Sometimes you just don’t have the bandwidth—or budget—to do a full kitchen renovation, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still refresh your kitchen in beautiful, meaningful ways. As Country Living’s resident kitchen expert, I spend a lot of time looking at beautifully photographed kitchens and working with stylists who make the kitchens we photograph for the magazine picture-perfect, so it’s safe to say I know a thing or two about all the little tricks you can use to make a kitchen sparkle. From picking the perfect basket for produce to revamping your storage options, these low-lift tweaks are guaranteed to make your kitchen look—and feel—new. Below, I’m sharing five designer- and editor-approved ways to totally revamp your kitchen without picking up a paintbrush or sledgehammer.
Artfully Display Produce
You know when you get to the breakfast buffet at a really nice hotel and see a fruit display that would put even the Bridgertons to shame? That’s the energy you should channel into this—but maybe without all the fruit or vegetables your family won’t actually eat. (Maybe it’s a little more Dutch masters than Bridgerton, but you get the gist!)
Pick a vessel that matches the look and feel of your kitchen—splatterware bowls, woven baskets, ironstone soup tureens, the list goes on—and let your creativity flow. The key here is to pick a vessel that brings a sense of whimsy and joy to your space. You are the one who has to look at it, after all.
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Rethink Your Pot and Plate Storage
Whether you install a full-on pegboard à la Julia Child or mount a pretty plate rack for all your most loved pieces, retooling your storage from just something utilitarian into something unique opens up a whole world of styling possibilities. Mix and match your piled-on plates for a happily cluttered look, or go all-in on one china pattern to show off your growing collection. Don’t forget to add a little softness—think fresh springs of greenery in a pitcher or an errant piece of fruit perched somewhere.
Re-“stock” Your Pantry
This one’s just for you, but then again the best design choices always are. Beautifying your pantry is a worthy pursuit. After decluttering the space, bring in a variety of fun containers to keep things in order: woven boxes or vintage tins to corral dried goods and grab-and-go snacks; mason jars for grains and cereal; vintage wire baskets for produce like potatoes and onions.
Lay Down a Rug
A hardworking kitchen may not seem like a natural place for rugs, but it definitely is. Rugs are essential to creating a layered, lived-in feel, regardless of the space. In a kitchen, choose a durable material like jute or wool, and avoid high-pile rugs. Washable rugs are always an option, but in my opinion and experience, you’re better off choosing a hardy natural material that you can spot-clean.
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Just Add Oversize Greenery
Never—and I mean NEVER—underestimate the power of freshly foraged greenery. And, when in doubt, the bigger, the better! Beautiful branches can easily be cut from your yard and placed in your favorite vintage vessel for dramatic flair. For early spring, seek out budding branches for a fresh splash of green at the start of the season. During fall, find branches with just-turning leaves to welcome the changing season. Keep them in water like you would flowers and be sure to change out the water every couple days to keep things fresh.
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Anna Logan is the Deputy Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
