Renovating your kitchen can be a costly, time-consuming and stressful project. After interest rate hikes, Christmas spending, flooding and a tropical cyclone, I’m not surprised if you’d rather hit pause on your kitchen renovation plans until life calms down a little. When I’m sick of my spaces but the reno dream seems like a world away I do what I call a ‘sanity refresh’ using styling tricks to freshen up my spaces. Here are some cost-effective styling ideas I’ve used in client’s kitchens below that create a fresh look without breaking the bank.

Use florals or greenery

Add a plant or floral to your kitchen to add a natural element. Rather than lots of tiny trinket-style plants I like to use one statement arrangement for more wow factor. This could be one individual showstopper like the potted orchid above, or a row or grouping of the same plant to create one larger feature. One trick that can really help is choosing a variety that ties into your design style. It might sound like a minor detail, but selecting a leaf shape and colour that’s in keeping with your kitchen theme emphasises that theme even more. The orchid above is a great example - its formal, classic look is the perfect match for the elegant marble kitchen behind.

Make open shelving

In this kitchen I had Metalier spray the cupboard fronts on a row of upper cabinetry in a brass metallic paint. However another easier and cheaper option is to take the cupboard fronts off altogether, leaving open shelving that can be styled creating an interesting and personal focal point. Open shelving to display ceramics, plants or cookbooks creates a design moment, adds different textures, and breaks up large areas of cabinetry. Once you’ve taken the fronts off, remove all items from your open shelves and start with a blank canvas. Patch any holes and give the shelves a good clean and paint so you’ve got a fresh foundation to work with - this will help you envision the overall look and feel you want to achieve. While you want your kitchen shelves to look good, they also need to be practical so you’re not forgoing storage space just for looks. Keep essential items stored there but organize them by function and category for a more visually appealing result. For example, you could dedicate one shelf to ceramic bowls and plates, and another shelf to mugs or different sets of glassware. In this kitchen I also created a couple of small groupings on the benchtops - one of three brass objects, and another a small vignette of cooking-related items.

Organise your drawers

While this might not immediately seem like styling, not only do well organised cupboards or drawers help make everyday life a little easier, they can also contribute to the design of your kitchen. A cluttered and disorganised kitchen can detract from the overall style so keep your kitchen organised by using storage solutions such as drawer dividers, cutlery trays, cabinet organisers and non-slip sheets in materials and colours that continue the theme of the room. Then go one step further and theme your cutlery and kitchenware to your overall kitchen theme - you’ll be surprised how much impact these smaller changes make!

Create a benchtop vignette

When creating a vignette it's important to create balance by alternating between larger and smaller items. For example, you could pair a teapot with small ceramic tumblers. Using colour can add interest and depth to a vignette and help to theme it - in this home Exhibit One used black, brass and grey with a pop of aqua. Consider using a mix of materials to create a visually appealing display and very the heights for a more dynamic display. Rather than covering your benchtops with lots of clutter, choose a few strategic places to style and match the vignette to the area e.g. create a grouping of gorgeous hot drink-related objects next to a coffee nook. If you’re styling kitchen shelves create several small individual groupings like in the images above, and leave some breathing room (often called negative space) between items helps to make them pop.

Use decorative accessories

Adding decorative accessories such as a runner, curtains, barstools, place settings or artwork can give your kitchen a fresh new look. The key here is texture - just adding some ‘soft’ elements add depth and interest plus make your kitchen so much more inviting.

Remember, styling your kitchen is a personal and creative process and there are no rules. Use these tips as a starting point and have fun creating displays that reflect your personal style and give your kitchen (and you!) that little well-deserved lift.