25 Amazing Kitchen Decorating Ideas (2024)

10 Kitchen Styles to Know When Designing Your Cooking Space

Mix and Match

Don't want to commit to a complete kitchen redo when some of your cabinets are looking a little worse for the wear? Jump on the trend of pairing wood grain cabinets with painted cabinets to create a little variety (and give your eye a break from a single relentless hue). Don't love wood grain? Opt for two different hues of cabinets—perhaps to highlight the cabinetry under your kitchen island, or differentiate the bottom and top cabinets (as you see here).

Going Green

Green is the latest in vogue color for kitchens—whether you opt for a bold emerald wallpaper, or a soft green tile for the backsplash. (You can thank plant parents out there for the push toward "biophilic decorating.")

Subway Style

Change up the backsplash to freshen up your kitchen without a big investment. Subway tile is a timeless kitchen backsplash option. For a modern take, use darker grout to help the tiles stand out.

Solid and Bold

Another backsplash option? Trade in the tile for a solid surface backsplash of quartz, stone, or marble. (Bonus: No more trying to clean caked-on messes out of the grout!)

Going With the Grain

Wood-grain cabinetry is a timeless style that's having a moment once again. Think white oaks, dark walnut, and natural woods.

Stay Gold

One of the easiest (and most inexpensive) ways to give your kitchen a fresh look is updating the cabinet hardware. So go ahead and swap it out. Consider sleek gold pulls and knobs for an on-trend vibe, or repaint older hardware in a bold color to stand out against simple cabinets.

(If you're replacing your cabinet pulls, don't forget to measure carefully so the new handles fit the predrilled holes.)

True Blue

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.

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.

Shelf Life

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.

Something Blue

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.

Neutral Zones

Warm up a neutral kitchen by inviting different shades (gray, ivory, cream) and textures into the picture. (Creamy almond beige is a timeless color that's coming into vogue for kitchens.) Storage is maximized with a wall of cabinets, floor to ceiling.

Great Room

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.

Sunshine Day

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.

Color Story

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.

White Wall

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.

High Design

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.

Splash of Color

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.

Center Island

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.

Natural Selection

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.

Farmhouse Fab

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.

Corner Care

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.

Traditional Timing

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.

Touch of Class

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.

Morning Glory

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.

Touch of Turquoise

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.