41 Things To Give Your Kitchen A Style Upgrade
Function's important when it comes to the kitchen — no doubt about that — but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice fashion.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A two-tier storage shelf that offers a simple, yet aesthetically pleasing way to keep your spices from taking over your maxed-out cabinets.
Get it from Amazon for $32.29 (available in both triangle and rectangle shapes).
2. A four-piece set of chairs to add a mid-century modern feel to your space.
Promising review: "These are DEFINITELY Mom-approved! They comfortably fit everyone in our family from age 2–38 without any issues! They were super easy to put together, too!...They are incredibly easy to clean...just wipe right off with a damp dishcloth...They definitely get a 5-star rating from me, ESPECIALLY at roughly $20/chair!" —Z. Racca
Get it from Amazon for $84.99+ (available in nine colors and with or without expert assembly)
3. And a set of rainbow flatware that might just turn your kitchen into the coolest eatery in town.
Promising review: "OMG I’m in love with the color of these!!! They’re so beautiful and shiny!! I thought maybe they would be too much cleaning for me cuz I don’t want to have to polish my silverware every time I wash them! I just don’t have time for that but thankfully that isn’t an issue with these they come out of the dishwasher all bright and pretty looking brand-new!!! They seem to be a good quality all the way around!!! I definitely recommend getting these!!! I had a dinner party and my guests all had to know where I got my unicorn silverware!! Lol I think they should be renamed for sure!! Unicorn silverware is a very fitting name for these!!" —Katie Eagle
Get a 20-piece set from Amazon for $23.99.
4. Some super cute tea towels you can use as napkins to make every place setting feel straight out of some hip lil' restaurant that always has a 30-minute wait.
5. And a set of personalized napkin rings to add an extra touch of class to every meal.
Simply Chic Coils is a Washington-based Etsy shop established in 2015 that specializes in personalized keepsakes made of wire.
Promising review: "Loved them, just perfect. Will be ordering more sets for other friends who I know will like them very much. Packaged carefully...everything done with quality in mind. Thanks." —Lynda
Get it from Simply Chic Coils on Etsy for $2 each (available in three colors).
6. A gorgeous set of ~Insta-famous~ ceramic salt and pepper grinders so you can treat yourself to some freshly cracked salt and pep any time you want.
7. Some huge bowls that'll make even the cheapest instant noodles look like you got them at an authentic ramen-ya. Plus, they're dishwasher-safe, and even have notches in them to keep the included (!) chopsticks and luxurious, ladle-like spoon from falling into your precious soup.
Promising review: "Great for a hearty bowl of noodles in broth, and makes eating at home feel like eating out. The bowls and accompanying utensils are lightweight and don’t seem to be easily cracked or broken." —Adele D'Eon
Get a set of two from Amazon for $26.99 (chopsticks and spoons included; available in three colors).
8. Some classy-looking peel-and-stick tile to dress up your walls and make your kitchen feel fancier than it actually is.
Promising review: "I’m very pleased with this product. They are very shiny and look beautiful in natural light. They are textured and look very real. Honestly I didn’t do the best job installing them but you can’t see any mistakes unless you really stare at them up close! So even if you don’t have a diy thumb, you can do it!! The white 'grout' on the white tile helps hide mistakes as well! Definitely would recommend. :)" —lauren porter
Get it from Amazon for $33.99 (available in five colors).
9. A sturdy bench dining room set that'll add some trendy, minimalist charm to your home without taking up a bunch of space.
Promising review: "Exactly as advertised and arrived on time! I ordered the espresso because I planned on painting and distressing it all along and really wanted that dark contrast to come through. I also added two chairs to the ends for additional seating and it fits perfectly! I use it in my kitchen nook. It is great for a small space but doesn't look puny." —Carrie
Get it from Amazon for $163.03+ (available in two colors)
10. An upright spiral fruit basket that's basically a piece of art. Plus, it'll help you conserve precious counter space by giving you some extra vertical storage.
Promising review: "My family and I like this better than a fruit bowl. Aside from the interesting display factor, it's also easier to see how much fruit you have left than having to peer into and/or root around in the fruit bowl." —The CB Hammer
Get it from Amazon for $20.16.
11. Or a macrame produce hammock if you've completely run out of surfaces but still wanna store your fruits and veggies in a ways that is pleasing to the eye.
Knapps Knots is a San Diego-based small business owned by Anastasia Knapp who is quite possibly making the cutest macrame and wood crafts you've ever seen.
Promising review: "Absolutely loved it! Perfect if you have little counter space." —Jessi
Get it from KnappsKnots on Etsy for $27.90+ (available in two sizes and 11 colors).
12. A wine and spirits stand to give your fancy beverages the elegant home they deserve.
Get it from Novogratz for $189.
13. A set of large mason jar drinking glasses so every homemade cocktail feels like it came from your local hipster bar.
Get a set of four from Walmart for $11.48.
14. A hand-crafted, borosilicate glass stove-top-safe glass teapot that'll look lovely on your counter or stove. Plus, it includes a removable infuser and is microwave- and dishwasher-safe!
Capacity: 4+ cups
Promising review: "I wanted a teapot that I could use in the microwave or on the stove. I was a little concerned about the fragility of this beautiful glass item, but I shouldn't have worried. The handle is not as delicate as it might appear in the picture and is plenty sturdy enough for daily use and I am particularly pleased with the fact that the spout does not drip at all. I am very happy with this teapot, and might just pick up another one for that dreadful day when I break this one. Also, the handle doesn't get hot, even though the water is at a full boil. You never need a hot pad to remove this from the heat. I love that!" —Lucille Harrington
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
15. Or an easy-to-clean Toptier Japanese cast-iron teapot with a stainless-steel infuser if you're looking to add more of an antique vibe to your kitchen.
Capacity: 3–4 cups
Promising review: "Adore this fancy teapot. It's a generous 2–3 tea drinker size, pours beautifully and retains heat for a good while, easy to clean and it was nicely made. I started using it the minute I got it. It is just the right size, and I love the color. Just in time for the cold months. I highly recommend it." —Shon
Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in six sizes and 15 colors.
16. A mixed set of stunning stemware to make you feel like you're chillin' at a cool, funky bar where the alcohol's *way* more expensive than what's actually in your fridge.
17. A five-light pendant to step up your lighting game with some rustic, industrial charm.
Get it from Novogratz for $70.
18. Some chalkboard paint so you can dress up your walls with tonight's menu, funny messages, cute doodles, and more, knowing you can just wipe it clean and start fresh anytime!
19. A pair of nice-looking and sturdy steel bar stools that are ideal if you've got a bar area, high top table, or just need some extra seating.
Plus, they come fully assembled and even have rubber pads on the bottom of the legs to keep them from scratching up your floor.
Promising review: “These stools were exactly what I wanted for my modern farmhouse kitchen — they are sturdy, easy to clean, don't take up much space, and have a nice finish that blends well with stainless steel — they have a distressed look and don’t show fingerprints. A great buy!” —Shopperju
Get it from Target $125 (available in seven colors).
20. A set of shallow pasta bowls so even thrown together meals can be plated with a little extra ~je ne sais quoi~.
21. A simply gorgeous cake stand so you can display baked goods and other foods with as much allure as the cute little bakery everyone lines up outside of every morning.
23. Some fake plants that make the perfect centerpiece for your table without having to deal with the maintenance of real plants.
Promising review: "Perfect size. They are one of my favorite decor pieces. They're well made, they look real, and I love how versatile they are. First I had them on the shelf at the kitchen window, and now I have them on the kitchen table. You can’t go wrong with these adorable plants." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in two colors).
24. An acacia wood cheese board so you can charcuterie with just as much panache as that expensive small plates place you can't stop thinking about.
Effortless Composition is a Black woman-owned small business based in LA that offers eclectic home and kitchen goods that'll help elevate your space.
Get it from Effortless Composition for $36.
25. Some trendy Edison bulbs to replace stale white lights with something a little warmer that'll give your dining area a charming vintage feel.
Promising review: "I'm in love. These Edison bulbs are a phenomenal addition to just about any room in the home. I bought these bulbs for my bedside table lamps. They're a perfect addition to my Steampunk industrial themed bedroom. Definitely recommend these Edison bulbs. Side note: my bedside table lamps are touch lamps with three dimming levels. The bulbs work on all three dimming levels." —Zachary
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $14.99.
26. Some cabinet paint so you can stop complaining about how they don't go with anything else in your otherwise flawlessly styled kitchen.
The kit comes with two cans cabinet paint, a roller arm, two roller covers, and an angled paint brush; it requires no stripping, priming, or top coat or sealer, and there's no need to remove your cabinet doors.
Promising review: "Amazing! Amazing! Amazing. Did take more than one coat though. My cabinets were bare wood and I still needed a couple of coats. (Five to be exact, but that was just me being extra.) My kitchen is medium-sized, not too big, and it only took up one can. But I still went over a couple more times just to get a nice coating. I also let it sit for some days and saw the wood was sucking up the paint in some areas so I went over it again. The project ideally does take one day like the promotion video says, but one day as in 24 hours. This took my kitchen from looking like a cheap rental apartment kitchen to a high-quality kitchen with just this paint and new knobs. The paint is perfect for cabinets — it's not too thick, so you still see the wood grains. It comes with EVERYTHING you need. I didn't have to buy a thing. The project is super easy, paint dries fast, and I did it at first by removing the cabinets but it wasn't necessary at all. Just make sure you don't leave any dripping because it would make your cabinets look cheap. I would recommend EVERYONE to purchase this and give your cabinets a chance before making a big investment in new cabinets. Wood is wood and it can be refinished." —Brandon Moronta
Get it from Amazon for $69.95 (also available in gray, mint, black, and white).
27. Some modern-looking pulls that are a breeze to install so you can replace the ones making your cabinets look ancient.
Heads up that some reviewers recommend purchasing your own screws instead of using the included ones.
Promising review: "Wow!! That's my first thought on opening these. I'm in the process of updating my master bathroom and saw these online. Of course the bargain shopper I am I checked my local stores. They had packs of 10 for $54...very lightweight. So I was scared of what I was getting here. These are almost 5 ounces each!! Very heavy quality, all individually wrapped with the screws for each. Definitely best quality and best price!!" —Margaret
Get it from Amazon for $10.97+ (available in various sizes, colors, and styles).
28. A gorgeous Always pan that's not just fashionable — it's designed to replace eight pieces of cookware so preparing a variety of dishes can be a lot less complicated.
Our Place is a WOC-founded brand bringing inventive cookware and kitchen products. You can braise, sear, steam, strain, sauté, fry, boil, and more with this pan. It does the same job as a fry pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, nonstick pan, spatula, and spoon rest. The spatula is designed to fit neatly on the pan's handle. The pan is dishwasher-safe and only weighs 3 pounds.
Long, but worthwhile promising review: "I bought this pan not sure it was going to live up to the hype. Yeah, it was cute (I got the green color to match my kitchen color palette) but I've bought plenty of cute, millennial-branded products that turned out to be all style and no substance. How good could it be? It's phenomenal. I got it three weeks ago and since then the only time I've used a different pan was when the Always pan was already in use for one dish and I needed to cook something else. The nonstick coating is great. Eggs don't stick! Dried-on sauce doesn't stick! Yesterday's oatmeal doesn't stick! It all just wipes off with almost no scrubbing, which is great, because I have no desire to put this pan in the dishwasher, because what if I need to cook something?! The pan surface heats up really quickly! I cooked on my normal boring stove, and I was shocked how much faster my pasta water came to a boil. The pan surface also heats really evenly, and is amazing at searing. I cooked steak in it last night, hoping I wasn't making a mistake by using nonstick instead of cast iron, but it gave the steaks a flawless sear, way more even than my cast-iron pan. I was super impressed. I love the built-in spatula rest. So much. My only comment on the pan is that the hole in the spatula could be just a hair larger so that it doesn't require any leveraging to remove from the rest, but very minor complaint. Love the steamer/strainer basket. Haven't used it for steaming yet, but love it for pasta. It's so much easier to just lift all the pasta out and leave the pasta water behind than carry the whole pan of boiling water over to the sink to pour out, all the while terrified that one of my cats will come in and get boiling water splashed on them or something. I love the lid, especially the steam vent feature. It's really great for cooking grains. Basically, this pan is totally worth what you spend on it. I'm moving in six months and I'm planning to donate most of my cookware when I do. Very confident that I won't miss any of it, thanks to this pan." —Abigail R.
Get it from Our Place for $145 (available in six colors).
29. A Japanese gooseneck coffee kettle that'll make your kitchen feel like a cute lil' cafe.
Promising review: "I have used this kettle practically every day for the last five years and it has worked perfectly for coffee and tea. I use it with a Chemex, Aeropress, and fresh press. It boils water quickly on a gas range. The best part of this kettle is the spot design. It gives you so much control over your pour which is very important for certain brew methods. If you make coffee via any pour over method you have to get this kettle!" —Copper
Get it from Amazon for $43.68+ (available in four sizes and in black or stainless steel).
30. A beautiful and informative print to ~spice~ up your kitchen and help you learn to identify 25 of the most popular herbs and spices you can use to take your cooking to the next level.
Promising review: "Such a lovely little print that I've hung by my plant shelf. Not just cute, but informative too!" —Abellehood
Get it from Gina Baker Shop on Etsy for $17.71+ (available in three sizes).
31. A limited edition Jonathan Adler print mini Keurig that'll ~fill~ you with joy every time you fill up your mug.
Promising review: "I absolutely am in love with this model. The size and style is perfect. I bought three of them one for my shop, home, and as a gift. Love this and the color makes it even more fun." —Target reviewer
Get it from Target for $69.99 (originally $99.99).
32. A disco ball to turn every day into a party and add some much needed sparkle to your kitchen.
Promising review: "I love this disco ball! It's perfect for what I wanted. I put this in a sunny window and now every afternoon it looks and feels like magic in my living room. I'm ordering another for my patio." —Norma Jean
Get it from Amazon for $16.95.
33. A cleverly designed hanging stemware rack that'll save space while looking like a super fancy chandelier made of wineglasses!
Like everything else in this shop, it's made from reclaimed wine barrels!
Promising review: "I love this stemware rack. It is a fantastic addition to complement the updates that we have done to our home." —Greg Weber
34. Some wall art that'll make every hour feel like happy hour.
Tiny Showcase is a small business whose goal is to make collecting art more affordable and accessible. They release limited edition prints from a variety of incredible artists, and donate a portion of the proceeds to a nonprofit organization near and dear to the artists' heart.
Also, heads up that Tiny Showcase has a quantity policy, meaning you can only buy two of each print, to avoid wholesale transactions and maintain the integrity of an online curated gallery.
Get a print of The Happy Hour Poster by Sol Linerofrom from Tiny Showcase for $25+ (PayPal available).
Check out more available pieces at Tiny Showcase here.
35. An impossibly cool rough stone soap dispenser that's single-handedly capable of turning your entire kitchen into a ~stone~ cold style icon.
Promising review: "Absolutely LOVE this!! So unique and instantly upgrades my bathroom counter! Chose sodalite for its properties and it looks beautiful as well. It holds a very small amount of soap. Such a unique product and I hope to buy more for my other bathrooms!!" —ksohpank
Get it from RockParadise on Etsy for $78 (available in four stones).
36. A set of four terrazzo dishes in a variety of beautiful colors you'd be jealous of if you saw them at a stylish cafe.
Xenia Taler is a Toronto-based small business.
Get a set of four from Xenia Taler for $40.
37. A stunning African print table runner that'll make even the most boring tables look like a work of art.
Bespoke Binny is a Black woman-owned small business that offers stunning African-inspired home decor, accessories, and clothes that'll make any home more vibrant!
Get it from Bespoke Binny on Etsy for $36.90.
38. A surface cover to fool everyone into thinking your counters and tables are made from gorgeous, expensive marble.
Check out one BuzzFeeder's full write-up of this inexpensive and super cool marble adhesive surface cover!
Promising review: "I wanted to spruce up my rented apartment's kitchen counter, and this contact paper did not disappoint. The contact paper is super sticky, but no matter how many times you messed up (and I've messed up A LOT!), the contact paper will still be sticky. There is a technique to sticking it so you don't get bubbles (we used credit cards to force out the bubbles), so you will have to play around with it. Highly recommend it!" —G. Chen
Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in four sizes).
39. A surprisingly easy-to-use conversion kit to transform recess lighting into charming pendant lighting that'll add a little je ne sais quoi to your space.
Remember!! This is just a conversion kit and light shades aren't included.
Promising review: "As a new homeowner, I am learning things as I go along. I bought a condo that has very outdated recessed light fixtures (not to mention CFL bulbs!). I bought my pendant lighting before I realized I can't just easily change them within an hour. Thankfully, after watching YouTube tutorials, it led me to this amazing product and I was able to install my pendant lights without having to pay an electrician hundreds of dollars to do it for me!" —Erika B.
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $39.98+ (also available as a pack of three or six).
40. Some cafe-worthy, handmade espresso cups you'll love serving along with dessert to add a pop of color to the spread.
Promising review: "I love these! I bought the green and grey and can't wait to collect the other colors! Very well made, the colors are vivid, and the cups have nice weight to them. Thanks!" —rwademan94
Get it from CallunaCo on Etsy for $11 (available in nine colors).
41. And finally, some battery-powered LED letter lights you can mount or lean against the wall to let guests know that the bar *is* open.
Promising review: "I love these. They are stronger than I was expecting for the price. The lights are bright and warm. They have a simple on/off switch and take two AA batteries each. I hung them with Velcro strips so I can easily take them up or down if I want them on or not. They certainly gave me the wall effect I was going for. They are better than I expected for such a low price point. If you don't hang them, they would stand up nicely on a table as well." —Shadextrem
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 26 letters, cloud, crown, heart, and star shapes, and the world "LOVE").
Your kitchen after getting a major style upgrade:
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Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.