How to Create a Cohesive Kitchen Style When Choosing Kitchen Appliances
The kitchen is often called the heart of the home, and that's enough to make it more than functional but also a major focal point for design. When you style your kitchen properly, you create a harmonious look where every item and element feels intentional.
Doing this isn't just about picking out countertops and cabinetry, it goes to the Appliances. Established brands like Smeg offer a wide variety, but the idea is to pick out styles and designs that help you achieve a cohesive look to boost the kitchen's overall aesthetic.
Choose a Consistent Finish
You can go with stainless steel, matte black, white, or even custom finishes. However, if you want a simple way of ensuring a cohesive kitchen, stick to a consistent finish across your appliances. Stainless steel is the most popular in modern kitchens as it's sleek and versatile, and it even comes in black. If you are going for a simplistic design, you can stick to the silver-grey finish or black and white appliances. For a vibrant or classic look, you can go for brighter colours, but you'll need to be more careful here as they can often fail to match.
However, this doesn't mean that you can mix and match. For example, black and white work well together and still qualify as minimalist.
Match the Style of Your Kitchen
Before you start the selection, you need to consider the design style that's already in the kitchen. This is mostly brought out by the countertops, cabinetry, lighting, and wall colours. Is it modern, traditional, rustic, or industrial?
In modern kitchens, minimalist appliances with metallic or matte black finishes work best as they bring a sophisticated vibe. In a traditional kitchen, you may need more classic designs with rounded edges or that are vintage-inspired.
Use Built-In Appliances for Seamless Integration
Built-in appliances will help you achieve a clean look. Unlike freestanding models, these ones are integrated directly into your cabinetry, so they blend seamlessly with the rest of the kitchen.
Generally, the most applicable appliances here are refrigerators, cookers, dishwashers, and microwaves. Since they are bigger than most appliances, they won't look out of place and won't take up much space.
Consider a Statement Piece (Focal point)
While you'll need to focus on consistency for the most part, your kitchen can also benefit from a focal point. This is a standout appliance that draws the eye and adds a bit of character to the space. It can act like the centrepiece, with every other appliance drawing from it.
A good idea here can be a statement fridge (maybe a smart one?) or a high-end espresso machine. It can stand out due to its design or having a different colour from the other appliances. However, it should still complement the rest of the kitchen.
Tie It Together with Details
The small details are what can take your kitchen from good to great. When someone looks at the kitchen, these details are what will say you put a lot of thought into the design. For example, you can match the handles and knobs of your appliances with the cabinetry. You can also match the finishes of different equipment or even have all appliances from the same brand.
These details will complement your design and enhance the overall aesthetic.
Think Timeless, Not Trendy
As with any other design, it's easy to get caught up in the latest trends. This is even more of an issue in appliances as you can quickly jump on new products that promise cutting-edge features.
However, trends tend to move by quite fast. What you should look for is a kitchen design that can stand the test of time. Try to stick with classic finishes like stainless steel, matte black, or white. Even if design trends evolve, your appliances and overall design will remain relevant.