It may be that you have a rather plain kitchen and have limited space to transform it into an area of which you can feel proud, and will also have an individual touch.

First and foremost, consider storage. Shelving units, from floor to ceiling, will be your best option here. One shelf should be erected separately on which to store all of your recipe books, preferably ones with bright cheerful covers. If you have some quite old books, it will, if anything give the room a touch of old world charm, as well as colour. With shelving systems being available in lots of different materials, you should have no problem in finding something for the look you have in mind.

Have a look around in the shed and garage for plant pots. Ceramic or stone, they can add flair to the kitchen when used to grow herbs, such as fennel, parsley or sage. Not only will they look attractive, they will also be close at hand to use in your cooking, as well as carrying an attractive aroma. On the wall behind them, try fitting some shelf racks to dry out your fresh herbs.

If the splash-back tiles are in perfectly good conditions, but are plain in colour, use transfers to make them more attractive. The plastic boxes that come with crackers or biscuits for cheese, can also be utilised, rather than thrown away, when empty. Try using them to store the coffee, tea, sauces and other condiments in one place.