Christmas cupcakes would be welcome in any kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home and never is that more true than when Christmas comes around.
If you’re expecting to be entertaining family and friends over the holidays, your kitchen will certainly be the focal point of the house.
Whether its turkey, goose or beef, Christmas dinner is the highlight of any festive celebration and ensuring your kitchen is up to the job can save you time, energy, money and stress.
But if you don’t have time for a kitchen refit before Christmas, there are plenty of simple ways to update the space to ensure Christmas Day’s cooking chores run smoothly.
Here IKEA’s interior designer Samantha Lansbury reveals some top tips on how to upgrade your kitchen so it is ready for the busiest time of the year!
· FIRST OF ALL GET ORGANISED – A great way to get you kitchen ready for the festive season is to throw out all your unwanted clutter and organise your cupboards properly. For example, having the mugs and cups in the kettle area or your plates beside the cooker to easily serve up those roast potatoes on Christmas Day. Simple solutions such as dividers and small separate recycling bins are very handy. These small changes can make a huge difference and turn your kitchen from a nightmare before Christmas into a festive dream.
· CREATE A TRIANGLE – When thinking about the layout of your kitchen try and mark out a triangle between the most frequently used areas of your kitchen such as between your fridge, sink and cooker. Think about other jobs such as making tea while someone is using the oven. Are you crossing each other’s path and getting in the way? If so, just move the kettle! Creating a triangle or a variety of triangles for different purposes will help you move around your kitchen more easily and make Christmas a little less stressful!
CHANGE THE CUPBOARD DOORS – If your kitchen is looking a little tired and run down and you don’t have the time or finances to renovate your whole kitchen. A quick tip is to simply replace your cupboard doors. Whether you have an IKEA kitchen or not IKEA offers door fronts from frosted glass to old wood, which can often fit other kitchen units. Ask in store for help if you are not sure. One bonus is that is that if you go for a laminate or a marital that is wipe-able, cleaning up on Boxing Day a lot easier!
· THINK ABOUT YOUR SPACE – If you’re tight on room but have lots of guests coming over to eat on Christmas Day, buying a small fold-away or extendable dining table can solve the problem. If you are finding that you have limited worktop space for peeling those sprouts, why not invest in one of IKEA’s movable kitchen trolleys to offer more room. Also if you have nowhere to put uncle Frank and great cousin Betty, a couple of fold up chairs will cater for any unexpected guests who turn up at the last minute.
· DOUBLE UP ON CUTLERY- With relatives and friends coming to stay for the Christmas period it is important to think of what kitchen utilities and table-ware you have available. Cups, plates, servings bowls, cutlery and glasses can run out fast and no one likes to eat off a cardboard plate its worth stocking up. Why not indulge in some festive theme pieces like IKEA’s Godis mix snowflake printed glasses which come in a handy pack of six.
· ADD A BIT OF COLOUR – Are the walls looking a bit ‘beige’? A coat of paint or two can work wonders to cheer up a drab kitchen. Painting a focal wall a strong shade like red or berry purple can give the walls a fresh festive feeling and will give a warm and inviting atmosphere all year round. Another way to add a splash of colour is to think about accessories. Whether you add some red pans to your collection or snow flaked embossed oven gloves to hang on the unit, these small changes can spruce up any tried looking kitchen.
· DECORATE WITH TEXTURES – The kitchen is often the busiest area of the home during Christmas, so why not make it feel as festive as the rest of the house. Potted Amaryllis bulbs are a great way to bring colour into the kitchen this season and last for several weeks. Also luxurious fabrics like silk and velvet in the form of table runners and cloths can add a glamorous touch. Using shades of opulent purples and reds with accents of gold in the form of candlesticks or place mats will give a warm festive look and make a change from traditional decorations.
· SWITCH ON TO FESTIVE LIGHTING – A great way of creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in the kitchen is through lighting. Whether you go for a classic chandelier style light fitting or modern spotlights you can create a unique look that suites your home. IKEA offers a great solution for modern lighting in the form of track run spotlights. These lights run from one central point of the ceiling and can then be shaped into any pattern you wish. This will allow you to angle individual bulbs and get light where you really need it, such as on your worktop or over a breakfast bar – perfect lighting for those Christmas dinner pictures!
· DON’T FORGET YOUR DINING AREA – The kitchen table is a big focus for Christmas and decorating it with a few simple touches can really make a difference. One option is to create a centerpiece with a long garland that runs down the length of the table or a wreath adorned with fresh or artificial flowers that can be reused each year. A series of candlesticks or tea lights or a low-level flower arrangement can also give great additional lighting in creating a cosy atmosphere.
· HOW SUSTAINABLE IS IT? – With the cold dark winter nights coming in we tend to top up the heating and consume more electricity than at any other time of the year. If you are looking for a new cooker, fridge or sink there are lots of options available that are energy efficient and could help you save money. One option is IKEA’s aerator tap that uses less water when doing the washing up or rinsing those vegetables for Christmas dinner. It mixes air with the water to improve the flow to keep it 30% more efficient. You can then spend those savings on more presents!
The kitchen is the heart of the home and never is that more true than when Christmas comes around.
If you’re expecting to be entertaining family and friends over the holidays, your kitchen will certainly be the focal point of the house.
Whether its turkey, goose or beef, Christmas dinner is the highlight of any festive celebration and ensuring your kitchen is up to the job can save you time, energy, money and stress.
But if you don’t have time for a kitchen refit before Christmas, there are plenty of simple ways to update the space to ensure Christmas Day’s cooking chores run smoothly.
Here IKEA’s interior designer Samantha Lansbury reveals some top tips on how to upgrade your kitchen so it is ready for the busiest time of the year!
· FIRST OF ALL GET ORGANISED – A great way to get you kitchen ready for the festive season is to throw out all your unwanted clutter and organise your cupboards properly. For example, having the mugs and cups in the kettle area or your plates beside the cooker to easily serve up those roast potatoes on Christmas Day. Simple solutions such as dividers and small separate recycling bins are very handy. These small changes can make a huge difference and turn your kitchen from a nightmare before Christmas into a festive dream.
· CREATE A TRIANGLE – When thinking about the layout of your kitchen try and mark out a triangle between the most frequently used areas of your kitchen such as between your fridge, sink and cooker. Think about other jobs such as making tea while someone is using the oven. Are you crossing each other’s path and getting in the way? If so, just move the kettle! Creating a triangle or a variety of triangles for different purposes will help you move around your kitchen more easily and make Christmas a little less stressful!
CHANGE THE CUPBOARD DOORS – If your kitchen is looking a little tired and run down and you don’t have the time or finances to renovate your whole kitchen. A quick tip is to simply replace your cupboard doors. Whether you have an IKEA kitchen or not IKEA offers door fronts from frosted glass to old wood, which can often fit other kitchen units. Ask in store for help if you are not sure. One bonus is that is that if you go for a laminate or a marital that is wipe-able, cleaning up on Boxing Day a lot easier!
· THINK ABOUT YOUR SPACE – If you’re tight on room but have lots of guests coming over to eat on Christmas Day, buying a small fold-away or extendable dining table can solve the problem. If you are finding that you have limited worktop space for peeling those sprouts, why not invest in one of IKEA’s movable kitchen trolleys to offer more room. Also if you have nowhere to put uncle Frank and great cousin Betty, a couple of fold up chairs will cater for any unexpected guests who turn up at the last minute.
· DOUBLE UP ON CUTLERY- With relatives and friends coming to stay for the Christmas period it is important to think of what kitchen utilities and table-ware you have available. Cups, plates, servings bowls, cutlery and glasses can run out fast and no one likes to eat off a cardboard plate its worth stocking up. Why not indulge in some festive theme pieces like IKEA’s Godis mix snowflake printed glasses which come in a handy pack of six.
· ADD A BIT OF COLOUR – Are the walls looking a bit ‘beige’? A coat of paint or two can work wonders to cheer up a drab kitchen. Painting a focal wall a strong shade like red or berry purple can give the walls a fresh festive feeling and will give a warm and inviting atmosphere all year round. Another way to add a splash of colour is to think about accessories. Whether you add some red pans to your collection or snow flaked embossed oven gloves to hang on the unit, these small changes can spruce up any tried looking kitchen.
· DECORATE WITH TEXTURES – The kitchen is often the busiest area of the home during Christmas, so why not make it feel as festive as the rest of the house. Potted Amaryllis bulbs are a great way to bring colour into the kitchen this season and last for several weeks. Also luxurious fabrics like silk and velvet in the form of table runners and cloths can add a glamorous touch. Using shades of opulent purples and reds with accents of gold in the form of candlesticks or place mats will give a warm festive look and make a change from traditional decorations.
· SWITCH ON TO FESTIVE LIGHTING – A great way of creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in the kitchen is through lighting. Whether you go for a classic chandelier style light fitting or modern spotlights you can create a unique look that suites your home. IKEA offers a great solution for modern lighting in the form of track run spotlights. These lights run from one central point of the ceiling and can then be shaped into any pattern you wish. This will allow you to angle individual bulbs and get light where you really need it, such as on your worktop or over a breakfast bar – perfect lighting for those Christmas dinner pictures!
· DON’T FORGET YOUR DINING AREA – The kitchen table is a big focus for Christmas and decorating it with a few simple touches can really make a difference. One option is to create a centerpiece with a long garland that runs down the length of the table or a wreath adorned with fresh or artificial flowers that can be reused each year. A series of candlesticks or tea lights or a low-level flower arrangement can also give great additional lighting in creating a cosy atmosphere.
· HOW SUSTAINABLE IS IT? – With the cold dark winter nights coming in we tend to top up the heating and consume more electricity than at any other time of the year. If you are looking for a new cooker, fridge or sink there are lots of options available that are energy efficient and could help you save money. One option is IKEA’s aerator tap that uses less water when doing the washing up or rinsing those vegetables for Christmas dinner. It mixes air with the water to improve the flow to keep it 30% more efficient. You can then spend those savings on more presents!
Tagged in decorating tips Christmas Decorating Tips