How to take the perfect Instagram picture of your kitchen at Christmas

Christmas is a truly beautiful time of year, and with all the beautiful lights and decorations, your kitchen is probably looking especially resplendent. You may well have already seen some inspiring designer kitchens on Pinterest or Instagram, and if you’ve ever tried to take a similar one of your own, you’ll know that it can sometimes be a harder job than you’d have first thought! Thankfully, here at Kitchen Design Centre our expert designers are on hand with some great tips on how to take your own stunning pictures of your festive kitchen to wow your friends and family.

Let there be light

You may already know that lighting is one of the most important elements when it comes to designing your kitchen, and it makes all the difference to your photographs, too. If you have any photography experience – or know someone who does – you may well have heard of what photographers call the “golden hour”. Essentially, it’s the time just after sunrise or before sunset when the daylight takes on a beautiful golden quality. If you time it right, you can use this principle to take some truly stunning pictures of your kitchen. We’d tend to choose early in the morning, especially at this time of year, but you can get some great results by waiting until about 3pm to 4pm in the afternoon, too.

Of course, the way your kitchen faces will also affect the amount and quality of light that gets through to it. If your kitchen windows face in a westerly direction, for example, you’ll probably find it’s better to wait until later in the afternoon, as your kitchen will get more light then. On the other hand, if your kitchen faces East, sunrise will probably look best. Another quick tip for you – it’s a good idea not to take pictures directly facing the window, as your camera might focus too much on the light and make the rest of the room look darker by comparison.

Come at it from a different angle

It can be surprising to see how much difference a new angle can make to the feel and look of the finished photograph, especially when it comes to designer kitchens. If your pictures aren’t quite capturing the feel you want, a new angle might be the answer! Taking your photo head-on from a standing position can sometimes make a space look a bit flat and lifeless. On the other hand, a new angle can add depth and a bit of imaginative visual flair. Low angles can be tricky when it comes to designer kitchens (as things like kitchen islands can often get in the way!) But taking your photo from a high angle – for example atop a chair – can be an excellent way to show off all the elements of your kitchen. If you feel like it, you can even carefully crop things out to leave a bit to the imagination, too! 

Don’t stop to reflect

You might not appreciate it usually, but many kitchens are full of shiny reflective surfaces, and these can play havoc when you’re trying to take the perfect picture for picture or Instagram. Thankfully, if you’re taking your picture at the golden hour, these should be relatively easy to spot. Sometimes you can shift your position to reflect them away, but if that’s not possible you can always get creative with another solution. A carefully placed tea-towel or temporarily repositioned toaster can head off that annoying glare, allowing you to get the light just how you want it. And of course, if you don’t spot them while you’re taking it, there’s nothing to stop you trying again tomorrow!

Make sure your kitchen embodies your own style

Of course, speaking of reflecting, there’s one golden rule it’s important never to forget; your kitchen should always be a reflection of you. You’ve spent so much time and hard work getting it looking and feeling exactly how you want, so ideally you’ll want a picture that does a good job of projecting that sense, too. It’s the smallest touches that can work the biggest wonders; an artfully placed fruit bowl, a framed picture or two, or some beautiful cutlery and crockery can really help to ‘place’ your viewers in your kitchen, bringing them closer to a sleek modern finish or letting them revel in its wonderfully cosy warmth. And since it’s Christmas, you can further express yourself with a few touches of festive glamour – as we’ve explored in a recent post!

And once you’ve taken your perfect picture, we’d love to see it! You can share it with us on Twitter or Instagram, or take a look at some of our own beautifully inspiring kitchens. If you’re already forming ideas on how to transform your kitchen in the New Year, why not head on over to your nearest designer kitchen showroom? We’ve got locations in Manchester, Blackburn and Barrowford, where one of our designers will be only too happy to sit down with you and talk through how to bring your ideas to life.