I often get asked how to make kitchens feel warm, inviting, and welcoming. There are a lot of hard surfaces in a kitchen like the cabinets, tile backsplash, countertop, floors, appliances… and a lot of hard surfaces in a room can leave a space feeling cold and uninviting. You can fix this by simply adding more softness to the space to help balance all of those hard surfaces. Here are four easy ways to add softness to your kitchen, and therefore make it warmer and inviting. Oh, and the best part is that these additions will also help make the space look more complete and stylish! 

Window Treatments

Soft window treatments like roman shades or drapery are a total must in the kitchen. Often privacy is not required, but unfinished windows look, well, unfinished. Keep in mind that wooden blinds or shutters add even more hardness to the space, which you want to avoid in a kitchen, so opt for fabric. Soft window treatments are a great way to add a bit of pattern or colour to your kitchen if you’d like, without a huge commitment.

Area Rugs

I’m not talking about a typical little kitchen mat; I’m talking about an actual rug. An area rug or runner is a beautiful way to add some personality and warmth to your kitchen. Don’t be afraid to fill the space a bit; there should only be about twelve to twenty-four inches from the rug’s edge to the end of the cabinets. And don’t worry about spills; if you invest in a quality rug, you will be able to clean it.

Upholstered Seating 

Upholstered seating surrounding an island is always an excellent addition to any kitchen. Adding upholstery creates not only softness but also allows you to add some texture, pattern, or colour if you’d like. If you’re concerned about spills, look at upgrading your fabric to a spill-proof option like Crypton or an easy-clean option like FibreGaurd. Another great thing about adding upholstered seating is that it’s much more comfortable to sit on, so your guests will linger, which allows for a nice opportunity to create more great memories.   

Cushions & Pillows

If you’re lucky enough to have banquette seating, having a bench seat cushion or a fully upholstered banquette with decorative toss pillows is a fantastic way to add more fabric to your kitchen. Again, adding fabric is a wonderful way to add softness, texture, a bit of pattern and colour to help make your kitchen feel more complete, warm, and inviting. 

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