Does your kitchen feel a little… plain? You see those stunning, high-end kitchens in magazines and dream of having a space that feels just as beautiful. The good news is, you don’t need a celebrity-sized budget to get that luxury feel.
The secret to a high-end look is often in the small details. With a few smart choices and simple swaps, you can make your kitchen look expensive and feel brand new. Whether you’re planning a big remodel or just want a weekend refresh, these ten simple hacks will help you create the kitchen of your dreams. Let’s get started!
Why Small Details Make a Big Difference
A truly well-designed kitchen feels cohesive and thoughtful. It’s not just about the cabinets and countertops. It’s about how everything works together to create a feeling. By focusing on a few key areas, you can elevate the entire room. Think of it like putting together a great outfit—the right accessories can make the whole look come together. We’re going to apply that same idea to your kitchen.
10 Simple Ways to Make Your Kitchen Look Expensive
Here are ten tried-and-true tips from professional designers. Some are quick and easy, while others are great to keep in mind for a future renovation.
1. Swap Small Mats for a Large Runner
One of the quickest ways to upgrade your kitchen is to look at the floor. If you have a few small floor mats in front of the sink or stove, they can make the space feel choppy and small.
Instead, replace them with one long runner. A beautiful runner will stretch across the length of your workspace. This simple change makes your kitchen look bigger, more organized, and more tailored. It’s an easy way to add color, texture, and a soft touch to the room. Plus, you can find many durable and washable options that are perfect for a busy kitchen.
2. Upgrade Your Countertop Essentials
Take a look at what’s living on your countertops. Are there brightly colored soap bottles, mismatched utensils, and branded packaging everywhere? These little things can create visual clutter and make your space feel messy.
To get a clean, high-end look, create a unified theme for your essentials. Pour your dish soap into a nice dispenser. Store your coffee, tea, and sugar in stylish canisters. Group your wooden spoons in a simple ceramic holder. By removing loud packaging and choosing neutral, matching items, your counters will look tidy and styled, even with everyday items left out.
3. Choose a Honed (Matte) Countertop Finish
If a countertop replacement is in your future, think about the finish. Most people default to a shiny, polished stone. But for a truly expensive look, consider a honed or matte finish instead.
A honed finish has a velvety, soft look that feels more natural and custom. Shiny surfaces reflect a lot of light, which can highlight every crumb, smudge, and imperfection. A matte surface is more forgiving and gives the stone a rich, deep appearance. It’s a timeless choice that feels both modern and classic.
4. Layer Your Kitchen Lighting
Great lighting is a key ingredient in every designer kitchen. One overhead light just won’t cut it. To make your kitchen look expensive, you need three layers of light.
| Type of Lighting | What It Is | How to Add It |
|---|---|---|
| Task Lighting | The main lights you use for cooking and cleaning. | These are your ceiling lights, like recessed lights or pendants over an island. |
| Integrated Lighting | Lights that highlight specific work areas. | Under-cabinet strip lighting is the most popular choice. It makes your counters glow. |
| Mood Lighting | Soft, warm lights for creating a cozy feeling. | Add a small lamp in a corner, or install wall sconces for a beautiful, warm light in the evenings. |
Even if you’re not renovating, you can easily add stick-on under-cabinet lights and a small lamp to instantly change the feel of your room.
5. Take Cabinets All the Way to the Ceiling
That awkward, empty space above your upper cabinets can be a dust magnet. In high-end kitchens, you’ll almost always see cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling.
This design choice does two wonderful things. First, it makes your ceiling feel much higher, which makes the whole kitchen seem bigger. Second, it gives you valuable extra storage space for items you don’t use every day. If you’re planning a remodel, this is a must-have detail for a custom, built-in look.
6. Hide Your Appliances
In many luxury kitchens, you barely see any appliances at all. The refrigerator and dishwasher are often hidden behind panels that match the cabinets. This creates a seamless, clean wall of beautiful cabinetry.
This is called using “panel-ready” appliances. While it’s a more expensive option, it gives you a truly custom look. For an easier fix, consider an “appliance garage”—a countertop cabinet with a door that hides your toaster, blender, and coffee maker. This instantly clears up counter clutter.
7. Use a Single Slab Backsplash
A busy, patterned backsplash can quickly make a kitchen look dated. For a clean, timeless, and very chic look, use a single slab of stone for your backsplash. This is often the same material as your countertop.
Continuing the countertop stone up the wall creates a simple, unbroken line that makes your kitchen feel larger and more serene. There are no grout lines to clean, and the look is pure elegance. It can be a bold statement with a veined marble or a quiet backdrop with a solid quartz.
8. Add Decorative Details
Your kitchen is the heart of your home, so treat it like any other living space! Don’t be afraid to add decorative pieces that show off your personality.
Hang a beautiful piece of art on an open wall. Add soft window treatments like a simple Roman shade or cafe curtains. Style a corner of your counter with a tray, a small vase of flowers, and a candle. These little touches soften the hard surfaces of a kitchen and make it feel warm, inviting, and finished.
9. Be Bold with Color or Stone
While safe, neutral kitchens are timeless, sometimes a bold choice is what makes a space feel truly designed and expensive. A bold kitchen shows confidence.
This could mean painting your cabinets a deep, moody green or a rich navy blue. Or, you could choose a countertop stone with dramatic, beautiful veining that acts as the centerpiece of the room. A statement light fixture or a unique floor tile can also do the trick. A single bold element can elevate your entire design.
10. Style with Natural Warmth
Kitchens have a lot of hard, cold surfaces like stone, tile, and metal. To make your space feel more luxurious and inviting, you need to add warmth and texture.
The easiest way to do this is with natural materials. Lean a few wooden cutting boards against your backsplash. Place a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter. Add a small plant or a vase of fresh flowers. These simple, organic touches break up the hard lines and make your kitchen feel alive and welcoming.
FAQs
How do you make a kitchen look expensive?
Focus on the small details. Upgrade your kitchen lighting. Keep your countertops clear of clutter. Use a long runner instead of small mats. Add warm touches like wooden cutting boards.
What is the 3×4 kitchen rule?
This is a simple design rule. You pick three main colors or materials. Then you add a fourth as a small accent. This helps your kitchen look balanced. It keeps the design from looking too busy.
How to get a luxury kitchen on a budget?
You can make small, smart changes. Update your cabinet handles and knobs. Add a new, stylish faucet. Put up simple stick-on lights under your cabinets. These little fixes make a big impact for less money.
How do I add luxury to my kitchen?
Add layers of beautiful lighting. Use high-quality materials where you can. A stone countertop adds instant luxury. Hide small appliances in a cabinet or garage. Add soft touches like a nice rug or curtains.
What adds the most value to a kitchen?
Quality cabinets add a lot of value. New countertops are also a great investment. Modern, energy-saving appliances are very important. An updated, timeless design will always add value to your home.
Conclusion: A High-End Look is Within Reach
As you can see, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a high-end look. The key is to be thoughtful with your choices. By upgrading your lighting, hiding clutter, and adding personal, decorative touches, you can make your kitchen look expensive and feel like a custom-designed space.
Start with one or two small changes and see what a big difference they can make. Your dream kitchen is closer than you think!
What’s Your Favorite Tip?
We’d love to hear from you! Which one of these kitchen hacks are you excited to try? Let us know in the comments below
