Decorating kitchen countertops is a fun part of finishing a kitchen renovation and really helps create character in your space. “While a streamlined countertop is easier to keep clean, a perfectly clean countertop can make a kitchen look sparse and soulless,” says Richard Davonport, founder of Davonport Kitchens.
The kitchen should be considered another room in the home where you can make your mark on the interior, so don’t shy away from expressing yourself through decor. Surfaces are great places to display, so use your island and counter space wisely. “Items on the kitchen counter help tell the story of the room,” says Leila Touwen of kitchen company Pluck. “They show who lives there, how they use the kitchen and their personal taste.”
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up our favorite ideas for displaying personal trinkets and decorating your kitchen. Read on for our favorite modern kitchen ideas to decorate kitchen counters.
Expert tips for decorating your kitchen countertops tastefully
Make sure you get the right balance and choose tasteful additions to your kitchen that aren’t too cluttered. Think about how it ties into the rest of the room’s color scheme, and make sure your counter decor meets some practical needs.
Caroline Milns, head of interior design at Zulufish, explained: “The kitchen is an area of the home where hard materials such as stone and marble tend to dominate, creating an architectural and aesthetic seamless finish that is hard-wearing and functional. noodle.
Also consider texture. “Adding accessories that bring color, such as plants, flowers and fruit, or different textures, such as wood, will soften the utilitarian feel and make the space instantly more welcoming,” she adds.
1. Think practical and stylish
(Image credit: Phil Crozier. Design: Reena Sotropa)
It really shouldn’t be compromised on your kitchen accessories, so use your counter as a space to display frequently used items in your kitchen, but at the same time be stylish and fit your aesthetic. “Don’t hide handy things like salt shakers, pepper shakers and cookware,” says Pluck’s Leila Touwen (opens in new tab). Do your research and shop for practical essentials in your favorite brands or colors so they don’t look fancy and out of tune with the rest of the program.
“Pouring dry goods into airtight glass jars on the counter is an aesthetically pleasing way to display food, and if it’s like my overflow cabinets, it’s a great way to add more storage space in the kitchen,” says designer Anna Haines. (opens in new tab).
Richard Davonport of Davonport advises: “Put practical accessories together in groups of three” (opens in new tab). “It’s a great way to increase interest.”
2. Add a touch of nature
(Image credit: Hux)
A fresh bouquet of flowers can bring real freshness and a natural feel to your kitchen and make a great countertop idea. Clever placement on a kitchen island or countertop is a great way to show them off in all their glory. Think carefully about where they might be sitting in the kitchen.
“A bouquet of flowers brings softness, but consider placing these items in the wrong areas,” says Pluck’s Laila. “For example, a fresh bunch sitting next to a cooker feels incongruous.” For a thoughtful feel, have your bouquet reflect the time of year, color changes in fall and festive bouquets in winter, or from flowers growing in the garden Pick cuttings. Potted plants are also great additions to countertops.
3. Display a simple fruit bowl
(Image credit: Andrew Frasz. Design: Jessica Gersten Interior)
Reinforce the idea that your kitchen is the happy and healthy heart of the home by placing a bowl of fruit on the island. Your family, friends and guests can come and go to grab a piece of fruit, which brings a friendly and welcoming feel to the space.
If you’re committed to curating your kitchen aesthetic, you can choose fruit to complement and add color to your plan. At different times of the year, fruit bowls can be seasonal decorations that set the stage for your space with what’s in season.
4. Show off your collection of potted herbs or plants
(Image credit: Woody’s Concrete)
Encourage the use of the space as an extension of the garden and grow herbs in small pots and vegetable containers on the countertop. Basil, parsley, cilantro, and mint are all easy to care for and will thrive in the kitchen if cared for properly. “I love cooking herbs in a tall glass, and I love their delightful scent in the kitchen,” says interior designer Anna.
You can buy wooden herb crates to give the room a pleasant country kitchen feel, or use old tin cans that used to be used for chopping tomatoes if you want to emphasize that your kitchen is about food and cooking.
5. Use the kitchen counter to place art
(Image credit: Kyle Seeley Design)
Kitchens aren’t usually used as a place to display artwork, but displaying your favorite prints in beautiful photo frames can really add character to a space.
Frank Webb of New York-based interior design studio White Webb said: “Where possible, we like to bring in some artwork or sculpture – just to please the eye – but it’s even better if it serves its purpose.” (opens in new tab). “Find a place to put a piece of art, or maybe it’s a retro toaster that adds a touch of style to an industrial kitchen.”
6. Display Your Favorite Recipe Book
(Image credit: Picking)
Recipe books often come with nice hardcover backs and great pictures, like a tasteful coffee table book, so consider your favorite recipe books and put them on display, rotating them every once in a while. Put your favorites on the cookbook shelf and stack the rest stylishly on your countertop or kitchen shelf.
As an added bonus, you’ll be actively encouraged to use these books when planning dinner ideas, rather than storing them away.
7. Use candle space
(Image credit: Picking)
Candles are a great addition to a kitchen plan. Pick up some stylish candle holders and embellish them on your countertop. This brings a nice aesthetic to the kitchen and hints at a space for socializing.
When the daylight begins to fade, your kitchen will be bathed in the natural light of candlelight, or you can move them into the dining room when hosting a dinner party.
8. Collect a collection of rustic cutting boards
(Image credit: deVOL)
A chopping board is the perfect example of a practical kitchen must-have that can be placed artistically to add tasteful decor.
Wooden cutting boards of different sizes should be placed against the wall and layered, and the different shades of wood create a textured overall look, like this colorful kitchen idea created by deVOL.
How do you decorate a kitchen countertop while keeping it cluttered?
There’s a fine line between expressing your personality and creating chaos in the kitchen. Your kitchen is often filled with gadgets and cooking accessories. “From a practical standpoint, having too many items on the countertop can make it difficult to keep clean, and if the room doubles as a dining/living room, too much clutter can distract attention from the rest of the interior,” says kitchen brand Davonport’s Richard Davonport. Knock out those kitchen gadgets that add to the beauty of the room and store them away, showing only the items that make the room look extra beautiful — like a coffee maker or a colorful KitchenAid.
“Over the past decade, kitchen design has focused on hiding clutter and creating streamlined countertops,” notes Richard. “However, in the wake of the pandemic, we’re seeing more homeowners looking for more welcoming designs,” he added.
