Home Decorating Kitchen Decorating 19 Amazing Kitchen Decorating Ideas Make the heart of your home match your design style. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 15, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Christopher Testani More than just a space for cooking and eating, the kitchen is where all of the action in the home takes place. We live in our kitchens. From entertaining guests to gathering together on Saturday mornings as a family, it's the true heart of the home. Whether you're renovating, redecorating, or simply updating this space, consider how you live before making any changes. Get inspired to transform this area with these practical and easy-to-steal decorative touches. 01 of 19 Black and White You can stick to a monochromatic palette while still adding interest and personality to a room. A continuous pattern, like this modern black-and-white zigzag, running across a counter or backsplash is graphic and unexpected. If you're short on cabinet space, consider hanging floating shelves to hold frequently used tools or display favorite accessories. Paul Raeside/ Livingetc/IPC+ Syndication You can stick to a monochromatic palette while still adding interest and personality to a room. A continuous pattern, like this modern black-and-white zigzag, running across a counter or backsplash is graphic and unexpected. If you're short on cabinet space, consider hanging floating shelves to hold frequently used tools or display favorite accessories. 02 of 19 Something Blue Nikki Crisp/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication Ready for some color? For an instant update, give cabinets a fresh coat of paint. This pale shade of blue is a cheery alternative to the sleek white look. 03 of 19 Shelf Life Dan Duchars/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication Use every inch of space for smart, space-saving storage. This 16-cube shelving unit steps up to the challenge of holding plates, linens, and serving pieces. For an unexpected decorative touch, line the backs with wallpaper so it coordinates with your style. 04 of 19 Neutral Zones Brent Darby/Country Homes and Interiors/IPC+ Syndication Warm up a neutral kitchen by inviting different shades (gray, ivory, cream) and textures into the picture. Storage is maximized with a wall of cabinets, floor to ceiling. 05 of 19 Great Room Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Livingetc/IPC+ Syndication A kitchen that opens up into the main living area can be an extremely exciting space to decorate. A generously sized table is ready to accommodate holiday dinners, game nights, or even intense science projects. Keep the vibe modern, casual, and cool by layering a black-and-white–striped rug and hanging an oversized drum shade. 06 of 19 Sunshine Day Ben Anders/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication Short on square inches? A tiny kitchen (and a tight budget) requires careful and creative planning. A gray-and-white palette gets a burst of charm from bright pops of lemon and turquoise. If you don't have much cabinet space, bring in freestanding pieces to hold appliances, dishes, and other kitchen essentials. 07 of 19 Color Story Richard Gadsby/Beautiful Kitchens/IPC+Syndication If you have a modern decorating style, embrace a bold color and high-gloss finish. Vanilla white and cherry red lacquer cabinets take this kitchen to daring heights. To avoid visual commotion, keep the rest of your accessories (kitchen textiles, servingware, plates) in this color palette. 08 of 19 White Wall David Giles/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication Decorating a large kitchen can be an intimidating task. If you choose to stick with a neutral palette for the larger items (white walls, black granite counters, and ivory cabinets), then you'll have greater freedom and flexibility to update accents like textiles, runners, and even place settings. 09 of 19 High Design Douglas Gibb/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication Large vaulted ceilings and multiple windows can make a room feel larger than it actually is. If you're decorating a primarily white-and-black space, bring in an unexpected piece of wood furniture to warm it up and give it personality. 10 of 19 Splash of Color Lizzie Orme/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication A really great stove can transform a kitchen. For a nice pop of color, consider a pretty splashback like a marine blue glass. To make a kitchen homey and high-functioning, hang storage racks from the ceiling for frequently used pots and pans. 11 of 19 Center Island Simon Whitmore/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication A sleek, modern kitchen needn't feel cold. If you're starting with a black-and-white foundation, infuse it with some color, like the muted aubergine on the overhead cabinets. Add texture by layering a striped rug over a seamless floor. Rather than recessed lighting, hang a pair of chandeliers from the ceilings for an unexpected twist. 12 of 19 Natural Selection David Helsby/Beautiful Kitchens/IPC+Syndication The quintessential white kitchen never goes out of style. This one is made especially inviting with natural touches like flagstone floors, oak island and ceiling beams, and a farmhouse-style table. The extra seating along the island make it a comfortable spot for casual breakfasts or mid-afternoon coffee. 13 of 19 Farmhouse Fab Douglas Gibb/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication There's something just right about gathering around a kitchen island for a late-morning breakfast. The green-and-blue–tiled backsplash feels right at home in this space. Make your kitchen work hard by tucking in needed storage like corner shelves and built-in drawers and cabinets in the island. 14 of 19 Corner Care Barbara Egan/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication Think beyond the primary functions of the kitchen and consider how it can seamlessly extend into the other areas of your home. When a few rooms spill into the kitchen, it's time to create a balanced flow, which can be accomplished with a cohesive and simplified color palette. Boring? Not a chance. Here, the splashes of red weave into different nooks like the kitchen counter accents, cushioned bench, and living room side chair and window treatments. 15 of 19 Traditional Timing Brent Darby/Country Homes and Interiors/IPC+ Syndication Just as you'd decorate a living room around the mantel or a bedroom around the bed, plan your kitchen around the cooking zone. The blue range cooker is—and should be—this kitchen's focal point. For a home that relies on plenty of storage, hang extra floating shelves to hold cookbooks and containers. 16 of 19 Touch of Class Lizzie Orme/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication There's something remarkable about a kitchen with an eclectic side. Mixing styles can add both charm and comfort to a space. This kitchen starts with a more traditional foundation (pale blue walls and island, dark wood ceiling beams) and then welcomes more surprising touches like a chandelier, stainless steel refrigerator, and floating shelves. 17 of 19 True Blue Douglas Gibb/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication If you're drawn to the color blue, then it's a natural choice for the area in which you spend the most time. Welcome in different shades (robin's egg blue for cabinets, cobalt for stools, and deep marine for accents) to keep the room from feeling flat. The panel-front painted island adds a hint of texture to the space. 18 of 19 Morning Glory Simon Whitmore/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication It can be challenging to find ample storage in a kitchen that flows into other areas of the home. Think creatively when carving out extra spots for concealing belongings. Need some ideas? Build hidden cabinets and compartments in an island, hang floating shelves on walls, or bring unexpected pieces of furniture (china cabinet, armoire, credenza) into the space. 19 of 19 Touch of Turquoise Heather Hobhouse/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication Cheery details can give a spare, modern room a more lived-in feel. Choose strategic spots for working in bright bursts of color: overhead lighting, bar stools, countertop accessories. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit