Kitchen Interior Design Ideas Inspired by Cooking & Culture
The Kitchen: Heart of the Home
The kitchen isn’t just where we cook; it’s the heart of the home, a space that encourages engagement, creativity, and connection. How we cook, and what we cook, can directly influence our interior choices, from layout to materials, colours, and textures.
Whether you’re a city dweller or a food enthusiast, drawing inspiration from cultural cooking traditions can transform your kitchen into a welcoming and functional hub.
African-Inspired Kitchens
African kitchens celebrate warmth, earthy tones, and textures. Decorative clay elements, intricate metalwork, and spice displays make the space vibrant and inviting. These kitchens often become social hubs, encouraging group cooking and storytelling.
Design Tips:
Warm earthy tones: terracotta, deep browns, burnt orange
Textures: clay, wood, decorative blocks
Furniture: wooden, communal tables for group activities
Curious about African-inspired interiors in real spaces? Check out my ‘Best African Designed Restaurants in London’ vlog.
Mediterranean Warmth
Mediterranean kitchens are known for their warmth and communal spirit. Wooden beams, terracotta tiles, and hand-painted tiles create a welcoming environment. Vibrant olive greens and sunny yellows evoke natural landscapes, perfect for shared cooking and dining experiences.
Design Tips:
Materials: terracotta, wood, hand-painted tiles
Colours: olive greens, vibrant yellows
Layout: open, communal cooking spaces
Learn how Mediterranean design principles can elevate your space in my Staycation Interiors Blog.
Explore Mediterranean interiors with House & Garden’s Mediterranean Kitchen Roundup.
Japandi Kitchens
Japandi kitchens fuse Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian warmth. They are uncluttered, bright, and filled with natural daylight. Light woods and natural materials like bamboo and stone are celebrated, creating serene, functional spaces.
Design Tips:
Keep surfaces clear and functional
Incorporate natural materials: wood, bamboo, stone
Embrace simplicity for a calm, airy environment
British Vogue's Japandi Style showcases how this fusion creates calming, minimalist spaces.
For a step-by-step look at styling minimalistic interiors, check out my Choosing a Rug for Your Living Room vlog.
Final Thoughts
Your cooking style doesn’t just feed the body — it can feed your interiors too. Whether you’re drawn to vibrant African textures, Mediterranean warmth, or Japandi simplicity, your kitchen can become a true reflection of your cultural inspirations and lifestyle.
For more global kitchen inspiration, explore House Beautiful Kitchen Design Ideas.
For more inspiration, watch my Jenny’s Kitchen Vlog Series where we explore how cooking and interiors intersect.