This week I've had three clients email me asking about how to style their new kitchens. One client sent me images of five (yes 5!) different wooden chopping boards that she had bought and taken home, because she couldn't decide which was the right one to put in her new kitchen. She wanted me to help her choose the best one and she was going to return the rest. This made me realise that this was a topic I should write a few words about as that seemed like a terrible waste of time!

So here are my top styling tips for putting together a beautiful looking kitchen that doesn't look cluttered but still remains functional.

1. Don't over think it!

The story above about the chopping boards is a relatively common scenario in my inbox. People get stifled with choice about different areas of their home and more often than not give up before making a decision. Even if I send over some ideas for what to use in the kitchen to style with they worry that they won't be able to lay the items out themselves. Follow a few of my simple tips below if you're not sure where to start.

2. Have a look at styling pics online and steal the look!

When in doubt take a scroll through Instagram and Pinterest and search for kitchen styling tips. This might be via a hashtag in Instagram (e.g. try #kitchenstyling #kitchenstylingtips) or by searching for kitchen styling tips in the Pinterest search engine. Quite quickly you'll be presented with lots of different ideas and ways that creative people have styled their own homes and kitchens and it should give you some easy ideas for what to do in your own home. When in doubt just completely copy a look you like - nobody will know! If you aren't sure where to buy the products you see you can reach out to the owner of the photo and ask or you could search your local homewares stores to find similar looking items.

However a word of caution - to avoid a disjointed or cluttered look do try and think about a big picture of what you want the kitchen styling to look like before you go off to the stores (or online) and start shopping. Plan out a few vignettes for different parts of the kitchen and then set off with these exact settings in mind to purchase. This will help the finished look feel more cohesive and avoid you spending money on random items that don't go together.

3. Mix some textures in

Most new kitchens these days are relatively plain. People normally go for something quite neutral, white or grey cabinetry for example. Given such a large investment is being made clients worry about spending money on fads or trends and want a timeless kitchen that will stand the test of time. What this means is quite often you'll have a white kitchen or something fairly simple as your base to start with. This sort of kitchen lends itself well to having some texture and life brought in. Think about what to use on your splashback (as this can be changed fairly easily without updating your whole kitchen). Also bring in texture via woods (e.g. trays, wooden utensils, chopping boards), ceramics (pretty dishes, planter pots, pinch pots for salt/pepper) and other decorative items that have function (e.g. salt and pepper grinders, egg timers, clocks, oil and vinegar). Collect things together in groups around the kitchen to bring some immediate life to your space.

4. Use trays

Trays have lots of use in the kitchen. They are great for leaning up against a backsplash as a tall element in a little styling collection or they are great for grouping a collection of nice ceramics or vases on. Trays can also be used near the cooktop to hold oils, utensils and salt and pepper - so these are all handy and close to where you are cooking. In addition if you have a small selection of items that are looking a bit messy sitting on the bench on their own, try grouping them on a nice tray and see if that helps.

5. Bring in some life

Plants, herbs and other greenery look fab in a kitchen. Plus they can be really functional as well. Put a small planter up on your open shelving, or a pot of herbs on one of the trays you might have put out near the cook top. A pop of greenery will really bring some life to your kitchen. If you don't have a green thumb think about a faux plant or faux succulent for the same effect!

Flowers, of course, have the same impact as plants and herbs. These again could be fresh or faux and a nice vase could be placed on a kitchen island or an area where bench space isn't used frequently.

6. Use real food as part of your styling

Bowls of lemons, limes, apples or even bananas all look great in the kitchen. Plus they naturally bring colour and life to your kitchen for very little cost.

7. Cookbooks

Have lots of cookbooks? Put some of your more frequently used ones or the ones that look pretty out on display. Not only do they look nice but they will remind you to look up different recipes and perhaps help avoid cooking the same meal every week! (or am I the only one who does that?!).

8. Group in odd numbers and vary size and texture

A general rule of thumb for interior styling is to always group your collection of objects in odd numbers (e.g. groups of 3 or 5 objects) as it looks more pleasing to the eye. In addition try and vary height and texture within the grouping. For example you might put together a vase, a candle and a small pinch pot for salt together in a corner of your benchtop, perhaps grouped on a tray.

9. Final touches

Don't forget about other inexpensive final touches you could make.

Think about whether your tea towels could be upgraded. There are some lovely options on the market now and they don't have to be expensive.
Put out any nice things you have - vintage tea cups, stacked ceramic bowls or cups, vases or whatever is meaningful to you.
Don't forget about practical things like where you might put all the clutter and papers/mail that tend to gravitate to your benchtops. Perhaps get a basket to keep this sort of thing in.
Put away the big appliances or items that you don't use often. They will only create a cluttered look in your kitchen. Find a cupboard for them to go in and pull them out when you use them.
Think about your hand soap and washing up liquid that go near your sink as these can also be a place to style - I like Bondi Wash, Aesop, Murchison Hume and ThankYou brands.
Don't style with items that don't make sense in the kitchen. Stick with styling items that you would naturally find there such as trivets, mugs/bowls, salt/pepper, oil, trays, chopping boards, utensils and plants. Also try and put out items that are similar in style to your kitchen. A set of delicate vintage tea cups you've had in your family for generations may not work in your industrial kitchen, for example.
If you have to keep day to day appliances out on your bench top as you don't have enough storage for them then try and incorporate these in to your design. SMEG, Kitchen Aid and other brands make attractive looking appliances that can also bring a pop of colour and can look really nice laid out in the kitchen. If the appliances have colour then try and repeat this elsewhere in the kitchen (e.g. via tea towel, an artwork or some ceramics).
If you have an older kitchen then think about other ways you could update it for very little money. Could the cabinet handles be changed? Different splashback? New barstools? New pendant lights? Little touches like this can go a long way to making a tired old kitchen come back to life.

10. There's no right or wrong!

My final and most important point in all of this is to not be afraid to try out different things. There's no right or wrong when it comes to interior styling. It's all about expressing your personality in what you put out and having things around you that bring you joy, meaning and function. Look at pictures and try out the look in your own home. If you don't like how it looks then try something else! The more you try different ideas the more comfortable you'll become in putting together a lovely looking home yourself.

I hope the above tips have been useful. Are there any other ideas you think I might have forgotten? If so please feel free to add these in the comments below!

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Happy styling and enjoy the rest of your day!
Clare x

How to style your kitchen