The kitchen is usually the busiest room in the house. Every morning kids wolf down bowls of cereal and parents bustle through for coffee. After school or work, everyone congregates in the kitchen for snacks, or to help prepare dinner. As a hub of everyday activity, it’s important to keep the kitchen lively and fresh. The following are easy ways you can keep your kitchen from becoming out-dated and boring.

Add table lamps – Table lamps provide soft lighting, inviting a warm atmosphere. Pick up some table lamps to put on a counter or a shelf to gently bathe the room in warm light, rather than have bright overhead lights on all the time.

New gadgets and inventions – People are rather genius when it comes to inventing the next must-have kitchen gadget. From coffee mugs with smart lids to juicers, new gadgets can add an extra level of comfort and convenience to your overall kitchen experience. 

Painting cabinetry – A simple fresh coat of paint can totally reinvent a kitchen. Painting the insides of the cabinet with a contrasting color can be a striking way to refresh your kitchen. Painting cabinets can be tricky because they have many awkward corners and edges. By planning ahead and following these tips, you can be sure to have an easy experience refreshing your cabinets. 

Suspend pots and pans – Need more storage in your kitchen? Instead of replacing cabinets, install a pot rack to suspend your pots and pans from the ceiling. Pot racks range from $50 to over $100 dollars but they’re definitely more cost effective than remodeling and redoing cabinets, which can cost thousands of dollars.

Indoor herb garden – To add a touch of nature and Mediterranean ambiance to your kitchen, plant fresh herbs in pots. Herbs like mint, cilantro, parsley, and basil do well in a sunny window. For aspiring gourmet cooks, there’s nothing that enhances the flavors of a meal more than fresh herbs. Although herbs grow well indoors, it’s important to be aware of all the potential problems with indoor gardening. 

Baskets for storage – If the kitchen is in dire need of more storage, baskets can be a fun way to stow away certain fruits and vegetables. Potatoes, onions, and apples can be stored away easily as shown here. Baskets can also be a convenient way to keep cloth napkins, table clothes, and kitchen towels nearby. 

Hang mirrors – Designing with mirrors and glass can open up your kitchen. With a mirrored backsplash, light that usually gets trapped in dark corners underneath a stove hood or cabinet, floods out into the room. Mirrors are both a practical and luxurious way to decorate your home. 

The above suggestions are really just the tip of the iceberg. As you brainstorm ideas for remodeling or decorating your kitchen, think about the overall look and feel you want your kitchen to have. Do you have three small kids running around the house? Are you recently retired and dreaming of a kitchen inspired by Tuscan villas? There are many resources out there, so you can find exactly what you need to update your kitchen.