Make Your Kitchen Unique: Say Goodbye to Run-of-the-Mill Design Ideas

Design Ideas to Make Your Kitchen Unique

The kitchen is typically the most utilized room in the home. For that reason, you want to design it with careful consideration so that you can enjoy it for years to come. Before you start renovating, consider stepping outside of the box to create a space that is uniquely you. Whether you like modern and sleek or casual and country, peruse these unique kitchen design ideas for inspiration.



Make the Backsplash the Focal Point

Cabinets are often the first design element chosen for the kitchen. From there, you will likely try to find the right floor tile, backsplash, and counter to accent the style and color of cabinetry that you've chosen. If you want to do something a bit different, start by finding a backsplash that you love, and then design everything else around it.

There are many exciting tile options available; colorful Moroccan zellige tiles, patterned encaustic cement designs, textured or carved natural stone tiles, intricate mosaics, tiles reminiscent of wallpaper, or glass tiles in nearly every shape and size. Dimensional ceramic tiles add texture rather than color. The options are nearly limitless – let yourself fall in love with something exciting and go for it! If your kitchen is small, that can work in your favor; graphic or busy patterns that would be overwhelming in a grand space work perfectly to jazz up smaller areas.

Create Balance in the Design

If you find yourself worried about that statement-making backsplash you’ve selected being too strong, just keep in mind that other elements can be more plain and simple. Pair that wildly colorful, patterned backsplash tile with a soft, even colored countertop; you can use accessories like rugs or decorative pottery to add color & pattern to adjacent areas, keeping everything in balance.

Use Space-Optimizing Techniques

Small kitchens can be frustrating if not designed properly, but there are lots of techniques for making a small space feel bigger – and some of them might surprise you. Painting your existing wood cabinets can make a huge difference, even if you go for a punch of color; eliminating your upper cabinets completely is another idea. Upgrade the hardware inside those old cabinets to maximize your usable storage, so that you are able to put small appliances out of sight. Update your lighting, or add a skylight or solar tube to bring in some natural light.

If you like a more simplistic design, focus on maximizing texture to create interest. Go monochrome with your color palette to make everything feel simple and clean. For a fully open and clean effect, keep your patterns low contrast and your walls and cabinetry in lighter tones. You can add color in accents. 

Don't Be Afraid to Go Wild With Materials

If you are a little more adventurous, you can go wild with colors, materials and patterns. Mixing materials can be fun and create a space that is interesting and special. Paint your base cabinets one color, and your uppers another, or mix up the metal finishes in your plumbing and cabinet hardware. You can pair a colorful patterned tile floor with an arresting quartzite slab counter and a marble backsplash.

 However, functionality is just as important as design, so if you’re really wanting to think outside the box be sure to consult experts that can provide advice on what materials function best for your needs. 

Turn a Flaw Into a Fun Quirk

When you are working out the design for your kitchen, you may come across awkward spaces that can be a challenge to design around. Perhaps the solution is not to avoid or hide them, but to incorporate them into the design. For example, if you purchased your home or apartment and aren't quite sure what to do with exposed pipes, embrace the modern industrial vibe and pair them with very contemporary light fixtures.

Depending on their location, you can even turn them into a room accessory. Floor-to-ceiling pipes can be used as additional support for shelves. You can hang plants or pendant lights from them. Even use pipes to make open shelving, blending the original piping into your aesthetic.

For more information on design ideas and materials, contact us at Ceramic Tile Center.