With the kitchen being the heart of the home, it’s only natural that it should host a unique theme. Kitchens with themes are not only fun to work in, but also create a creative space to enjoy special times with family and friends. Choosing a theme for your kitchen is easy as long as you understand what a kitchen theme is. A kitchen theme involves selecting décor and decorating elements that all point to and focus on a central concept. Anything you desire can become the focal point of your theme. You can also base your theme on a particular region or area of the country, instead of a specific object.
When contemplating a theme, there are a few important questions to ask yourself as you embark on this exciting decorating journey.
First, would you like your kitchen theme to match the existing theme of your home? For example, when you think of your home, what theme would you say it follows? Is it a country farmhouse with a picket fence and a tree swing in the yard? Or perhaps an adobe home in the Southwest with chili peppers and rounded arched doorways? Maybe it’s a beach house where summer is eternal, with water, sand, and shells playing a major role. Or, perhaps a Cape Cod home with cedar shingles and a walkway leading from the garage to the house. Or you might envision a cozy mountain cabin surrounded by a forest of trees. These are just a few examples of décor styles that could inspire a fantastic kitchen theme.
Incorporating Personal Heritage and Travel Inspirations
Another question to consider is, “What is my heritage?” For instance, do your roots trace back to Ireland, Mexico, Italy, or the French Riviera? Creating a theme based on your family heritage is a wonderful way to honor your background and share it with others, as well as provide a history lesson for your growing children.
If your travels have left you with fond memories of a particular destination, why not create a kitchen theme based on your favorite vacation spot? Have you ever visited a place so captivating that you couldn’t wait to return? Recreate that “heaven” in your kitchen, so you can enjoy a little piece of your dream vacation every day.
If you’re still unsure about how you want to decorate your kitchen, browse home decorating websites. There are literally hundreds of them! The world is at your fingertips. Look through decorating magazines for inspiration. When visiting friends, pay attention to the techniques they’ve used in their kitchen décor. Keep track of any ideas you like, clipping pictures from magazines or printing images from online sites. This will help keep your ideas fresh in your mind.
Create a kitchen theme file where you can store all the ideas you like in one spot. Add handwritten notes as new ideas come to you. Feel free to mix and match decorating ideas for your theme—be creative! Choosing an unusual theme is perfectly fine. After all, it’s your kitchen, so you can do anything that creates an enjoyable environment.
A major consideration when choosing a theme is your budget. If you have an unlimited budget, you can incorporate every idea you’ve found to create your dream kitchen theme. If your budget is tight, you may need to be more creative and use ideas sparingly. Another important consideration is whether your kitchen is large enough to host all the elements of your theme, or if you should just incorporate a few key elements.
When choosing your theme, it’s crucial to research the particular area or tradition that inspires it. Learn about the lifestyle, culture, and décor associated with that region. What colors are commonly used? What kind of textures are popular for walls? How do they cover windows, and what types of food are typically made there? Understanding the way of life in the region that inspires your theme will help you make your kitchen feel authentic.
Adding Personal Touches to Your Kitchen Theme
When creating a kitchen theme, using items unique to the region or culture you’ve chosen can enhance the décor and make the theme even more distinctive. When entering the room, there should be no doubt about what your theme is—no explanation needed. Flea markets and secondhand stores are great places to find unique items that add character to your kitchen theme, often at a fraction of the cost.
Be sure to take before-and-after pictures of your kitchen for your family album. You’ll enjoy looking back on the transformation, and your kids will have fun reminiscing about their childhood. Styles tend to repeat themselves every twenty years, and home décor is no different.
There’s a simple way to decide if your kitchen theme decorating project has been a success: ask yourself, “How do I feel when I walk into the kitchen?” Do you love being in the room and feel happy and content when you spend time there? Do you enjoy showing it off to family and friends?
One thing is certain: nothing says “welcome” like a sparkling clean kitchen, where delightful smells greet your nose and a happy hostess awaits.
