No one wants to be stuck in a dark, crowded space that's isolated from the rest of the home, especially when creativity is involved! If you're going to start cooking and eating well, the first step is to design your kitchen accordingly. "The kitchen should really be the centre point of your home," says Marni Wasserman, a Toronto--based natural personal chef and holistic nutritionist. As a consultant, Marni offers one-on-one nutrition advice, coupled with creative cooking classes. She has seen many kitchens and knows what inspiration looks like. Instead of reaching for the take-out menu, consider these eight easy steps to give your kitchen a healthy makeover.

1 Lighten up
Spacious, well-lit kitchens serve as the congregating centre in many households. Open the blinds to welcome natural light and crank open the window on a nice day. "Connecting with nature will inspire your food choices," says Marni. "We installed a skylight, which brightens my kitchen when it's sunny and provides a cosy, comfortable feeling when it's raining."

2 Au naturel  
If you're repainting, you might consider neutral, earthy tones like greens, browns and yellows. "I always say, the more natural the better, but it's really about finding a colour palette that makes you feel good." Once you've set your base colours, opt for bright artwork or a funky-patterned glass backsplash to spice up the room.

3 Keep it fresh
Create a beautiful centrepiece by filling a glass bowl with fresh, colourful fruit. Think: apples, bananas, pears, oranges and peaches). Keep replenishing the bowl with whatever colourful fruits are in season.

4 Go with glass
Glass bottles, vases and mason jars will help keep your counters organized and your ingredients fresh. "Fill an oversize vase with lemons to give your room some colour," suggests Marni. Store nuts, grains, seeds and beans in glass jars and display them on your countertop in an organized fashion, but try to keep them out of direct light. Not only will they be easily accessible when you’re ready to cook, but they’ll provide a nutritional aesthetic.

5 Plant an indoor garden
While fresh flowers will certainly brighten up any kitchen, consider planting a small indoor herb garden instead. “Potted basil and oregano will liven up your windowsills and add flavour to your favourite recipes,” says Marni. They also infuse your kitchen with natural aromas.
 
6 Update appliances and cooking utensils
Shiny new appliances are sure to inspire your inner chef. “When choosing a stove, a gas burner is ideal,” recommends Marni. “It looks great and the quality of cooking is much better.” If you’re not in the market for a new stove, try upgrading your cooking tools. “Titanium pots and pans are the nicest looking and best quality for cooking,” says Marni. Purchase a new set of cooking utensils (to match your colour palette). If you’ve chosen earthy tones, go for a set of bamboo utensils and a matching basket; if black and silver is more your style, mount a brushed stainless-steel utensil rack near your stove.

7 Collect gadgets
No inspiring kitchen is complete without a few toys. Choose a colour scheme, black, white or stainless and try to buy new gadgets or small appliances in matching finishes. While empty countertops certainly make food preparation easy, leaving a few key appliances on display will make your kitchen look professional and motivate you to get your hands dirty.

8 Style the inside of your fridge and pantry
A well-organized kitchen doesn’t mean cramming the clutter into the fridge and cupboards. You should be as proud of the inside of your pantry as you are of your kitchen as a whole.  Purchase a set of matching baskets to organize your pantry and opt for clear, square containers for use inside your fridge. And just because you start off organized, doesn’t mean you can avoid maintenance. “What makes a kitchen most unappealing are expired and unwanted food items that create unnecessary clutter,” Marni says.  So get organizing and enjoy the benefits of a beautiful and healthy kitchen.