5 Easy Ways to bring Spring into your Kitchen
How to freshen up your Kitchen for Spring
Spring is a time of new beginnings. Of new life and fresh starts.
Traditionally, we spring clean to get ready for the new year. It's a great time to leave the dark, dreary days of winter behind and welcome in the new.
Your kitchen is a wonderful place to start. Many people feel that their kitchen is the heart of their home. It's often the place where the family congregate - or at least pass through the most.
So brighten up your kitchen and your life. It doesnt have to be expensive, or difficult.
Let's take a look at 5 easy ways to bring Spring inside.
# 1. Spring means fresh flowers - Bring the outside in...
Spring flowers speak for themselves. Their freshness bursts out and brings the outdoors inside.
Keep your flowers simple - big bunches of daffodils or tulips look stunning in a clear glass vase. Or why not treat your kitchen to a new vase or two?
Galvanised pails are very popular and their simplicity sets off the flowers and adds a contemporary touch of shabby chic.
Don't just confine flowers to your windowsill. They make a great centrepiece on the table. Or you could try putting lots of small arrangements on shelves.
Keep the vases clean to let the spring light sparkle on them and change the water every day for added freshness.
Nothing says Spring like fresh flowers
This wonderfully chunky glass cube would look stunning filled with a fat bunch of tulips. Cut the stems short and fit in as many as possible.
A slightly bigger version of the one above...so you can fit even more lovely flowers into your kitchen!
Galvanized French Pail
These are very in vogue and no wonder. This style would be equally at home in a modern or country kitchen.
Bulb Vase
The clue's in the title. It's perfect for spring bulbs or fresh flowers.
It would also make a great centre piece.
Safe to use in the dishwasher
#2. Grow your own herbs
Bring new life into your Kitchen - and fresh herbs into your cooking...without setting foot outside
Spring is a great time to start a herb garden on your windowsill. It will bring a lovely green freshness and scent into your kitchen and if it's raining, you won't need to get wet to cut your herbs.
Whether your kitchen is modern or a country style, you should be able to find an indoor planter that will suit.
Stoneware Herb Pot Duo in White
A very pretty white stoneware watering pot for fresh herbs, vegetables and flowers.
Windowsill Self Watering Planter
Made from strong, weather-resistant and UV-resistant plastic. It features a water reservoir that draws excess water up and keeps it at the plant's roots where it is needed most. Comes with Pon, a water-absorbing material that feeds just the right amount of water to your plants. The water level indicator tells you when to water your plant. Perfect for gardening indoors and in small spaces. Use it for houseplants, orchids, or to grow an herb garden right in your kitchen. Measures 16" wide x 6" deep x 7" high. Planting volume approx. 1.3 gallons.
Reclaimed Barnwood Planter Box
A beautiful rustic planter box made from reclaimed barn wood. Kit includes barnwood planter, drip tray, compressed soil, instructions and selection of 6 herb seeds.
Esschert Design Herb Print Pots
This set of three pretty flower pots and tray is perfect for growing herbs while allowing you to separate the pots for cultivating. Each galvanized pot features a herb print and fits into the white oblong tray.
Top 5 Herbs to grow indoors
1. Basil
2. Chives
3. Mint
4. Tarragon
5. Rosemary
#3. Take new pleasure in everyday items - ...in praise of the humble apron
Some items that we use everyday - such as aprons, oven gloves and tablecloths become invisible after a while.
Take a good look at your apron. Do you even own one? If you do, is it frayed? Worn? Faded?
Does it inspire you? Hmmm, thought not.
Here's a newsflash for you. Aprons aren't what they used to be.
Retro is big news. And retro aprons are fun and flirty. If you don't have one...why not?
Browse our little sample of what's available. You'll be surprised. And then you'll be tempted and before you know it, you'll have a collection. Don't say we didn't warn you!
And once you have your new apron (and the matching oven mitt...and the matching tea towel) you'll be inspired. And when you're inspired, you spend more time in the kitchen, right?
And when you spend more time there, you cook more... and a Kitchen that is cooked in, is full of life.
Fall in love with the Waverly Claremont Spring Half Apron
Having a rich American heritage spanning over 85 years as the premier home decorating brand, Waverly is the authority on rich traditional design for modern living.
Ritz Kitchenwears Signs of Spring Print Apron
Established in 1892, the John Ritzenthaler company (Ritz) has long been synonymous with the finest quality in home textiles. The Ritz 100-percent cotton twill Signs of Spring printed apron features multicolored flowers on a white with red trim background. The apron features a "D" ring at the top that allows for full adjustment of length and so that one size fits most. It has a double front pocket and a Kitchenwears jacquard label sewn in the front. This full bib apron measures 26-inch wide and 33-inch long. Machine wash and dry.
Homewear Spring Lattice Embroidered Apron
100% polyester
Machine wash in cold water
Tumble dry cool
Warm iron if needed
26 x 29 in.
Vera Tulips and Daffodils Apron
Recognized for her bold use of color and brilliant designs, each design in this exciting Vera collection is an original copyrighted work of art.
#4. Get inspired...and make a change - ...or a great excuse to spend hours looking at pictures of Kitchens!
OK - we know that this is 5 easy ways to bring spring into your Kitchen and this probably sounds like a huge to-do. But it really isn't. And it will make such an enormous difference to your Kitchen that you'll wish you did it ages ago. Just look a the picture. See how bright and clean is - and how full of light. Isn't that wonderful?
If you're not up for painting your cabinets, you could transform your dining suite by copying how the table has been painted and lacquered.
Even changing the tiles can give a new lease of life. If you're not happy to tile, or can't afford a contractor, you could consider painting them.
It's easier than you think
No stripping, sanding or priming. Transform your cabinets, worktops and tiles without spending a fortune.
Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations
101-Square-Foot kit is perfect for kitchen cabinets, bath vanities and furniture
No stripping no sanding no priming
Easy to use no special skills required
Ideal for wood, melamine, metal and laminat cabinetry
Available in top cabinet colors: Pure White, Espresso and Cabernet
Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations Kit
An easy way to transform your old and outdated cabinetry. There is no stripping, no sanding, no priming. In just a few simple steps, anyone can quickly and easily transform their outdated kitchen and bath cabinetry with beautiful, durable and professional results.
Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit
Acts and looks like porcelain and ceramic. Apply to ceramic, porcelain or fiberglass. Fast drying, for indoor or outdoor use. Durable and corrosion resistant.
Painting your Kitchen... - an inexpensive update or a terrifying thought...we need to know!
Have you painted your Kitchen cabinets? If yes, do you have any tips to share? Or would you be too scared to give it a go?
What are your thoughts on painting your Kitchen cabinets?
#5. Give your table a fresh look
Cast a critical eye over your dining set. Is it looking a bit tired? Are there chips on the plates or bowls that you've been meaning to do something about but just havn't got around to?
Springs here...new beginnings, remember?
And it doesn't need to cost a fortune. Mismatched dinner sets are very popular. You can have fun picking up pieces at yard sales - but that does take some time. Here are some reasonably priced sets that will transform your table and give you and your family pleasure at every meal time (while you're building your yard sale collection!)
So much pretty china...so little time!
16-piece dinnerware set, service for 4
4 each: 10-1/4-inch dinner plate, 6-3/4-inch bread-and-butter plate, 18-ounce bowl,
11-ounce mug
Constructed of multiple layers of thermally bonded vitrelle glass; strong, lightweight, and chip-resistant
Charming, yet simple, floral pattern in red and pink
Paula Deen Signature Dinnerware Spring Prelude
Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
Microwave safe for convenience
Set includes
Four 10.5-Inch Dinner Plates
Four 8-Inch Salad Plates
Four 5.5-Inch Cereal Bowls
Four 11-Ounce Mugs
Lenox Butterfly Meadow Dinnerware Set
Set includes 6 each of
dinner plates, salad plates, mugs
Made of fine china for all-occasion use
Mix-and-match butterfly and floral motif; scalloped edges
Designed to go from freezer to oven to table, microwave- and dishwasher-safe
Coordinates with Butterfly Meadow serveware, crystal, and flatware
Corelle Livingware Country Cottage
16-piece dinnerware set, service for 4
Includes 4 each:
10-3/4-inch dinner plate,
6-3/4-inch bread and butter plate, 18-ounce soup/cereal bowl, and 11-ounce mug
Made of lightweight, chip-, stain-, and fade-resistant laminated bonded glass; mug is durable stoneware
Soothing sky-blue mix-and-match designs feature hearts, vines, stripes, and solids