3 Stylish & Practical Ideas to Improve Your Bland Rental Kitchen
We’ve talked a lot about rental kitchens being “you-get-what-you-get-and-you-don’t-get-upset” zones because we’re typically limited in the changes available to us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have kitchens with good functionality and great style; we just need to be creative! Check out this cheery kitchen from our home tours that showcases do-able and stylish ways to improve your rental scenario.
Takeaways From Michelle’s Rental Kitchen
As a baker and food blogger, it was essential for Michelle to maximize the kitchen space afforded to her in her 750-square-foot NYC apartment. While Michelle’s “work room” is bright and clean, for an avid baker and cook who spends a lot of time in the home’s culinary hot spot, her kitchen needed a boost in terms of storage and charm. Here’s how Michelle upgraded her space:
If you’re lacking modern kitchen cabinets, consider taking matters into your own hands and installing sturdy and attractive wall-mounted kitchen shelving for easy-to-access storage. The process may or may not be simple (depending on your kitchen), but the results are worth it, as Michelle notes:
The [kitchen] walls are really, really thin plaster. We had to recruit our lighting/furniture designer friend, Richard from Richard Clarkson Studio, to help us figure out where to hang them without them crashing down immediately. Now each shelf carries about 30 pounds worth of ingredients, glass jars, and cutlery without the slightest hint of weakness.
Customize and update the look of your kitchen through smaller design choices
While this is a bright and clean kitchen—definitely a nice starting point—it could easily feel sterile and dull. Michelle did wonders in terms of warming up and personalizing her kitchen through her choice of warmer wood for her stools and shelves, and an array of pretty accessories like the mirror over the range.
Create eye candy using kitchen accessories
While your flooring and backsplash may be tired, you can add incredible visual interest and create an updated, personalized look by bringing in the kitchen tools and accessories you love. When viewing Michelle’s kitchen, my eye bounced around all of the small, lovely details that add beauty and depth to the space.