55 Kitchen Decor Ideas in a Range of Styles to Personalize Your Space

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.

Try Peel-and-Stick

For renters or those who like to change up their decor with minimal effort and investment, a peel-and-stick wallpaper backsplash like this neutral patterned wallpaper from Tempaper & Co. can change the look of your kitchen in a flash.

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 while doubling as decor.

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.

Choose 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.

This kitchen from House of G Designs has a warm and sunny palette of earth tones that includes a salmon orange retro fridge from Big Chill that gives it an energizing and inviting feel.

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.

Add Layers of 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.

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.

Add 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, pretty, cottage look.

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 more cozy, like this space from deVOL Kitchens.

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.

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.

Tips

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 for decor that will make it come to life.

Add Thrift Store Art

Ashley Montgomery Design leaned an unframed thrift store still life against the dramatic marble kitchen backsplash to lend the space some warmth, while a collection of mortar and pestles is both decorative and functional.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Add 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 adds timeless charm.

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.

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, and a pair of shiny brass pendant lights over the double islands give it a boost of light.

Add Wood + 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.

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.

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.

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.

Wallpaper the Ceiling

This kitchen from Mendelson Group uses kitchen wallpaper in an unexpected way that adds color and personality to the white space by wallpapering the ceiling in a green-and-white check pattern. Green accents throughout the kitchen pull it all together.

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 that stays within the neutral palette of the space and doesn't block views or light.

Warm the Floor With a Rug

Marie Flanigan Interiors added color and warmth to this bright modern kitchen with a vintage red patterned runner near the sink.

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 and opting for vintage furniture, like this cozy space from deVOL Kitchens.

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.

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.

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.

Hang a Vintage Dish Rack

Ashley Montgomery Design hung a black metal vintage-style dishrack on the shiplap walls of this modern farmhouse. Dried herbs hung from the base and a floral Roman shade add to the homey feel.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Add Color With Cookbooks

Built-in shelving on this London kitchen island from Studio Peake houses a colorful collection of cookbooks.

Mix White and Natural Wood

This Tribeca kitchen from Bakes & Kropp has floor-to-ceiling views of New York City that contrast with the mix of painted and natural wood finishes and 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.

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 intricate crown molding.

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.

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.

Repurpose Reclaimed Wood

Using reclaimed wood to build a rustic kitchen shelf. Lobster and Swan hung a DIY shelf on the wall of this English country kitchen that is decorated with everyday items, botanical art, and cuttings from the garden.

A brass towel rack suspended from the base provides storage and display for a collection of colorful tea towels.

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.

Hang a Row of Copper Pots

Hanging a row of shiny copper pots from a rack above your stovetop will add color, shine, and French farmhouse style to your space, like this Pittsburgh kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors.

Add a Touch of Color

Add a spot of color and soft industrial style to 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.

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.

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.

Hang a Pegboard Shelf

Hang a classic pegboard shelf to hold and display kitchen items, like this all-white modern farmhouse kitchen from Liz Marie Blog.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 that adds character to the kitchen and the dining room on the other side of the wall.

Hang Your Tray Collection

Decorate the walls of your kitchen or adjoining butler's pantry with vintage cooking-related items such as cake tins, cookie cutters, or vintage platters.

Inspired By Charm moved a collection of vintage metal serving trays out of the cupboards and onto the wall in this fun kitchen gallery wall installation.

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 a fun and unconventional 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.

Read the original article on The Spruce.