. I could only buy things when I visited my family but now I can get things year-round.
I love their products. Check them out if you get a chance.
http://us.fruits-passion.com/
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Tara! Off to check them out!
xo,
s
Christy says
Hi,
Love your blog and your kitchen! Where did you get your kitchen faucet and who makes it?
Thanks,
Christy
YoungHouseLove says
Hi Christy,
That faucet is from Price Pfister and we got it on eBay about 3 years ago. You can read about it here: https://www.younghouselove.com/2007/10/scrub-a-dub-dub/
We have since replaced it with a Delta Pilar Touch, which you can see here: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/02/replacing-a-kitchen-faucet/
-John
Chelsea says
What kind of containers do you guys use to store your food if they aren’t plastic like you’ve mentioned in other posts? Glass ones from crate and barrel seem nice.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny- we actually got a set from Crate & Barrel (they’re glass) that we love! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
andrea p says
Hey there,
I was browsing through this old post hoping to get a glimpse of your salt and pepper shakers. What do yours look like? is there a post where i can see them? I need a set and wanted to see what my favorite youngsters have! xo
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I don’t know if we have any pictures of them, but they’re clean and modern looking acrylic grinders (we use peppercorns and course sea salt that we love to grind for extra flavor). Got them at Bed Bath & Beyond.
xo,
s
Jadie says
I know this is totally random and on an old post….but do you know if the clam shell from Z Gallerie is the large (12”W x 20”L) or extra large (18”W x 28”L)? Thanks! I love looking back at your old posts for tips, tricks, and inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
Ours is the large!
-John
Mercy D. says
I love you guys! I was looking through the Urban Outfitters website and came across this:
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=25785304
It stunned me how similar it is to yours! Urban Outfitters sure can be a rip-off sometimes. Continue to make
Lots of love! xo
YoungHouseLove says
How funny that they sell one now!
AnnMarie says
Sherry, you have truly inspired me to take on projects both big and small to make our house a homey, personalized home that we cannot get enough of. While I’m not big on stealing ideas exactly….I just had to have that fruit bowl! It was haunting my dreams! haha well, it was just delivered yesterday and I love it. Only question is….does yours fit backed up in the corner? I was expecting a sort of 90 degree angle in the back, but it’s actually quite flat. Just wondering! Thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, ours is the same along the back, sort of flat so I just angle it on the counter in the corner and it seems to work :)
xo
s
AnnMarie says
Do you recall the paint color that you had in there? Love it!
YoungHouseLove says
That was Gentle Tide by Glidden. Hope it helps!
xo
s