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This post shows you 17 ways to style your kitchen counter to make your kitchen more functional and elegant.
Whether it’s a pile of dirty dishes left in the sink after a long day, or immaculate surfaces, kitchen counters can tell a lot about your life and personality. And if the kitchen is the heart of the house, then your counters are the perfect canvas to display who you are through some convenient but carefully selected kitchen counter decor.
As small of a task as it may seem in comparison to choosing appliances or a full set of cabinets, styling your kitchen counters is a crucial step to ensure your kitchen looks elegant and complete. By combining organization, functionality, and some spontaneous chaos (mess is, after all, part of the fun of cooking), you will truly be able to transform your space.
Forget the assumption that an elegant kitchen is made up of bare, immaculate counters. Try instead to recreate some of the 17 ideas I suggest in this post to infuse your space with personality and warmth, no matter what your favorite design style is!
Choosing Kitchen Decor that Combines Style and Functionality
There is a very thin line separating clutter and chic, effortless styling when it comes to kitchen counter decor. When deciding what items to invest in and how to arrange them within your space, it’s important to keep a few factors in mind. You want to avoid at all costs the risk of over-saturating your counters, making your kitchen difficult to use and visually overwhelming.
- First of all, ask yourself: What does a clean kitchen mean to me? If you are the type of person who likes to wipe your counters 10 times a day and who cannot stand a single piece out of place, then you might want to focus on a few, carefully-selected key items of decor to add an interesting touch to your counters while maximizing surface access and minimizing the risk of a messy kitchen.
- Secondly: What is the size of my space and what are my priorities? Kitchen counter space is precious, especially if you’re passionate about cooking large meals and hosting. Make sure you stay clear of decor that would make your kitchen less functional – good interior decor serves to make your space fit your lifestyle better, not the other way around!
- Lastly, try to understand: what design style are you working with? Kitchen counter decor is a great way to infuse personality into your space, however, it will need to be complementary to the rest of your kitchen furniture. Especially if you are renting and your kitchen is already furnished, spend some time trying to understand the style of your space; this will help you make more targeted choices in what to invest in.
17 Ideas for Elevated Kitchen Counter Decor
1. Recipe Book Holder
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A book stand is just as functional as it’s charming.
If you’re passionate about cooking, this piece of kitchen counter decor will make sure you can prepare your favorite recipes while ensuring your treasured cookbooks do not get ruined in the process.
Play around with different styles and materials or go for solid wood for a classic, timeless look.
2. Elevated Spice Containers
Spice racks can often look a bit cluttered. I know I rarely manage to find all the spices I need within the same line/brand and always end up mixing an ever-increasing amount of different jars.
A modern, elegant set of dark glass jars will elevate your spice rack and ensure your kitchen counter decor inspires you to cook creatively. Bonus tip: dark glass will protect your spices from light damage and keep them fresh for longer!
3. Herbs
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If you have a green thumb, then you must add a set of fresh herbs to your kitchen counter decor.
A small planter like the one pictured above will bring a touch of nature into your kitchen and provide you with fresh ingredients to take your cooking to the next level.
Don’t let the commitment of trying to keep them alive scare you: most herbs need very little maintenance. It will bring you great satisfaction to see your plants grow, and you might even end up saving some money in the process.
4. Bread Baskets
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As an Italian, I might be biased towards this idea, but I simply cannot imagine my kitchen without fresh bread.
Wicker baskets are a great way to introduce some rustic and minimalistic kitchen counter decor while ensuring your bread is stored properly and not spreading crumbs all over your counter.
Be mindful of how long you plan on leaving your bread out – a closed container might be better suited if you know it will take a few days to consume it.
5. Condiments Corner
I love keeping my condiments out as kitchen counter decor as this allows me to always have them available when cooking or making a snack.
However, between oil stains and salt and pepper dust, you want to make sure you are protecting your kitchen counter.
Use a lazy Susan or a chic tray to keep your condiments organized and your surfaces protected from the mess. Bonus points if you can find a pepper and salt grinders that match your base – a perfect combination for a sophisticated look.
6. Collection of Chopping Boards
A true step into adulthood is realizing the value a large, sturdy chopping board can add to your daily life and to your cooking experience.
Layer different trays and chopping boards against your wall to add some visual depth to your kitchen counters. Higher decor items will allow you to create a balance between the counters and the walls behind them.
7. Counter-Level Art
If you are looking for a truly unique way to upgrade your kitchen counter decor, look no further than a photo gallery.
It’s rare to see art and frames used in the kitchen, but a gallery wall can introduce an interesting element to your space. By placing it right above your counters, you will have a chance to enjoy it every time you’re cooking, as well as to visually elongate your counters, making your kitchen look more spacious.
Choose black-and-white photos with dark frames for an elegant contrast if your walls are light-colored.
8. Small Table Lamp
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If you are currently renting, it’s likely that your kitchen counters didn’t come with built-in custom lighting and that it may be impossible for you to get under-cabinet light strips installed.
A perfect alternative to guarantee great lighting for your space is using a small table lamp. By placing it in a corner, you will have great visibility while using your counters, while also creating a soft and warm atmosphere that overhead lighting could never achieve.
Make sure to choose a warm-toned bulb for an extra cozy ambiance.
9. Wooden box
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Kitchen counters are often used to collect all sorts of daily scraps: unopened mail, loose grocery lists, and half-read magazines. Over time, these objects will inevitably clutter your space, making your kitchen counters look less like an interior designer’s dream, and more like perfect candidates for a complete makeover.
A discreet and chic way to prevent this from happening is to include a storage option in your kitchen counter decor. A wooden box, for instance, can help you add some natural materials to your kitchen while ensuring order and organization.
10. Wicker Basket
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Similarly to the storage box we just discussed, a wicker basket can also be your best friend when it comes to keeping your counters clutter-free.
The neutral color and classic style will make this item fit well with most interior design styles.
Bonus tip: scour your local thrift store or vintage market to find unique and beautiful baskets waiting for a new life!
11. Elegant Dish Soap Set
Dishwashers may very well be the best invention humans ever came up with (I know I am not speaking only for myself when I say that the thought of cleaning dishes is enough to stop me from cooking).
However, most of us will, at some point, face the dreaded fate of having to do dishes. So, if we must live with it, we might as well make it a great addition to our kitchen styling.
Avoid clutter and, detergent stains, and water spills by creating an elegant dish soap station. A marble elevated tray, matching soap dispensers, and a cure dish brush will make washing dishes a less painful experience while adding a functional touch to your kitchen counter decor.
12. Artistic Utensil Holder
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It’s difficult to imagine something less appealing than a cylindrical metal utensil holder filled with old, beaten-up tools.
Use a head vase to store your utensils for a quirky, artsy addition to your kitchen counter decor.
I also recommend upgrading to wooden tools – they will look much more sophisticated than their plastic counterparts.
13. Coffee Corner
As a strong believer in daily treats and an even stronger believer in the power of coffee, I could not leave out coffee corners as the ultimate kitchen counter decor hack.
Use a stylish tray to collect all your coffee and tea essentials to make sure your daily rituals turn into a special occasion without ever leaving your kitchen.
This idea is perfect even if you have limited counter space: simply choose an elevated tray and leverage both your shelf and the space underneath for additional storage.
14. Colourful Vase
The key to long-lasting fresh flowers is good lighting and daily fresh water – lucky for you, your kitchen can usually provide both of these things in great quantities.
Place a few colored vases on your kitchen counter to make your decor more exciting and add some visual stimulation to a space that often ends up being monochromatic.
If you are looking for something low-maintenance, opt for a plant instead of flowers that you would need to replace weekly.
15. Hanging Cups
Nothing screams French bistro like a set of beautiful ceramic cups hanging from a brass bar.
Install a similar set-up under your cabinet to have your favorite mugs always ready to grab and to give some personality to your kitchen counters.
Make sure to choose a collection of miscellaneous mugs to give an effortless look to your set-up. Go instead for a matching set, if you would like a more formal and elegant touch.
16. Fruit Bowl
I like to think of fruit bowls and flowers for lazy people: they add color and a touch of nature to your space without having to deal with all of the maintenance (judgment-free zone here, I speak as a proud owner of a fruit bowl).
Combine a ceramic bowl in a pastel, muted tone with bright, fresh fruit for an eye-catching contrast. This set-up will elevate your kitchen counter decor focusing on the beauty of simplicity, perfect if you love understated elegance.
17. Rattan Bowl with Dried Flowers
Another great alternative for those of us who do not want to commit to the high maintenance of fresh flowers, dried bouquets come to the rescue.
Use a rattan bowl to display a tasteful bouquet of dried white flowers for a composition that will make you feel like you traveled to a quaint countryside house in a Nancy Mayer movie.
Check with your local florist about what options they have for dried flowers – they might be able to create a bouquet with colors that perfectly match your kitchen, making this idea the perfect kitchen counter decor for you!
To Conclude:
It can be challenging to decorate your kitchen counters, balancing the desire to add beautiful elements to your space while also maintaining the functionality of your kitchen.
Start with a few small pieces of decor and scale up as you gain a better understanding of your design style and the use you make of your kitchen.
At the same time, don’t be afraid to be creative when it comes to your kitchen counter decor. Try to combine design and functionality to make your kitchen a place you love – remember: interior decor should adapt to your lifestyle, not the other way around.
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