24 Tips to Get the Ultimate Kitchen

Use Lighting

Spotlight important areas of the kitchen with strategically installed lights. Use wall-mount lamps to illuminate work zones, such as the sink, island, and stove top.

• Plan for a stress-free remodel with these tips and tricks from the pros.

Pretty and Practical Island

A furniture-look island with curved details is pretty and practical. The shelves on each end are a great spot to store essentials, cookbooks, or decorative accents.

Dishware Close at Hand

Keep everyday dinnerware within reach and close to the dishwasher using a wall-mount plate rack.

Accent with Backsplash Tile

A stylish backsplash not only looks great, it also protects walls from messy splashes. Use glass tiles in a graphic mosaic pattern to add sparkle and personality.

• 46 Beautiful Backsplash Ideas for Every Style

Store Small Appliances

Avoid an overly industrial look in your kitchen by hiding the microwave oven, toaster, blender, and other tabletop appliances in an appliance garage with a door.

• 13 Space-Saving Small Appliance Storage Ideas

Classic Style with a Hutch

A built-in hutch provides storage and display space, and it also boosts the character of your kitchen. Choose a configuration that includes closed cabinetry for elegantly hiding clutter and open shelving or glass doors for showcasing your favorite pieces.

Double-Duty Workstation

A kitchen workstation gives kids a dedicated space to study while dinner is being prepared, and can also serve as a place for meal planning. Even a small, otherwise unused area can be transformed into a desk with careful planning.

• 19 Workspaces and Desks for Kitchens that Add Function and Design

Personalized Style Plus Storage

Use special cabinet features to make your kitchen the most organized on the block. Modular cabinets designed to hold wine bottles and stemware are dramatic and practical.

Practical for Pot-Filling

Avoid the backbreaking work of lugging heavy pots of water to the range by installing a cold-water wall-mount faucet above the stove.

Boost Seating with a Banquette

A banquette is a smart way to turn an underutilized corner into an eat-in kitchen. Add storage below the bench seating to stash linens and seasonal dinnerware.

• 21 Beautiful Built-in Banquette Ideas

Wow with a Range Hood

Create a stunning focal point in an otherwise monochromatic kitchen with an oversize or colorful range hood.

• How to Build a Custom Range Vent Hood in One Weekend

Prep in the Island

A large kitchen island provides plenty of prep space, which becomes even more hardworking with the addition of a sink.

• The History of the Kitchen Island and How it Became a Design Staple

Add Architectural Details

Add architectural charm to a kitchen otherwise lacking in character-rich details by embellishing the cabinets with crown molding or wooden support brackets. These architectural elements are affordable and available at home centers in a variety of sizes and styles.

• 26 DIY Ideas to Update Kitchen Cabinets Without Replacing Them

Go for Glass Fronts

Glass-front cabinets create a bright, open feeling in a kitchen. Intersperse them with solid-door cabinetry for the perfect mix of display and hidden storage.

Pop of Color

For a heaping helping of fun color, choose an island in an unexpected hue. Using a bright shade only on the center cabinetry makes it really pop, but also allows for replacement later without breaking the bank.

• 25 Ways to Brighten a White Kitchen with a Pop of Color

Discover Fresh Farmhouse Style

Marble countertops and a farmhouse sink are a classic combination that will never go out of style.

• 23 Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas for a Perfectly Cozy Cooking Space

Professional-Style Cooking

A visit to a local restaurant supply store can help you turn your kitchen into a chef's paradise. These centers are chock-full of professional solutions for keeping a kitchen organized, such as a stainless-steel pot rack or over-the-stove storage bar.

• Add Function and Style with These Professional Kitchen Appliance and Design Ideas

Clever Storage Solutions

Pullout drawers are a clever way to keep countertops clear and keep frequently used items close at hand. This solution is perfect for adding spice storage next to the cooktop, keeping recycling and trash hidden, or for keeping pots and pans better organized.

Focus on Expression

In a room focused on function, it can be difficult to find ways to express your personality. Look for unexpected spots in the kitchen to showcase your style, such as painting the insides of your cabinets or adding an inset to display a special collection.

Soften with Window Treatments

Window treatments are an important element in the kitchen, providing privacy, light control, and decoration. Avoid fabrics that must be dry-cleaned, wood blinds that require a special cleaner, or cellular shades that must be vacuumed. Stick instead to fabric treatments that can be thrown in the washing machine.

Carve Out Storage

Space above the refrigerator often goes unused. Capture this area with a cabinet that stores items you don't use every day, or try open shelves to display decorative treasures.

Find Dramatic Light Fixtures

Lighting is an important functional element of a kitchen, but it can also serve a decorative role. Choose one dramatic light fixture for over the island or kitchen table to serve as the room's focal point.

• How to Use Kitchen Pendant Lighting for a Beautifully Lit Space

Secret Food Prep Station

Cabinetmakers now offer endless add-on options for making your kitchen more efficient and organized. For example, a drawer with a pullout cutting board and built-in knife storage near the sink simplifies prep work and cleanup.

Perfect for the Pets

Don't forget your four-legged family members when planning the ultimate kitchen. Corral pet food and water dishes in a custom cabinet, and convert a pullout drawer into a food storage bin.