10 Transformative Ways To Use An Empty Space In Your Kitchen

The way you decorate your kitchen walls can enhance the space and give your kitchen a whole new personality. These little adjustments can give your empty walls and spaces a lift and provide a fresh new look. From wallpaper to light fixtures to art, here are some fun and effective ideas to help fill in blank spaces and make unused areas work harder for you.

WALLPAPER

Wallpaper undoubtedly transforms a kitchen wall by adding colour and texture. It is a powerful way to add personality to your kitchen and transform a plainer space. Make sure it has a vinyl finish or that it is ‘extra washable,’ the kitchen is, after all, the room with the most traffic. www.littlegreene.ie

POP OF COLOUR 

An accent colour wall can elevate a space with even the tiniest surface. A strip of colour placed just above eye level works very effectively. Don’t be afraid to bring the colour right up into your shelving too for a seamless look. www.neptune.com

LIGHT FIXTURES 

Light fixtures provide light of course but also offer a centre of focus so an empty wall does not look so bare. Create some cool contrast like in this Neptune kitchen. www.neptune.com

BACKLIT SHELVING

Shelving will always fill an empty wall beautifully (and provide much needed extra storage) but the addition of back lighting can transform the space. Simple LED strips or miniature spotlights can be used to illuminate shelf displays. They help create a mood for evening entertaining and provide a perfect spotlight for decorative pieces. www.newcastledesign.ie

A MIRROR

Incorporating a mirror into your kitchen is a clever design move. Mirrors are of course great for reflecting light, which will make the room feel more spacious, open and bright, transforming the cooking and gathering space. Mirrors work very well in dark or small kitchens and can can also incorporate a touch of glamour, depending which style you go for. www.andrewryan.ie

INCORPORATE ART

A piece of art or an art wall can help elevate your kitchen with colour and design and adds a lot of character to the space. Art stimulates the senses and transforms the feeling of a kitchen, it ensures that your kitchen space is beautiful as well as functional. You can create a mural, place a statement art piece or create a photo gallery wall.

A STANDING KITCHEN APPLIANCE

A free standing kitchen appliance of course gives a once empty wall functionality, and it looks good too. A smart fridge freezer with a built-in wine cooler is always a good place to start. It breaks up the room effectively and ties in with the modernity of a contemporary kitchen. www.siemens.com

PLANTS

There are many beautiful ways to add plants to your kitchen and there are benefits to doing so too. They make us feel calm and healthy, and undeniably lift our spirits. Add them to an empty space by hanging ceiling baskets, pop them onto shelves, install a vertical garden wall or place a larger plant pot against the wall. The beauty of adding plants is that they can always be moved around. www.devolkitchens.co.uk

HOME OFFICE

Whether you want to slot a full home office in the kitchen or set up a small desk, placing it in the empty wall is a marvellously functional use of space and also adds a personal touch to the kitchen. This green table provides a pleasant pop of colour for this charming little work area. www.devolkitchens.co.uk

CABINETRY

Adding more storage is always a good idea for functionality and aesthetics. Transparent or exposed cabinetry opens up the room and lets the homeowners add their own character, as seen in this Neptune country-style kitchen. www.neptunebyglobalvillage.ie