5 Ways to Romanticize Your Kitchen Routine

In our family, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. Not just because it's where all of the delicious food and drinks and desserts come from, but because it's where we experience the most joy. We dance, we laugh, we sing - we make memories that last forever.

During the holidays, when the family is all together, the kitchen is truly the most vibrant place. With my brother singing and shoving shots in my face, my mom dancing, my niece running around laughing, my husband watching all the chaos, and me making my famous ginger molasses cookies. Yes - my family loves the kitchen.

But on a daily basis, the kitchen can often feel like the most stressful room in the house. With endless dishes to wash and put away, counters to clean and disinfect, floors to mop, and then have to repeat that process over and over and over again. It can get exhausting. So exhausting that some days, you just want to order takeout just so you don't have to deal with all of the cleaning.

But I've found, that if you make the kitchen a place you want to be, you'll find joy in the monotonous and mundane nature of daily dishes and sometimes, less than exciting meals.

Our kitchen is quite small. Much smaller than our last kitchen at Fancy Cottage (RIP). But I've done my best to make sure that it's still oozing with charm and romance. And I try to make every experience in the kitchen a fun one.

In a world that often feels rushed, the kitchen can be a sacred space — a place to reconnect, unwind, and come back to the rhythm of the seasons and yourself. Whether you live by the sea or simply crave that breezy, barefoot ease, bringing romantic touches to your kitchen routine can be such a grounding, soulful practice.

Here are five ways to bring a little more beauty and romance into your everyday time in the kitchen.

1. Hang Ribbons or Dried Florals by the Window

This one is simple, but it makes all the difference. A row of soft pastel ribbons (or even delicate dried blooms tied with twine) swaying in the breeze adds an instant sense of whimsy and charm. In the photo above, I’ve hung a few vintage-style ribbons across the top of the window — they dance gently in the wind while I bake, like a quiet reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment. You can find the tutorial for how to make these ribbons in my latest video here.

🌾 Tip: Use linen, eyelet, or lace ribbon for that soft, European countryside feel.

2. Put on an Apron That Makes You Feel Pretty

Gone are the days of boring aprons. Choose one that feels like a part of your personal style — soft cotton, linen, or a wrap style that ties in the back like a dress. You deserve to feel lovely while stirring your tea or pulling something warm from the oven.

Some of my favorite aprons are from Anthropologie & Etsy.

✨ A ritual: Hang your apron on a beautiful hook and slip it on as the first step of your cooking practice, like a little ceremony for yourself.

3. Play Coastal Folk Music While You Cook

One of my favorite kitchen rituals is putting on some coastal folk music, indie pop, or Norah Jones, while I cook. It totally sets the mood and puts me in a romantic headspace. Like I'm the main character in an early 2000s movie.

🎶 A few artists to try: Olivia Dean, Del Water Gap, Kacey Musgraves, or a playlist titled “Seaside Breakfast” on Spotify.

4. Keep Fresh Herbs or Potted Plants in the Window

There’s something undeniably romantic about brushing past a little rosemary bush to grab your olive oil. Not only does it look beautiful, but it invites you to cook more intuitively, using what you have, what’s fresh, and what’s alive. Basil, thyme, lavender, and mint all grow well indoors with good light. I have thyme, parsley, and dill currently growing in my kitchen garden and I love using it first thing in the morning to spice up my eggs or toast.

🌿 Bonus: Arrange your herbs in mismatched vintage terracotta pots for a rustic cottage feel.

5. Bake Something Nostalgic Once a Week

Choose a day — maybe Sunday morning or a cozy Friday night — and make something from memory. Your mom's cornbread, cinnamon rolls from your childhood, or even something simple like banana bread. The act of baking something comforting creates an anchor in your week — and gives you something to look forward to each week.

Check out my Spring Homemaking video which features delicious baked treats and my bow garland tutorial below!

Romanticizing your kitchen isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence. It’s about turning everyday rituals into soft, sacred moments. Whether you're baking for loved ones, yourself, or just passing time with a wooden spoon in hand, let your kitchen become a little corner of the world where life feels beautiful again.

Pin it, save it, or share it with a friend who’s ready to fall in love with her kitchen again.

xx,

F.