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Refresh Your Small Apartment Kitchen with Spring Decor

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Today begins the Bloggers’ Best Spring Tour 2023! And today we are going to see how to refresh your small apartment kitchen with spring decor!

REFRESH YOUR SMALL APARTMENT KITCHEN WITH SPRING DECOR

It’s the first day of spring, y’all!

What better way to start the season than with a small apartment kitchen tour?

Yep, you read that right!

After one year, this girl is finally biting-the-bullet and sharing the My Wee Abode 2.0 kitchen with spring decor!

By the way, if you want some spring inspo for your living area, take a look at Part 1 of my spring home tour this year!

But first…

It’s day one of the 2023 Bloggers’ Best Spring Tour hosted by my lovely friend, Kelly from The Tattered Pew.

small apartment kitchen spring decor collage of spring decor

Kelly has organized 30 amazing bloggers to bring to you spring decor inspiration, tips, and tricks. And let me tell ya, that ain’t no easy task! Thanks, Kelly, you are quite grand! 😉

If you are dropping in by way of StoneGable, a big welcome to you! I always love all the inspiration and design ideas I learn from Yvonne! And I bet you were inspired by her home tour, too! She is an amazing designer, and an even more amazing friend!

And, of course, a huge hello with hugs and hearts to all the My Wee Abode family!

Become a MWA Family Member

If you are interested in joining the My Wee Abode ‘family’, feel free to subscribe below! Not only will you get ideas and solutions for living big in a small home, you’ll also get instant access to our Printable Library! (LOTS of spring art for your home for free!)

all the freebies!

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Get instant access to the My Wee Abode FREE Printables Library!

And, if you want to learn a wee bit more about me and my family, feel free to visit the My Wee Abode About page!

Now, let’s get to this tour!

The Courage to Share My Small Apartment Kitchen Spring Decor

Can I be totally transparent?

The kitchen in My Wee Abode is NOT my favorite…

I know, I know… You’ve heard this story before.

Y’all know I had a love-hate relationship with the dark shaker cabinets at the OG My Wee Abode. (Loved the style, hated the color!)

But y’all… these cabinets… these cabinets are old(er) and they are wearing out. At least the finish is wearing off (we won’t look too closely today).

Okay… here goes the first photo…

apartment kitchen with honey oak cabinets and spring decor
Could you see my eyes tightly squeezed shut and one eye peeking open when I inserted this photo?

And, can we just say “Hello, 1990s”… or maybe even 1980s?

small apartment kitchen spring decor kitchen with oak cabinets and spring decor
The cabinets are not two toned… I just need to learn some lighting tricks in the kitchen. 😉

So, today I’m going to share how I’m living with my kitchen cabinets, and how I’m loving some aspects.

There IS hope! If you are not loving your kitchen, let’s learn how to work with it… in the spring!

This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. For more information, see my complete disclosure HERE.

Use Spring Colors that Compliment Your Kitchen Spring Decor

This is the first time in a year that I have decorated the MWA kitchen for the spring.

Let me just say, it does make me happy.

apartment kitchen with honey oak cabinets and spring decor

Even though it’s just a few items (okay, maybe more than a few), it lightened my heart and made me love like my kitchen a bit more.

One of the things I did was to use colors that complimented the honey-oak cabinets in the kitchen.

The colors I used were mainly white and green and a few neutral tones.

small apartment kitchen spring decor egg tray and bunnies on counter with butterfly wall plaque
Dang it, I forgot to put the eggs in the tray in this pic!

White is always a good color to use in a honey-oak kitchen. It brightens the kitchen, and seems to neutralize the yellow tones.

white pitcher with spring flowers and gray bunnies in kitchen
Use a white pitcher with flowers that compliment your oak cabinets… next time, I probably WON’T use yellow!

Additional colors to use in a kitchen with honey-oak cabinets:

  • Muted colors, such as sage green or a blue with warm undertones
  • Natural wood tones that compliment the grain in the honey-oak color
  • Lavender and pale purples (or even a splash of bright purple )
  • Copper
  • Dark Amber, black, and dark gray (more for fall, but these look quite pretty with the honey-oak)
  • and, did I mention white… all the white!

Here are the eggs! And I really love the sage green in the kitchen.

small apartment kitchen spring decor green egg tray with brown eggs
I love using this tray in the morning… the eggs don’t roll off the counter.

Things I REALLY Like…

One thing I do like about my kitchen is the counters. The management was smart enough to have these laminate counters done in the colors of the cabinets AND the vinyl floors (see the photo above). Though it’s not the best, it does help coordinate the two colors… a teensy bit.

(By the way, on a total side note, if you have a sweet feline in your family, here’s some tips on how to stop cats from jumping on counters.)

Because my cabinet space is limited, these wood and metal planters are perfect for storing my dish towels and potholders on the wall. They are pretty and practical!

wall hangings with towels

And the wood, gray metal, and green/gray towels work well with the oak cabinets.

These are from Hobby Lobby, but there are several options on Amazon:

Collections to Refresh Your Small Apartment Kitchen Spring Decor

Lately, I’ve been really trying to avoid ‘cute and adorable’. But this spring, my kitchen needed a little cuteness…

So, I broke out my little bunnies, in a BIG way!

small apartment kitchen spring decor collage of spring bunnies in kitchen

If you love to collect, then by all means use your collections in your home. And use what makes you happy!

My little bunny collection includes some white bunnies (the first ones I purchased), some metal ‘distressed’ bunnies, and a new set of tiny cement-gray bunnies.

These are perfect to display around the kitchen, and they greet me each morning which, again, takes my mind off the cabinet color. 🙂

Here are some sweet bunnies you might be interested in:

Spring Elements for a Small Apartment Kitchen Spring Refresh

Natural elements are my favorite aspect of decorating, for spring or any season.

Whether it’s faux or fresh flowers, live plants and greenery, or even dried natural elements, you just can’t go wrong with adding these to a small kitchen.

And you can even add these elements to a dorm kitchenette or any size kitchen!

gray bunny next to green kitchen scale filled with moss balls
That bunny wants to nibble on those moss balls, I’m thinkin’.
  • Be sure to use faux flowers that look real when you stand about three feet away
  • Use real and faux florals together to make faux look even better
  • Dried elements, like these moss/vine covered balls add a ‘fresh’ element and they last forever
  • Even using faux (or real) eggs in a tray can add a natural element that looks great for spring!
  • If you are looking for a similar vintage-look kitchen scale, here’s a farmhouse style kitchen scale in black, and one in white!

A Quick Peek at the Spring Entryway

The tiny entryway got a bit of a spring refresh, too!

small apartment kitchen spring decor entryway with spring decor

One thing I DO love about my cabinets? The large pantry wall in the entryway! (It’s on the right, and bit hard to see… take a closer look on my summer tour post.)

Next week, I’m looking forward to putting a little twist on the spring entryway at the Pinterest Challenge! Be on the lookout!

To Paint or Not To Paint Honey Oak Cabinets?

If I had it my way, I would paint these cabinets just like I did my bathroom cabinets in the loft apartment.

apartment kitchen with honey oak cabinets and spring decor

However, I live in a MUCH bigger community now (not a private landlord), and I’m pretty sure that the property manager would NOT let me paint the cabinets, even though it would increase the value of the apartment. 😛

So, for now, I learn to live (and maybe even like?), my honey-oak cabinets.

If you have any suggestions for how to make these better, let me know!

BTW, I have already tested vinyl adhesive and it didn’t work… it lifted the finish off the cabinet (I did it on the kickboard… no one will ever know).

Next on the Tour…

Now, be sure to click on over Cottage on Bunker Hill. Jennifer is sharing some great ideas on how to refresh your living room for spring!

And be sure to come back here each day this week to visit all the homes on the 2023 Bloggers’ Best Spring Home Tours (see links below).

signature updated 2022

Bloggers’ Best Spring Home Tours

This week I am joining some of my blogging friends for the 2023 Bloggers’ Best Spring Home Tours. Thirty talented and creative women will be opening their homes for you to tour all week long. You can visit each spring home tour by clicking the links below.

Monday’s Tours

Spring Home Tour 2023 Collages Monday

The Tattered Pew // StoneGable // My Wee Abode
Cottage On Bunker Hill // Cottage In The Mitten // She Gave It a Go

Tuesday’s Tours

2023 Spring Home Tour Tuesday Collage

White Arrows Home // Midwest Life and Style // Open Doors Open Hearts
Robyn’s French Nest // Cloches and Lavender // This Is Simplicite

Wednesday’s Tours

2023 Wednesday Spring home tour collage

Eleanor Rose Home // Shiplap and Shells // Bricks n’ Blooms
WM Design House // Simply2Moms // The Ponds Farmhouse

Thursday’s Tours

Thursday collages Spring Home Tour

A Life Unfolding // My Thrift Store Addiction // Pasha Is Home
County Road 407 // White Lilac Farmhouse // Thistle Key Lane

Friday’s Tours

2023 Spring Home Tour Collage Friday

Create and Ponder // DIY Beautify // Worthing Court
Southern Home and Hospitality // My Family Thyme // Peacock Ridge Farm

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76 Comments

  1. Julie,
    Thank you for sharing such lovely and inviting ideas for Spring; all of the bunnies are my favorite this year, and you incorporated them into your apartment beautifully. Pinned!
    It’s a joy to be on this tour with you, friend.
    xoxo,
    Brendt

  2. Julie!! I completely understand how you feel about your honey oak cabinets. I felt the exact some way about ours when we first moved in. BUT you have done such a wonderful job of turning something you don’t love into something beautiful. I especially love that you used wall planters for your towels!!! GENIUS!!! Love hoping with you friend!!

    1. Thank you so much, Aliya. I think I need to ask the Lord for contentment and thankfulness with the cabinets. Maybe He has something on the horizon, maybe not! Trusting and resting in Him! Hugs!

  3. Julie, I think we all have lived with a kitchen we wish were different, right? However, I love the spring touches you have added to your kitchen to make it pretty and seasonal! The colors you have chosen this spring play nicely with the cabinets. And I think the bunnies are just right for this time of year! You have such a servant’s heart and lovingly taking care of your mother is so much more important than a kitchen dilemma! I’m so blessed by your friendship and your faith! xo xo xo

    1. Thank you so much for the encouragement, Yvonne! It’s hard to believe that Tanglewood was not a white kitchen when you bought it! Crazy how time flies!

  4. Julie happy Spring my friend! I just have to say I think you have done a grand job of making your kitchen beautiful. I love the colors you have chosen! That green is so pretty. 💚 Are you allowed to paint the walls or add a peel and stick back splash? That might add some more texture or color? But honestly I love it and the light wood look is currently on trend! Love ya lots!

    1. Thank you, Kelly… Yes, I’m able to paint, but I have to put it back the way it was before I move. And, I can use a peel and stick back splash… I’ve looked at it before, and I need to revisit that option. Thanks for the input! I really appreciate it!

  5. I feel your pain. I, too, live in Senior housing and have ugly 1950’s orange oak veneer cabinets, doors, woodwork, etc which I am not allowed to paint. My kitchen is even smaller – almost no counter space, no dish washer, – how I would love more space! But….I have a roof over my head, am safe and secure. Many don’t have that luxury – I am blessed!

    1. Amen, Muriel! I need to start thanking the Lord for the lovely and sturdy cabinets I have (veneer might be a kind term for the finish on mine), and thankful for all the things I have here that I didn’t in the OG My Wee Abode! Thanks for the perspective! Hugs!

  6. Hello!
    Thank you for all your positive thoughts and ideas. I moved from a very large home approx. 3800 sq ft to a tiny home approx. 1050 sq feet. I always wanted something smaller while I was in the bigger home. But now, I sometimes get so dismayed not having any space for decorating the way I like. We still have one child home, don’t get me wrong, I know we are BLESSED, but everyday things that people take for granted, e.g. a place to store blankets, a vacuum, and holiday decorations, can be trying sometimes.
    But you gave me back my spark to find ideas that I would never think of and enjoy my cozy space. Thank you for sharing what you do and all your ideas.

    1. Oh, Lisa Rose! I’m so glad you were inspired! There are LOTS of post on My Wee Abode for small home solutions! I hope you find LOTS to help you! Thanks for the lovely comment…I loved reading it!

  7. Julie, I can relate and have lived in several places where I had to live with furnishings I was restricted from changing. I know it can be frustrating but you have demonstrated that the challenge can inspire beautiful creativity, and I find your kitchen decor charming! Those little bunnies are the cutest! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction

    1. Cecilia, your kinds words a great encouragement. I believe I need to start being thankful for the cabinets… they are not nearly as bad as some I have seen (thinking about some young families just starting out that I know). At least they are in good condition, and they aren’t painted brick red a million times! 😉

  8. Julie, I just love all the beautiful Spring touches you have added to your kitchen and entryway. Your flowers in the pitcher on your counter are so pretty and just bring a smile whenever you look at them. All your little bunnies just add another lovely touch of Spring. You have done a lovely job in adding your personal Spring touches to your kitchen. Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your Spring kitchen — even though your cabinets are not your favorite!

    How nice that you are able to look after your dear Mom at this time of her life. God will bless you for doing this for her, Julie, and I know He will give you joy in your heart, too! You are a special gal! Have a blessed week!

    1. Thank you, Mary-Ann. I have decided to stop complaining about the cabinets, and be content with what I have. I’m making this much more of a big deal than need be. 🙂

    1. Thanks, Jennifer! I’m hoping the cabinet issue might change, but I need to be thankful in the meantime!

  9. Happy Spring, Julie!
    I love the spring decor you’ve chosen for your kitchen. And the color of the scale is fabulous! I have to tell you, my eyes went right to the pretty home decor in your kitchen and not the cabinets. You’ve done a lovely job my friend.

    1. Aw, so kind of you, Kim… I’m glad the decor detracted from the cabinets. I need to stop complaining, and embrace what the Lord has given me!

    1. I’m busy looking at all the cute things…especially loving your entryway decor! I’m sure we all have things about our homes we wish we could change and so many times no one else even notices. So wonderful you can help care for your Mom! Happy Spring!

    2. Thank you, Kim. Those bunnies are fun to see each day, especially the white ones near the coffee maker!

  10. I love your outlook of making the best of what you have! We all have things in our homes that aren’t our ideal. With creativity and adding a little pretty, we can enjoy our homes in their current state! They’re not our eternal homes anyway, right? Love that egg tray!

    1. Amen, sister! I need to be grateful for what I have, and not make my cabinets a first world problem. And the Lord may have something planned in the future!

    1. Thanks, AnnMarie! Enjoyed your tour, too! No to just remember you have no “e” at the end of Ann… just like me!

  11. I think you did a great job styling your kitchen for spring. Thanks for sharing all your tips and tricks. We all have had to live with things that aren’t our style and choice. Great touring with you

  12. It looks lovely, Julie!! We all have spaces in our homes that we would rather not photograph and show others and I applaud you for being brave!! I LOVE Those towel holders on the wall…how functional!!
    Thanks so much for sharing your Spring kitchen with us!

    1. Thank you, Rachel… It’s so crazy how I actually felt a bit sick before I pressed the schedule button! So silly!

  13. You may only like it and not love it but you’ve done a great job with it. Love all the bunnies and sharing the colors that work well with cabinets that color is so important. And I totally want those brown bunnies sitting with the three canisters! Pat yourself on the back and enjoy the look. Everything looks so cute!

    1. Thank you, Cindy! You are always an amazing encourager and know JUST what to say! It’s a gift from God, for sure!

    1. Thanks, Michelle! These cabinets make me appreciate my old cabinets a little bit more… just a little. 😉 However, I spoke with my manager just this morning, and he said to write up a proposal, and they will consider me painting the cabinets!

      1. I used a product called Briwax on my oak cabinets to change the orange. You can find it on Amazon. I used a the Tudor brown and it was beautiful. Easy to use and makes a huge change change in my attitude towards the kitchen. May want to try if your landlord won’t let you paint.

        1. That is AMAZING, Rosy! I’m going to look to see if it will work on faux oak cabinets. This “wood” is not real… it’s a covering.

  14. Julie, I have these same colored cabinets in my kitchen and I despise them so much. I would love to paint them, but I just don’t have the time/money/patience to do it right now. Thank you for sharing ideas to help compliment oak cabinets and learn to love what you’ve got.

    Happy to be touring with you. Pinned!

    1. Oh, I’m glad someone feels my pain, Jen (I know there a LOTS of people). Girl, using Amy Howard’s One Step cabinet paint would be easy and affordable! But, I know your schedule is crazy busy, so I get the time issue! Funny thing, I got the guts to ask my property manager today if I could paint the cabinets. He wants me to write up a proposal… he said they may be interested in doing others in the future. So, we’ll see!

  15. To me one of the best areas to decorate for spring is the kitchen, and you’ve proven that Julie! Even though you don’t like the cabinets, who’s noticing them with all of the cute bunnies, fresh colors, and that beautiful flower arrangement? Well done, my sweet friend!!

    1. Aw… thank you, Kate! I so appreciate your encouraging words! And who knows what the Lord has planned for my cabinets in the future? 😉

  16. Happy Spring, Julie! I too have honey oak cabinets that have been the bane of my existence for the last 20+ years (and I put them in 30+ years ago 🙄, the originals were even worse LOL). Love your wall pockets to expand your storage options and all your bunnies are SO adorable (in a chic way, not cutesy!)

    1. Thanks, Janet! You DO get me! But I bet your oak cabinets are REAL. Mine are a ‘coating’ that tries to look like wood. 😉 I think I need to pray for contentment!

  17. Julie, I know how much you dislike those honey oak cabinets, but you do such a beautiful job to add your own classy spring touches. Love the wall hangings for towels and what you’ve done with the entry too. I’m one who can’t resist cute and adorable when it comes to anything involving bunnies, so bring ALL the bunnies on, I say! Big hugs!

    1. Yay for bunny-lovers! I’m seeing the Essex bunnies for Pottery Barn in everyone’s homes… well, lots of homes. They are so striking!

  18. Julie, I hear you about the cabinet situation. You have worked your spaces very well in the apartment. I love all of your sweet touches and how you maximize the space. That tray for the eggs is a nifty find. I may need that in my life for baking. Love all of your spring decorations.

    1. Thank you, Tammy! Yes, I have to work with what I have. I think I need to ask the Lord to help me be content… but in the meantime, the property manager asked me to write a proposal for painting the cabinets! Woot!

  19. Julie, I love the touches of green that you have added. Your color choice does pop against the counter job! well done my friend. And can we talk about those adorable wood cutting boards used to house your towels… so cute!

    1. Yeah… those hanging ‘planters’ were the fave on this post, just like the mini cookie mold on the living area tour! 😉 Very fun!

  20. Julie I loved that you shared a room in your home that might not be your favorite, I think everyone can relate to that. No everyone has the time or the money to have the latest & greatest kitchen and that’s ok. What matters is the feeling of home & coziness and you can feel that in your kitchen with the decor you displayed. Kiddos for sharing your kitchen, I think it’s lovely and very cozy!

    1. Well aren’t you the cheerleader I needed! Thank you, Heidi… My property manager actually wants me to put together a proposal for me painting the cabinets! He said they might want to start doing it with all the apartments!

  21. You’ve added such wonderful Spring decor to make your kitchen a happy, homey spot. I actually love the yellow added to your bouquet, it plays off the honey oak and makes it all coordinate. Happy Spring, Julie. I hope once they realize what an expert you are they’ll agree to let you paint!

    1. Thanks, Debra… for all the encouragement! I’m really hoping that once I give them a presentation, they will let me paint, and they might start doing it too!

  22. I love this post Julie! I know how hard it is to live with cabinets you don’t like. Mine were honey oak for years and complimented by a hunter green countertop. Yep hunter green! But the truth is, I wouldn’t have noticed your cabinets if you hadn’t pointed them out. Your kitchen decor is adorable and you’ve displayed it so perfectly that the cabinets fade into the background. I’m crazy about the metal planters and the way you’ve made use of them. I’m looking around my kitchen right now wondering how I can copy your idea right here. Thanks for the endless inspiration! Pinned!

    1. Thank you, Denise. I’m glad you would not have noticed my cabinets. I’m thinking I’m the type that would, that’s why I point it out, before someone else can. I remember when I first started blogging, and had the open shelves at the loft. Someone commented that the bend in the shelf drove her crazy. LOL! No wonder I’m a bit more sensitive. However, my property manager asked for a proposal on how to get the cabinets painted! We’ll see if they agree to let me do it! (How’s that for a sequel to YOUR book!)

    1. Thanks, Marie! I’m hoping my recent presentation to the management will help in getting permission to paint the cabinets. >.<

  23. Such a helpful post for me!! I have honey oak hardwood floors and have often struggled with which colors to use in my home that would complement them. I just got my floors resurfaced, so they’re especially shiny and honey-er than ever now. So glad you gave a list of good colors to use with it, thank you!

  24. Your spring deco is gorgeous! My fave in the kitchen are the galvanized wood planters for dishtowels! Love the idea! I also want the vintage scales, but didn’t see a link (I may have overlooked it). Thx for the inspiration!

    1. Thank you so much for the kind words, Pam… I purchased the vintage-look scale at Michael’s several years ago, but I just added some links to a couple of similar ones below the photo of the scale. You can also find them on Etsy! Hope this helps!

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