Personally, I dream of having a kitchen in a greenhouse where there are overflowing plants and lots of glass on the ceiling and walls. But not everyone can transform a kitchen into a greenhouse with cabinets and cooking appliances.
Here are seven ways to create a greenhouse or garden atmosphere in your own kitchen. Some can be done without retrofitting. For the rest, you may want to plan as part of a kitchen remodel. What’s your favorite way to bring the outdoors into your kitchen?
1. Incorporate Large Houseplants
When it comes to creating a nature theme, there’s nothing better than real foliage. If you have natural light in your kitchen, consider adding large plants, like the ones in this kitchen.
Tropical plants like the one shown in the kitchen are good as the big leaves feel lush and look clean.
Decorating with plants is a great way to fill awkward spaces with color and nature. Large windows in the kitchen have beautiful garden views, while tropical houseplants fill the nooks and crannies adding life all year round.
2. Add Greenery with Nature-Themed Plates and Jugs
And what better backdrop than a salad or pie? Nature-themed porcelain can bring greenery to your kitchen and eliminate the challenge of keeping plants alive.
Try displaying plates and jugs in glass cases to make garden inspiration visible year-round.
Even with a simple table setting, this table resembles a garden party, complete with cabbage porcelain by Bordallo Pinheiro.
3. Buy Cut Flowers or Light Bulbs
Cut flowers can add leaves and colorful flowers to your kitchen, even in the middle of winter.
When buying flowers, look for bouquets of green leaves and bright flowers. Mandatory use of light bulbs is another way to achieve long-lasting color and foliage in the kitchen.
Or buy a few large leaves to make a bouquet of leaves. Buying cut flowers on a regular basis can be expensive, but consider spending a little money on holidays, special occasions, or stressful weeks so you can use a pick-me-up. Cheap flowers can be found at farmers’ markets and grocery stores.
4. Use Straw Cloth on Walls and Curtains
Straw cloth is a beautiful and natural material that is often used as wallpaper and curtains, and it can bring a warm and organic texture.
The light filter of the straw shutter is similar to that of the leaves overhead. Here, the blue straw cloth wallpaper is reminiscent of water with its subtle change of color.
5. Add a Skylight to Let the Sun In
Skylights can brighten up your space, and winter sunlight can warm your kitchen and brighten your mood. If you have a lot of sunlight in your kitchen, consider installing automatic sun blinds. This kitchen has a great view of the trees and the sky, making the kitchen easily a garden theme.
6. Introduce Loose-Edged Timber
“Loose edge” means maintaining the natural shape of the tree on one or both sides of the plank. This creates a naturalistic look that contrasts with the foliage and light.
Some woods, such as cherry and walnut, have a beautiful grain that reflects light. Loose-edged wood makes great shelves, counters, and tables. In this modern kitchen, the liveside counter looks like a fallen tree.
Loose-edge timber can also be used in traditional kitchens. This kitchen uses a live-edge bar that contrasts warmly, organically with the clean white cabinetry.
7. Design Your Kitchen Around a Stone-Carved Sink
If you’re planning a remodel, consider using a stone-carved sink. Stone is rock and therefore a natural element of the kitchen. The stone-carved sink feels functional, just like something you’d find in a potting shed.
The beautiful patina of this soapstone sink adds an element of age. The bright and cheerful yellow cabinets contrast with the natural stone, like a flower on the stone wall.
