Plants are the perfect addition to any room. With the proper amount of care, sunlight, and water, your plants will flourish and turn your living space into a beautiful oasis.
Whether you live in a small apartment or a large house, plants enhance each room of your home into a welcoming environment—especially a newly designed Montreal kitchen. Plants are known for improving people’s moods, so by having them in your sleek and modern or traditional and rustic kitchen, herbs will spice up your lifestyle one way or another. Both beautiful and functional, the greenery will brighten and freshen up your kitchen space while also providing you with a homegrown supply of the best herbs for your recipes.
Caring for Your Herbs
When selecting herbs to grow in your home, make sure you plant ones that thrive in an indoor environment. Cilantro, smaller varieties of basil, chives, and mint are some of the herbs that are both pleasing to the eye and will survive indoors, while dill and fennel are best kept outside because they spread as they grow.
You will also want to take into consideration the care that each plant needs when planning your kitchen’s design. Plants that need a lot of sunlight, such as basil, will need to be put on display by a door or window. Similarly, plants that need to be watered more frequently should be placed within reach to facilitate care.
Herb Care Instructions:
- Cilantro thrives in full sun. Let the earth become bone dry before you water it. Harvest it on a weekly basis by cutting it at the stem’s bottom; if this is done correctly, the stem with regrow.
- Basil also loves full sun, but keep its earth moist. When you want to use its leaves in your recipes, delicately pull the leaf off where it meets the stem.
- Chives prefer sun and partial shade with moist earth; it’s a more temperamental plant, so if you soak it, it won’t be happy. Chives require clean cuts, so use sharp scissors when harvesting, but leave a minimum of two inches for regrowth.
- Mint is best kept in partial sun with moist earth. This plant grows at a fast pace, so you should harvest it on a regular basis by gently removing its full-grown leaves; this will promote regrowth.
- Oregano is part of the mint family and needs a variety of moderate and strong sunlight. Water it when it’s dry, but don’t let it get parched. Once you’ve trimmed the stems with scissors, you are free to remove the leaves and add them to your next dish.
- Parsley offers curly or flat leaves that flourish in strong light. Delicately remove the stems by pinching them at the base. For the best results, plant parsley in a deep pot with organic potting soil.
- Rosemary should bask in the heat during the summer months, but put it in cooler surroundings between 4 to 18°C when winter comes. If the top 2 inches of the earth is dry, water it thoroughly and let the pot drain; it doesn’t like sitting in water.
Depending on how much natural light enters your kitchen, consider using grow lights to promote herb growth. Be mindful that your plants will need their own space, especially to prevent pests. However, if you’re not happy with your dark kitchen, we can change that!
Fresh Design Options
Herbs are versatile design elements and can be beautiful additions to any design scheme. Hanging planters are great for sprucing up window areas while providing adequate sunlight to herbs that need more sun. For a more unique look, you can try upside-down hanging planters. Counter space is an often coveted part of the kitchen—particularly with large families—which makes hanging planters the best choice for your Montreal kitchen design.
However, for people who have ample counter space, you can add a mason jar herb rack that sits by your side while you prepare your meals. What’s great about this herb holder is that you can easily move it into or out of the sun, depending on the herbs in the rack.
If you’re looking to expand your herb supply and use a large variety for cooking, a vertical herb garden is a great option because it can have its own place in the kitchen, similarly to a wine rack. Don’t like round or terracotta-coloured pots? Dark flower boxes give a sleeker, more polished look while also saving space; they will blend in with an industrial-styled décor with stainless steel appliances.
While using herbs as soon as they’re harvested ensures the most flavour, you can collect and wrap the herbs with string or twine and hang them in your kitchen; this serves a dual purpose. Hanging the herbs in this fashion will dry and preserve them while adding a rustic atmosphere to your kitchen. This hanging method has been used for centuries.
Multi-Functional Décor
As you’ve probably already guessed, herbs can double as décor and ingredients to brighten up your kitchen and liven up your favourite dishes. Basil and oregano are classic additions to traditional Italian cuisine, such as lasagna and pesto sauce. Cilantro is a great summer herb for Latin dishes, including strawberry tomato salsa and fajita-styled shrimp and grits. Sprinkle chives on your cheesy appetizers, such as nachos, for a subtle onion and garlic taste. Parsley is a versatile herb that can be used year-round for soups, vegetables, salads, sauces, seafood, and poultry. Rosemary adds light flavouring to soups, potatoes, and meats, such as roast beef.
The kitchen brings people together, and it has the strongest impact on individuals when the layout provides ample room, natural light, and personalized details that make you feel at home.
Adding herbs to your kitchen décor will not only warm up your space and give it a fresh feel, but it will help you save money by providing sustainable ingredients for your cooking needs. Cuisine Nuenza is your guide to creating an ergonomic and stylish kitchen that makes you feel at home. Contact us today to find out how you can incorporate herbs and plants into your unique kitchen space!