Room Design
Kitchen Design
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process
Updated on 09/11/24
Kitchen design is a multistep process that includes making decisions about practical things like layout, storage, and appliances, but it’s equally important to focus on choosing finishes, decor, and accessories that will make this utilitarian space feel warm and personal.
Check out these kitchen decor ideas in a range of styles, sizes, and budgets to help inspire you to make everyone’s favorite hang-out space as inviting as any other room in the house.
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Try Peel-and-Stick Tile
For renters or those who like to change up their decor with minimal effort and investment, a peel-and-stick vinyl tile or removable wallpaper backsplash can change the look of your kitchen in a flash, like this space from A Beautiful Mess.
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Display Everyday Objects
In this warm, rustic English country kitchen from Lobster and Swan, everyday objects from coffee pots to glass pitchers and jars filled with tea and herbs are displayed on reclaimed wood shelving, keeping everything visible and accessible.
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Create an Open Pantry
In this kitchen from Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design, one end of the kitchen island is lined with shelving filled with identical jars of dry goods to create an accessible mini pantry that doubles as edible decor.
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Embrace Warm Earth Tones
In an era of kitchen decor still dominated by neutrals, a colorful kitchen is a memorable kitchen that will stand out from the crowd.
House of G Designs energizes this kitchen with a sunny palette of earth tones that includes a salmon orange retro fridge from Big Chill.
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Use Reclaimed Shelving
Lobster and Swan used reclaimed wood to build open shelving and cover the range hood, an eco-friendly choice that creates a warm and rustic feel in the English country kitchen.
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Layer Lighting
This New York City apartment from Maydan Architects has a streamlined black-and-white kitchen that is seamlessly built along one wall. A strip of LED lighting beneath the upper cabinetry lights the countertop while being a decorative feature of its own.
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Hang a Wine Rack
A wall-hung wine rack is a decorative way to keep a small stash of wine on the ready, like this kitchen designed by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design.
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Incorporate Cottage Style
Colorful green wall tile, soft pink paint on the walls, a lace-trimmed curtain panel, and a pair of geraniums in terracotta pots flanking the sink give this space from deVOL Kitchens a cozy cottage look.
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Try a Table Lamp
While it wouldn't make sense to use a table lamp to light your whole kitchen or provide task lighting when prepping meals, adding a table lamp to your kitchen countertop is a simple way to make a utilitarian space feel cozier, like this space from deVOL Kitchens.
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Hang Your Cutting Boards
Studio Peake created a functional installation of wooden cutting boards in various shapes and sizes that fills the far wall of this London galley kitchen.
A neutral patterned wallpaper makes the boards stand out, and turquoise cabinetry adds a fresh and bright feel to the narrow space.
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Choose an Accent Color
A single color accent means that you will never have to overthink choices about decor, and will help make even the simplest of kitchens look more expensive and chic, like this U-shaped space from Leanne Ford Interiors that is accented with touches of tomato red.
Any easy and affordable way to make a big impact in a small kitchen is by painting it all in immaculate white and then choosing a single color accent.
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Add Thrift Store Art
Ashley Montgomery Design leaned an unframed thrift store still life against the dramatic marble kitchen backsplash to lend this kitchen some warmth, while a collection of mortar and pestles is both decorative and functional.
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Try an All-Black Palette
Try an all-black palette for a chic modern look. This small kitchen perched beneath a loft bed in a guest cottage from Sissy + Marley Interior Design is decorated in black from the walls to the cabinets, countertops, open shelving, and sink, making it recede and virtually disappear when not in use.
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Choose Retro Appliances
In this kitchen from Big Chill x Natalie Myers of Veneer Designs, retro appliances and patterned wallpaper give this kitchen a timeless and warm feel that evokes the nostalgia of days gone by while feeling fresh and current.
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Pair Black and White
In this kitchen designed by Brady Tolbert for Emily Henderson Design, a black-and-white color scheme keeps things classic from the floors to the appliances to the walls, which include an assortment of art, photography, and wall decor.
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Dress Up a Breakfast Niche
Michelle Berwick Design added bold and colorful floral wallpaper to the small banquette seating breakfast nook in this white kitchen that creates a focal point and a feel-good moment that enlivens the space.
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Blend Country Elements
This country cottage-style kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors has a light neutral palette in shades of white and pale gray.
Details like a vintage farmhouse sink with an under-sink cabinet curtain; black metal gooseneck sconces; and a display of copper and silver cookware add timeless charm.
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Use Warm Beige Tones
This kitchen from Mendelson Group uses tones of beige from the wood cabinetry to the gleaming tile backlash to the stone flooring to create a warm and welcoming feel. A pair of shiny brass pendant lights over the double islands add a boost of light.
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Mix Old and New
Desiree Burns Interiors stuck to a palette of black and white accented with wood and gold tones in this airy kitchen remodel. Decorative pendant lighting and wall sconces add polish and contrast with the rustic dark wood exposed ceiling.
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Add Wood and Woven Textures
This bright kitchen from Calimia Home has white finishes, silver fixtures, and wood and woven accents that warm up the space and complement the neutral patterned backsplash tile.
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Display Colored Glassware
Colored glassware, tableware, and art mix on the open shelving in this London kitchen from Studio Peake, while the countertop is decorated with practical kitchen items like a cutting board and potted herbs.
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Add an Unexpected Detail
A scalloped hood vent painted in the same peach as the kitchen cabinetry gives this Canadian waterfront cottage from Michelle Berwick Design an unexpected detail that changes everything.
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Source Vintage Pieces
Stacked vintage cabinets with a faded mint green patina add charm to this modern farmhouse style kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors that neat rows of built-in cabinetry cannot.
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Wallpaper the Ceiling
This kitchen from Mendelson Group uses kitchen wallpaper in an unexpected way that adds color and personality to the white space. Green-and-white check ceiling wallpaper sets the tone, with green accents added throughout the kitchen to pull it all together.
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Hang a Modern Pendant Light
BHDM Design hung a sculptural pendant light over the banquette seating by the window that adds interest to the small galley-style kitchen. The light fixture stays within the neutral palette of the space and doesn't block views or light.
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Warm the Floor With a Rug
Marie Flanigan Interiors added color and warmth to this bright modern kitchen with a vintage red patterned runner rug near the sink.
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Hang Cafe Curtains
If you've got the space for an eat-in kitchen, create an at-home bistro vibe by hanging a row of cafe-style curtains on the lower half of the window. Then decorate with vintage furniture, like this cozy space from deVOL Kitchens.
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Add a Touch of Whimsy
One of the easiest ways to make a kitchen feel personal rather than cookie-cutter is to hang an unexpected piece of decor on the wall, like this vintage model sailboat above the espresso bar in a space from Fantastic Frank.
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Hang Some Wall Baskets
Decorative wall baskets add warmth and texture and fill the empty wall space above the tall built-in cabinets in this high-ceilinged London kitchen from Studio Peake.
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Float the Console
In this kitchen designed by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design, empty wall space is transformed into a coffee station with the addition of a floating wall-mounted console and open shelving. Wood and brass accents add warmth.
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Hang a Vintage Dish Rack
Ashley Montgomery Design hung a black metal vintage-style dishrack on the vertical shiplap walls of this modern farmhouse. Bunches of dried herbs and a floral Roman shade add to the homey feel.
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Layer on the Color
In this kitchen from Big Chill and Old Brand New, layers of color from the bank of lower cabinets to the wall above the graphic backsplash to the patterned rugs and curry-colored velvet sofa complement the white walls of the relatively compact space.
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Mix Black and Blue
In this NYC apartment kitchen from Maydan Architects, a black one-wall kitchen is paired with navy blue furnishings that create a subtle separation between the seating area and the kitchen while preserving a cohesive feel in the open-plan space.
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Style Open Shelving
Skip upper cabinetry and install wall-to-wall display shelves instead that will make everything from dishware to kitchen tools double as display, like this rustic chic kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors.
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Try a Maximalist Jumble
These kitchen shelves styled by Leanne Ford Interiors mix stacks of plates and bowls with Champagne bottles and decorative busts to create an effortless feel that is perfect for people who love to collect whimsical objects and keep them on display.
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Hang a Vintage Mirror
In this small kitchen designed by Jess Bunge for Emily Henderson Design, a shiny gold vintage-style witch eye mirror hangs on the wall to reflect light and enhance views while creating a focal point that takes the focus off the freestanding oven.
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Add Color With Cookbooks
Built-in shelving on this London kitchen island from Studio Peake houses a colorful collection of cookbooks.
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Mix White and Natural Wood
This Tribeca kitchen from Bakes & Kropp has floor-to-ceiling views of New York City that contrast with the traditional details of the open-plan kitchen.
The warm, neutral space includes plenty of light wood tones from the range hood to the hardwood flooring and antique china cabinet.
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Hang a Crystal Chandelier
Ashley Montgomery Design created a sense of old-school glamour in this renovated kitchen by hanging a large-scale crystal chandelier that gives the space a sense of grandeur and complements the ornate crown molding.
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Mix Fresh and Dried Flowers
The country-style open shelves in this modern farmhouse kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors are decorated with multiple bunches of fresh and dried flowers that add color and bring the outdoors inside.
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Repurpose Reclaimed Wood
Use reclaimed wood to build a rustic kitchen shelf. Lobster and Swan decorated the DIY shelf in this English country kitchen with everyday items, botanical art, and cuttings from the garden, and displayed colorful tea towels from a brass rack mounted on the bottom.
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Try a Hanging Herb Garden
Add color to your kitchen with an edible herb garden of any size. Neva Interior Design suspended herbs from a wall-mounted utensil rack that adds a natural element that is both decorative and practical, and reinforced the theme with green backsplash tiles.
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Hang a Row of Copper Pots
Hanging a row of shiny copper pots from a rack above your range will add color, shine, and French farmhouse style to your space, like this Pittsburgh kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors.
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Accent With Gold
Add some extra bling to your kitchen by refacing your kitchen cabinets with gold metallic contact paper, like this small New York City apartment from interior designer Alvin Wayne. Renters on a budget could also try removable wallpaper for a similar effect.
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Display a Farmhouse Sign
Hang vintage or reproduction signage in your kitchen for a homey farmhouse feel.
My 100 Year Old Home created a nostalgic vignette in this farmhouse kitchen by hanging a DIY distressed vintage-style tin tile backsplash layered with a modern flower market sign.
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Add a Touch of Color
Decorate a small minimalist kitchen with a pair of Edison bulb lights suspended from the ceiling by colorful cords. This Scandinavian eat-in kitchen from Fantastic Frank features pink pendants that complement the pale gray cabinetry.
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Hang a Pegboard Shelf
Hang a classic pegboard shelf to display kitchen items, like this all-white modern farmhouse kitchen from Liz Marie Blog.
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Upgrade Cabinet Glass
Give glass-front cabinetry a budget DIY makeover by adding reeded glass window film that will slightly obscure the contents and add a more custom look, like this kitchen from Casa Watkins Living.
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Hang a Pair of Paintings
Farmhouse walls are often covered in random pieces of unassuming art that add warmth without feeling too planned or twee, like the mismatched paintings hanging in a quiet corner of this farmhouse kitchen from Jessica Nelson Design.
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Pick a Moody Paint Color
Create a relaxing oasis feel in a small eat-in kitchen by painting the walls in a dark and moody shade. This space from Fantastic Frank is painted in a cool blue-toned shade of gray that has a soothing feel.
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Add a Shiplap Backsplash
Add modern farmhouse style to a small kitchen with a vertical shiplap backsplash, like this basement space from Louis Duncan-He Designs.
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Add a French Bistro Feel
Infuse your kitchen with French café energy by creating a cozy corner banquette. Leanne Ford Interiors mixed a classic bistro table and chairs and hung an ornate gilded mirror on the wall to add decor and warmth to this black-and-white kitchen.
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Highlight Original Features
Original features like exposed brick or stone walls will lend your kitchen a sense of authenticity and history. Jessica Nelson Interior Design turned a dark kitchen into an open and airy space, exposing the original brick chimney.
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Hang Your Tray Collection
Decorate the walls of your kitchen with vintage cooking-related items such as cake tins, cookie cutters, or vintage platters. Inspired By Charm hung a gallery wall of vintage metal serving trays in the butler's pantry.
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Mix Bold Patterns
Give your kitchen an eclectic feel by mixing bold patterns. K Shan Design paired classic black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring with colorful botanical wallpaper for an irreverent feel.
How do you decorate kitchen walls?
You decorate kitchen walls with anything that strikes your fancy, from paint to wallpaper to wall art. Choose decor that complements the style of your kitchen or adds a stark contrast, depending on the look you want to achieve.
Kitchen-related items like wooden cutting boards, baking molds, or copper pots can also double as decor when arranged with care and grouped in collections (like a gallery wall made of wooden cutting boards of various shapes and sizes).
How do you decorate a kitchen island?
You can decorate the sides of a kitchen island with paint, decorative tile, or wood cladding. If your kitchen island includes built-in shelving on one or both ends, you can decorate it with a collection of cookbooks or colorful tableware.
Decorate the top of your island with anything from a bowl of fruit to a vase of flowers. Just be sure that your kitchen island decor doesn’t impinge upon counter space needed to prep meals or dine at the bar.
How can you use decor to beautify a small kitchen?
You can beautify a small kitchen with wall paint, wallpaper, new lighting fixtures, a colorful or patterned backsplash, a kitchen rug, wall art, a display of dishware on open shelving, or natural greenery such as plants or a wall-mounted herb garden. Kitchen window treatments such as patterned shades, blinds, or curtains can add a finishing touch.