The 10 small details that will make your kitchen look more high-end

Telegraph

09-07-2025

There's an indefinable quality that's distinct to designer-made kitchens. It's not easy to pinpoint, because the source isn't glaringly obvious. Instead, it boils down to a few tiny design details that are easily overlooked.
If you've ever felt as though your kitchen leans a little too utilitarian and lacks that refined feel, it likely features too many characterless, off-the-shelf elements. But you don't have to commit to fully bespoke joinery or custom marble countertops to make your home feel high-end; most of the time, it's simply a case of adding in a couple of small details that don't cost the earth.
Whether you're retrofitting an existing kitchen or committing to an entire renovation, here are 10 upgrades to help you hone a more polished, elevated look.
Skip to:
DIY-friendly upgrades
Full-scale kitchen remodel
These simple, DIY-friendly upgrades can be retrofitted in any space on a modest budget
Upgrade to brass hardware
Switching bland hardware for more elevated cabinet handles and drawer pulls will give your kitchen that extra edge. This sort of micro-level customisation might seem trivial, but when you're dealing with something you touch every day, quality matters. It's also a simple way to give your current kitchen a facelift without damaging your wallet.
Right now, brass is having a big moment, especially finishes such as burnished or antique brass, both of which age beautifully as they develop a natural patina. Half-moon cup pulls are the go-to, as seen on the drawers of this kitchen by Sims Hilditch.
'We often work with artisans to create hand-forged iron or brass handles, or we specify turned wooden knobs painted to match or contrast the cabinetry,' says designer Emma Sims-Hilditch. For off-the-shelf versions, try companies such as Cox & Cox.
Beautify sockets and switches
Are unsightly, discoloured plug sockets and light switches bringing down your kitchen aesthetic? Installing new faceplates will instantly make your kitchen look more high-end.
'Switches and sockets are elements we interact with daily, and in the kitchen, where they sit prominently at eye level, they present an opportunity to enhance the overall design narrative,' says Alicia Meireles, creative director at Own London.
Choose a finish that matches your handles for a harmonious look, or opt for discreet solutions such as plates that sit flush with the wall and can be painted or wallpapered so that that they almost disappear. 'Whether statement-making or subtle, these details are the punctuation marks of a well-considered interior,' says Alicia. 'Small, but deeply impactful.'
Wallpaper (or paint) the inside of your cupboards
The finer details don't even need to be on display to make a lasting impression. Adding an unexpected design element such as a patterned wallpaper inside your kitchen cabinets will give you a lift each time you open them.
An example of this can be seen in a storage cupboard by kitchen company Guild Anderson, in a house decorated by interior designers Salvesen Graham, where the back of the cupboard is lined in wallpaper and the shelves have been painted to match. It's a trick that can translate to pantries and open shelving, too, offering an understated and budget-friendly way to introduce pattern and colour in a kitchen.
Install under-cabinet lighting
Since our kitchens are primarily functional spaces, it's easy to see lighting as purely practical, but layering your light sources will elevate your kitchen to more sophisticated heights. Besides overhead lights and pendants, under-cabinet lighting is a great way to side-step the often clinical effect of harsh kitchen spotlights, and you can even use battery-powered LED strip lights or light bars if you don't fancy hardwiring new lights in.
Reuben Ward, lead designer at kitchen company Blakes London, says mood lighting helps to set the tone in a kitchen, especially in the evening. 'This is particularly important in open-plan layouts, where the kitchen must adapt to different times of day and varying activities,' he says. 'It draws the eye to different areas of the room and adds depth to the overall design.'
Use under-cabinet lighting alongside cordless table lamps to create a soft glow when you're eating or entertaining.
Add a gallery rail
If you really want to raise the bar, adding a gallery rail to your shelving is the sort of small detail that makes a big difference. Sometimes known as a fiddle rail, this retro design idea is having a huge resurgence right now in line with the popularity of open shelving in kitchens.
Designed with functionality at heart, it helps to prevent things from falling off the shelf in a busy kitchen, and is easily installed with just a few screws. A metal rail, such as the one shown here, looks more elegant than a wooden one, and will give a modern kitchen a dash of vintage charm. Find gallery-rail kits on Etsy.
Five details to consider when renovating
Committing to a full-scale kitchen remodel? Don't forget these details during your initial planning stages
Choose external hinges
Your choice of hardware is a relatively small design decision, but it can make a serious difference to your kitchen. Even the minutiae of mechanics can become a point of interest, so instead of concealing your cabinet hinges, consider surface-mounting them to add an extra accent alongside your latches, pulls or knobs.
Think of your hardware and ironmongery as the jewellery of a room, with external hinges offering an added glint that draws the eye.
'Visible hinges may be small, but they can add a huge amount of character,' says Emma Sims-Hilditch. 'Traditional butt hinges in aged brass or antiqued pewter suit a country kitchen and feel authentic to the setting. They also allow for a pleasing level of patina over time, which adds warmth and character to a kitchen.'
Use coloured grout
Making the smallest of details count is the secret to an expensive-looking kitchen, and it doesn't get much more granular than grout colour. Instead of opting for a default white (which discolours quickly and is difficult to maintain), consider using a coloured grout that will complement your tiles instead.
Fiona Ginnett, co-founder at kitchen company Hølte, notes how this minor detail has the power to shift the overall tone of a room. 'With more earthy tile tones, a softer, tonal grout keeps things calm and natural, while a subtle contrast brings just enough definition,' she says.
'A darker grout with a lighter tile can add a graphic edge, while a brighter grout can lift the whole space. It's these quiet details that add up to a more considered, high-quality finish.'
Opt for inset cabinetry
Cabinets that sit flush within their frames are the new standard in designer-made homes.
If you're planning a kitchen remodel, your cabinets are a top priority. The sharp-eyed and design-minded will have noticed that inset cupboards are the new normal for sophisticated modern kitchens. Also known as flush cabinetry, this type of cabinet style features doors and drawers set inside the unit's frame itself, rather than overlaid on top. The result is a sleeker, seamless cabinet face that looks cleaner and more tailored.
If your bulky Shaker cabinets are starting to look worn and dated, upgrading to an inset style will take your space from humdrum to high-end. 'They help to bring structure to a kitchen,' says Emma Sims-Hilditch.
'Because the doors sit within the frame, the result is clean and measured and suits both traditional and contemporary homes.'
Choose a decorative countertop edge
As far as finishing touches go, few are as effective as a decorative countertop edge. Once you've settled on the material, spare a thought for how you round off the worktop. Do you want a smooth bullnose finish for a timeless look, or a fluted edge for something more ornate?
Reuben Ward of Blakes London loves using a decorative edge to dress up a countertop. 'There's increasing demand for more tailored edge details that add depth and interest,' he explains. 'Stacked worktops, for example, showcase visible stone layers. When using natural stone, these layers can be offset to emphasise the craftsmanship.'
He suggests choosing a design that enhances your worktop's natural texture or adds a tactile layer: a raw, chisel-cut edge on concrete, for example, or elegant fluting on marble (pictured) to show off the veining.
Add a tile trim
Most of us have tiles in our kitchen, but few of us make the effort to add a trim. If there's a line between your splashback and the wall, avoid leaving a blunt, abrupt tile edge that looks incomplete – or opting for cheap plastic trim.
'Sometimes your tiling needs a smart little finishing piece, rather like the perfect necklace for a cocktail dress,' says Rob Whitaker at tile company Claybrook Studio. A delicate pencil edge or a dado trim, for example, will give your splashback a polished appearance – or, if you have used square tiles for your splashback, a line of slim metro tiles laid horizontally along the top will finish it off.