Steel kitchens are incredibly popular. After all, it’s hard to resist the allure of a highly polished counter top that can be wiped clean easily and looks ultra-modern in your home.

If you are thinking about opting for this sleek style for your own kitchen, then it is wise to contemplate what the overall look will achieve in terms of day-to-day living. Sometimes going entirely for steel can feel a little cold, but there are plenty of ways to get round this.

Here are some of the approaches to take to ensure the heart of your home still feels warm and welcoming when opting for steel:

Break it up

While it’s very important to ensure that all the elements of your new kitchen go together, this does not mean they have to be the same. Different textures can actually be very complimentary and add interest while maintaining that clean finish.

You could opt to go for steel countertops and have the kitchen cabinets made from a different material or the other way round. This means you won’t be met by an entirely steel façade when you step into the room. Natural wood can act as a good contrast to the harsh modernity of the steel.

Add colour to a wall

If all of your kitchen counters, cabinets and appliances are steel, there are plenty of other ways to bring warmth into the room. A great option is to have one feature wall in a rich, welcoming colour. A deep red, terracotta or orange could be perfect for this. Either paint the wall in the shade you like or opt for tiles, which will also be wipe clean and practical in a kitchen environment.

Combine both of these techniques by choosing a space, perhaps behind the cooker or along the back of where the counter top runs. Paint the wall in a happy shade and choose tiles that go well with the colour and do several rows, so both they and the paint can be seen and become a feature.

Create a warm floor

The flooring you choose can have a big impact on the overall feel of a room and opting for something warming will help to soften the coolness of the steel. Of course carpet isn’t practical in the kitchen, but a nice warm wood could be perfect. If you have stripped floorboards, think carefully about what colour to stain them, as something too dark will only make the kitchen feel colder.

Brighten with feature lights

Many people underestimate the importance of lighting, but it can really make a difference in your kitchen. The obvious choice with a steel kitchen is to go for the equally modern spot lights, but you can think more creatively than that. A large feature lampshade in a colour that compliments the paintwork or tiles can really draw everything together and transform the space.

If you’d like to keep to an industrial style, then Edison bulbs that give off a warm yellow or orange glow can be a brilliant alternative. These traditional shaped lightbulbs have a bright filament that will instantly bring warmth to the space without detracting from the clean lines or functional feel.

Accessorise

Once you have had you steel kitchen fitted, it is then yours to fully kit out. You could bring in additional colour by going for statement appliances, such as a matching kettle, toaster and storage pots in a bright colour. You can even find pots and utensils all made from or coated with a copper finish, which are both classy and will fit with your steel surfaces.

Go one step further and make your large appliances the stand-out features. For example, 1950s style fridges come in a range of colours or you could treat yourself to a double oven that isn’t a traditional black, white or steel. The options are almost endless.