Decorating a kitchen can be tricky. Kitchen decor should be practical and functional, yet should reflect your personal design style. So here are 7 tips to keep in mind when you decorate a kitchen!

Sometimes, given their function, kitchens are overlooked as a space that can be decorated in the home.  But kitchens are the heart of the home and a gathering place for family and friends, so just like any other room in the house, they should reflect our personal style. 

Yes, a remodel can do wonders for the feel and function of a kitchen. But even without a remodel, a few, well-placed accessories and details can give a kitchen a warm and inviting touch. So here are some Tips & Tidbits for how to decorate a kitchen so that it’s both stylish and practical!

kitchen vignette with glass pitcher holding wooden utensils

Keep the Flow

When adding accessories to a kitchen, ensure that the decor doesn’t interfere with workflow; otherwise, you’ll find yourself frustrated by your decor rather than pleased with it. 

A small display or vignette on the counter can be quite beautiful, but be sure you place it in a corner or other out-of-the way spot so that you aren’t interfering with your workable counter space.

Stick with Kitchen-Themed Decor

Accessories and other decor in a kitchen feel more natural and less contrived when they are items that “make sense” for a kitchen, so be sure to give careful thought as to what you include.  Items that make beautiful displays in a kitchen without feeling out-of-place include:

  • Beautiful dishes
  • Serving pieces (trays, platters, teapots, pitchers, etc.)
  • A display of cutting boards, flatware or baskets
  • Framed recipes
  • Beautiful bowls of fruit
  • Vintage scales
  • Even a nice cookbook
Kitchen Vignette
TraditionalHome.com- A small vignette with a demijohn and cookbook on the side of the sink
Framed Recipe
via Cherry Hill Cottage – framed handwritten recipes are a great touch
via TIDBITS&TWINE

If You Have Space, Use It!

There are definitely two sides to the debate as to whether to decorate above the kitchen cabinets.  My feeling is that if your style is more clean and contemporary, then not decorating above the cabinets and instead, leaving some negative space, creates a much sleeker look.  If, on the other hand, your style is a bit more traditional or eclectic, then using this space is a great way to show off more of your style with groupings of beautiful accessories.

A few words of caution about decorating above the cabinets:

1.  Clearance:

  • Make sure you have adequate clearance between the cabinets and the ceiling before you decide to add accessories.  You should have around 24″ of space to ensure that the items can be seen and do not appear to be “stuffed” above the cabinets.

2.  Blank Space:

  • Just because you have the space doesn’t mean you need to fill all of it!  How much of the space you use really depends on what you are displaying.

If you are displaying a collection of like items, then filling the entire space gives it a seamless look.

But if you are creating vignettes using a variety of items, limit displays to small areas and don’t allow the various groups to touch so that they look intentional and not cluttered.

3.  Skip the Vines

Please try to resist the use of fake vines across the top of the cabinets!  Not only is this not practical because they collect and show a ton of dust, but also, they look…well..fake!  Unless the ceiling above your cabinets is entirely made of glass, no one will believe that you have live plants growing across the top of your cabinets. 

If you want to include an organic element to the space, consider baskets or wooden bowls.  If your goal is to add some color, consider a display of decorative plates or canisters.

Even Small Spaces Can be Decorated

If space for “extra” decor is limited, find stylish ways to display your kitchen necessities.  You can find beautiful jars or pots to use as utensil holders, decorative canisters for day-to-day items, a beautiful epergne to display fruits, a French bottle drying rack for cups, or even a plate stand to display a collection of plates. 

And speaking of plates, investing in a beautiful (but practical) set of everyday dishes can really add a decorative touch.

 

Be Practical!

It’s hard to keep the kitchen clean and inevitably, things get splashed with water or food and grease can build up on items.  As you select decorative accessories to include in the kitchen, be practical and look for items that can easily be cleaned or wiped down as part of your regular cleaning routine.  For items that are framed, such as handwritten recipes, be sure that the backing is well sealed so that dirt and grease don’t get inside the frame.

Don’t Forget the Window

Adding a simple window treatment in the kitchen is a great way to give the space a finished look.  You don’t have to do anything expensive, even just a simple valance is a great way to bring in some texture and color.  Here are more ideas for dressing up a kitchen window without using a curtain.

 

Pay Attention to the Basics

If you can, give your walls a fresh coat of paint to act as a backdrop and give the kitchen a bit of depth.  Also, a quick change of hardware on the cabinets and drawers can instantly change the look and feel of the space.

Also, if you’ve read any of my other posts, you know that I have a particular fondness for mixing vintage items with newer pieces.  The kitchen provides a great opportunity for decorating with vintage pieces, as many vintage kitchen items that are no longer functional, still possess a great deal of decorative beauty.

via Pinterest. A vintage scale makes an interesting plant stand for an indoor herb garden.
via Pinterest. A vintage scale makes an interesting plant stand for an indoor herb garden.

The kitchen is where memories are made, so make sure your kitchen reflects your style and your family with the addition of a few well-placed accessories.  And don’t feel pressured to run out and buy something.  Instead, open up your cabinets and look at what you already have to see how you can incorporate it into a beautiful display!

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23 Comments

  1. Kathie from IL says:

    I loved your ideas for decorating kitchens. I have very old recipe cards that my grand- mother wrote plus my Mom, who died several years ago. I am going to put a few of my daughters . She makes up recipes. My daughter made a sign that says Meemaw’s Kitchen on a black painted board so it looks like a blackboard. You are the BEST !!

  2. I liked your advice about utilizing decoratives that are actually useful in the kitchen. My mom moved to a smaller home, and she wants to decore her place. I will pass her the tips so she can begin buying some decoratives that could be used in the kitchen.

  3. I liked that you mentioned that a fresh coat of paint and some new hardware can really be the change that you need. I have been thinking about what we can do to make our kitchen more inviting. This is definitely something that I will be considering to srpuce it up a bit.

  4. Hi Kim,
    Can you tell me where you found your kitchen canisters? I really like them.
    Thanks,
    Bonnie

  5. Thanks for the great tips for decorating a kitchen. Our kitchen is so bland and boring right now, so we want to spice it up. Decorating with food-themed things is a great idea. That would flow really well with the space.

  6. Thanks for the great tips for decorating a kitchen. I like the idea of decorating with items that are actually useful in the kitchen. We are going for a country feel, so I’ll look for rustic cutting boards and paper towel holders, and things like that!

  7. It’s true that the kitchen is the heart of the home, like you said. It’s important that we make it as appealing as possible to ourselves so that we can better enjoy all of the time spent working there. Having attractive kitchen decor can be really motivating as it helps you appreciate the kitchen more than you normally would.

  8. According to the article, you ought to stick with one them when decorating a kitchen. It says you should really only use items that make sense for a space. My wife really likes the modern kitchen look, so are you suggesting we only incorporate modern items into our decor design?

  9. North East Factory Direct says:

    Kitchen design is the most desirable activities by any home-owner. The information you have shared is very informative.

  10. I am in the process of trying to create a country kitchen, and I love your ideas! My favorite is framing hand-written recipes; that is a nice homage to a beloved family member. I love using canisters on the counters. The first picture of rolling pins in a large canister looks really good, too! I can’t wait to have a kitchen with a window so I can add curtains. Maybe I’ll be able to talk my husband into making shutters instead:) My favorite color scheme is soft yellow walls with white dishes. I’ll definitely be able to use some of your great ideas. Thanks!

  11. fell over your blog by sheer accident – best accident ever – wonderfully inspirational!

  12. Ha! So true about the fake vines atop the kitchen cabinets!

    Loving your blog.

  13. I too stumbled across your blog via pinterest. You have such great tips. Thank you for sharing. Signed up for your emails.

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Hi Vee – Thanks for stopping over from Pinterest and leaving such a sweet note!! :) Kim

  14. So excited I stumbled on your blog via Pinterest! Love it!!

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Hi Erin! Thank you so much for visiting via Pinterest and leaving a comment! I truly appreciate it! :) Kim

  15. Really nice post. Simple yet effective ideas for any style kitchen! ~Jen

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Thank you so much, Jen!

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Thank you, Deb!

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