Is Your Kitchen The Family Gathering Place?

With most southern families, the kitchen is the heart of the home and the most popular room in the house. At least, that is the way it was when I was growing up. We gathered around the kitchen table often to have family discussions and we always had interesting discussions as we sat together to have meals. The kitchen area of the home was the central area for every member of the family. Everyone moved in and out of the kitchen throughout the day. The kitchen was used not only for eating, but also for studying, planning, and even sitting with friends to talk and gathering for social parties. Even today the kitchen area of American homes is a vital part of the home setting. Since it is such a focal point of every home, shouldn’t it be decorated to fit your personal style and just as beautiful as the rest of your living area?

Here are some ideas to keep in mine as you make plans to decorate your kitchen:

·Decorate your kitchen to reflect your personality, but blend the decor with the rest of the home. A rustic, western kitchen would not blend if the rest of the house is filled with antique-looking shabby elegance decor.

·Choose a particular theme or style before making any purchases. Get great ideas from magazines, books, websites, catalogs and/or television home improvement shows to give you inspiration and ideas. Look for accessories and designs that you would like in your kitchen and think about how you can copy the same look to your home.

·Add a splash of color by placing area rugs in the kitchen. Be sure to measure the space so that you purchase the right size. Rugs used under the kitchen table should be large enough to accommodate the chairs when fully pulled out.

·Use cookbooks to decorate your counter tops. This makes a useful and interesting counter top accessory.

·Bring life to your kitchen by adding green plants to bare areas of the room. For areas that are hard-to-reach, use silk plants instead of real ones but be sure to use a good quality arrangement that looks realistic.

·Use accessories to change the look of your kitchen counter tops. A few carefully placed accessories such as matching napkin holder and paper towel stand, wrought iron wine rack, coasters, and canister set can dramatically change the look of your kitchen.

·Decide on the cabinets and how to make them a vital part of the kitchen decor. The cabinets should match with the floor covering.

·Coordinate the kitchen back splash with the counter tops, as it will enhance the whole room. Choose from materials such as glass, tin, stone and/or wood. In a country style kitchen, try using a wooden back splash to add a very stylish look to your kitchen.

There are many more touches you could add to your kitchen to make the “heart of your home” even more inviting for your family and friends. Placing a vase of freshly cut flowers on a table in any room always gives a feeling of enjoyment, comfort and welcoming.

Shirley McNeal, owner of The Bargain Store located at http://www.mysouthernhomeplace.com brought this article to you. Shop and buy unique kitchen decor, accents and accessories and turn your family’s kitchen into a showplace. Let us help you put the magic touch to your kitchen today!

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