There’s no doubt that the right decor can make a big difference in the look and feel of your kitchen. Whether you’re cooking up a gourmet meal, enjoying an easy breakfast with the family or hosting friends, you want to create a space that’s as welcoming and enjoyable as possible. Sure, it’s important to get the layout right and invest in top-notch appliances, but adding personal touches—like a pop of color on a back wall or a statement-making pendant light—gives a room its character and makes you want to spend even more time hanging out there.
Taking cues from general home design trends, which emphasize creating more homely spaces, many kitchen decor ideas are trending toward the more rustic. While white kitchens are still the most popular option, deeper colors and earthy tones are gaining popularity as well, particularly when combined with warm wood tones and freestanding furniture.
In this home, a painted mauve wall complements the wooden cabinets, which are in turn adorned with vintage-inspired hardware and brass fixtures. Bright vases and a set of striped bowls add color to the mix, while a collection of framed prints lends interest to the back wall. The large, dramatic pendant light is a show-stopper, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as effective in a smaller kitchen.
One of the simplest ways to bring decor into the kitchen is with a rug that instantly elevates an otherwise utilitarian space. Not only does it add a splash of color, but the soft, fuzzy surface is comfy underfoot and helps to mitigate noise. In this kitchen, a blue-and-white checkered rug from Mohawk plays off the colors of the backsplash and the marble countertops.
A dark paint trend is all the rage, but it’s best used sparingly and only in rooms that receive ample natural daylight. This home’s dark-painted cabinetry works well with the terra-cotta flooring and natural wood tones, but it would not have been as effective in a brighter setting.
Kitchens with a lot of open shelving can be used to display decorative dishes and glassware, like this home’s collection of blue and white ceramics. In addition, the owners hung a framed print and used a bold-colored stool to tie the whole look together.
Even the most basic kitchens can benefit from a little extra decor, such as this fun roll of peel-and-stick wallpaper in a New York apartment. Choosing a vertical pattern helps to visually heighten the space, and since it’s removable, it’s an ideal solution for rentals or if you haven’t settled on a permanent cabinet or wall color.
The nooks and crannies of a kitchen are often overlooked when it comes to decor, but they can be the perfect spot for a framed print or a stack of cookbooks. Even an empty prep station can become a decorative display case when you fill it with a pretty vase of flowers or a stack of patterned kitchen linens.