Cheer Up Your Kitchen

Create a brighter vibe in the heart of your home with these tips from design guru Jonathan Adler, author of Happy Chic Accessorizing and Happy Chic Colors.

If you adore a print, go ahead and use it in more than one place. "It instantly helps the room come together and, of course, adds a bit of playfulness," Adler says.

"Flowers add instant joy," Adler says—but manyof us forget to put ’em in the kitchen. He prefers tight clusters of a single bloom. Cut the stems off so only the buds pop out of the vase.

Vibrant shades like bold blue and citrus green can perk up your space. You don’t have to paint: Neutral walls and cabinets make an ideal backdrop for bright dishes, towels, pottery, etc.

Lemons and limes (or oranges and grapefruit) make a cheery, colorful centerpiece. But if you only use a few, they’ll look like leftovers, so follow Adler’s rule: "More, more, more!"

Most of us decorate at eye level, but adding surprising touches like a patterned tray to shelves down below or nooks up above makes a room look completely lived-in and finished.