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Countertops decorating ideas


15 Ways to Decorate your Kitchen Counters

By

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan is an interior design expert and features writer who specializes in home improvement as well as design. She began her career as an assistant editor at Elle magazine and has more than a decade of experience. Deirdre contributes content for brands including The Spruce and Realtor.com, and has been a featured speaker at various conferences.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 11/04/22

The Spruce / Angelica Valiton

Making room for both aesthetics and purpose on your kitchen countertops is one of those sticky wickets. Appliances you use every day (hello espresso machine!) usually take up prized space over decorative objects. But that doesn't mean you need to skimp on stylish things guaranteed to brighten up your cooking space with pops of color, natural textures, and even extra function. There are plenty of ways you can strike a balance between pretty and practical. The following ideas share how to make your kitchen more drool-worthy with beautifully-styled countertops. 

47 DIY Projects to Update Your Kitchen

IDEAS TO DECORATE KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS

One of the most coveted pieces of real estate in your home is your kitchen counters! We want them to be functional and beautiful! Today let’s talk about ideas to decorate your kitchen counters.

This post contains affiliate links. That means when you click on some of the links in this post and you make a purchase I earn a small commission at no cost to you. All my opinions are my own.

Take a good look at your kitchen counters. Go ahead, I’ll wait!

Well, what did you see? Clutter? Dishes not put away? Countertops filled with small kitchen appliances? If you said yes, then this post is for you!

And if you said no, this post is for you too!

Really, this post is for anyone who has a kitchen!

Today I’m sharing lots of great ideas for decorating kitchen countertops. And not just decorating really, but creating countertops, these prime kitchen surfaces, what are useful and attractive!

Here are 7 ideas for decorating your kitchen countertops.

KEEP COUNTERTOPS TIDY

Kitchen countertops are a clutter magnet. And not only clutter but they also collect lots and lots of small appliances and crocks and jars and coffee makers and mugs and plates and dog treats and pencils and catsup bottles and pepper mills and salt pigs and paper and so much more!

Kitchen countertops really serve two main purposes. .

But I think there is also room to decorate them and make them not only functional but fabulous too!

No matter how much counter space you have let’s use it as if it were gold!

So my first idea and best advice is to clear and clean them off. Take everything off of them and start decorating them from scratch!

Be ruthless! Any clutter or not absolutely necessary thing does not touch the surface of your counters!

I’ve never been one to leave any of my small kitchen appliances (except my coffee maker) on a kitchen counter.

Unless you use it multiple times a day it is clutter! I have most of my appliances in a pantry closet next to the frig.

I keep my Air Fryer in top of my dryer and my mixer under the counter on the left side of the stove.

We use our toaster often. But it’s not so hard to shake the crumbs out of it every time we use and tuck it in a cabinet? My countertop stays cleaner and so does our toaster!

I keep nothing on my kitchen counters that are not absolutely necessary, and there is A LOT of kitchen stuff that is not absolutely necessary!

Start cleaning off all your countertops and putting unnecessary items away! And always clean them and put them away after every use.

CLEAN YOUR SINK

I know this is a post about countertops but I think countertops and our sinks go hand in hand. A kitchen looks messy when the counters are messy and it also looks messy when dishes are piled up in the sink!

Keep your sink clear of any dishes and your countertops free of drying dishes waiting to be put away!

I know you know all this! It’s just a gentle reminder for you and ME!

This idea to decorate kitchen countertops is a way to make the essential things we need out in plain sight on our counters work better for us and look pretty too!

Think about creating stations on your counters.

COFFEE STATION

We are huge coffee drinkers so creating a pretty and useful coffee station in our kitchen was a must.

If you drink coffee or tea or some other beverage I bet you have a drink station too!

How useful, right? Yes, it is.

A coffee station is very functional but make sure to…

I’ve seen many coffee stations and some are simple and tidy and wonderfully functional. But as soon as they become overly decorated or complicated they begin to take over that precious countertop space!

Two things to remember when decorating countertops is to keep things corralled and keep everything simple!

COOKING STATION

Most kitchen have an area next to their stove to keep things they use to cook food.

It is so important to keep the most basic things you used every day at your fingertips.

I used to have a crock filled with every spoon and spatula you can imagine, and a variety of oils and different salts and pepper and on my counter.

I kept it in a large galvanized metal tray!

To be honest, it was a mess!

So now my cooking station is in a small wooden tray that holds…

The longer I decorate and organize the more I believe LESS IS BEST! Especially when it comes to the kitchen.

The drawer below the kitchen station holds a salt pig and butter in a white butter dish as well as potholders and a couple trivets. Out of sight but on hand to use!

For me having something pretty at each station is important! Right now I have a healthy thyme plant, that I use when I cook, in the station too!

Growing herbs indoors is easy with just a little know-how. See HOW TO GROW HERBS INDOOR HERE.

OTHER STATION IDEAS

We should all tailor our kitchens to our needs. Create simple stations to help you better utilize your countertops and keep them tidy and pretty!

Bob’s pop-up bar is set up on the countertop of the long cabinets opposite the coffeemaker.

The cabinets above and below have bar glasses, liquor and mixers and the long drawer has all the gadgets he needs to set up a first-class bar!

Pop-up is the operative word here! His bar could get very out of hand so we leave it up when we have company and put it away when they are gone. It only takes a few minutes to put up and put away and then it has no time to get cluttered.

Right now have this part of the countertop decorated with snapdragons and a lemon bundt cake.

I use this area for serving desserts or drinks when I have friends over for coffee or a meal.

The reason to create stations in your kitchen is to clear up lots of countertop space!

ADD SOME WARM WOOD

If you have a surface like granite, stone, quartz, or other stone-like countertops you might want to add a bit of wood to your countertop decor!

Just a little wood or wicker will add a softer, warmer element to a kitchen that is much needed especially if you have painted cabinets.

Think about adding…

GREAT ORGANIC IDEA TO DECORATE KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS

Organic elements make a kitchen come to life and they are one of the best ways to decorate your kitchen countertops!

PLANTS

Potted plants and especially herbs are beautiful additions to a kitchen countertop!

I’ve used a lot of the little spearmint plant on the right and now new shoots are growing to be used again in my kitchen.

Keep plants small. No jungle look in the kitchen!

FLOWERS

Yes, please! If you have room for a pretty bouquet of flowers add them to your kitchen counters!

From spring through fall I cut blooms and herbs from my garden and add them to the kitchen. In the winter I treat myself and my home to a store-bought bouquet.

FRUIT

A bowl of fruit is a a work of art and looks so pretty on a counter!

When my children were growing up I had a saying “fruit is an anytime snack” and left a bowl of fruit out on the counter.

Fruit is a pretty and healthy way to decorate your kitchen!

SHOW OFF YOUR FOOD

If you have the room think about leaving cookies or biscotti standing tall in glass jars on the counter.

Or if you have baked goods display them on a pedestal cake plate under a cloche.

I love these ways of decorating with what you have! LOL!

USE PRETTY DECORATIVE JARS, POTS, AND OTHER CONTAINERS

Containing things on countertops is a great way to save space, have a cohesive kitchen and still have things at your fingertips.

Use pretty jars, pots and container that work with your kitchen decor!

I hope you are inspired to clean and clear off your countertops and use them in a way that helps you be more efficient in your kitchen and enjoy a lovely aesthetic!

You might also like…

HOW TO ORGANIZE SPICES IN YOUR KITCHEN

BEFORE AND AFTER KITCHEN MAKEOVER

Tabletop decor - simple alterations and ideas for homemade design of various types of tabletops (125 photos)

The table is a must-have interior item and is used to equip the kitchen and living room, personal office and children's room.

With a certain level of wear and after changing the overall interior space, it is necessary to decorate the table and transform it using improvised and inexpensive materials.

Inspiring and beautiful photos of countertop decor will help you choose an original furniture design option to your taste. nine0003

The implementation of the selected options will not require significant time and money required to purchase expensive consumable building and decorating materials.


Contents of the review:

Methods and techniques used to decorate the countertop

intensive exploitation.

A simple and beautiful kitchen worktop decor is quick and easy, for this, several techniques are used, for the reproduction of which it is not necessary to have experience and special skills: nine0003

Pre-purchased ceramic tiles can be used as countertop decoration materials.

Surface decoration is made using various materials left after repair or construction of decorative building materials, paints and varnish, broken ceramics and even epoxy. nine0003

Painting: full and partial

An original tabletop with decor components will be obtained by painting the surface and applying individual decorative elements.

We also recommend that you read about eurozapil countertops on this portal: https://kyhni.guru/evrozapil-stoleshnicy/.

Using masking tape, you can lay out stripes and zigzags, apply several layers of paint and form unusual patterns on the tabletop that replace artistic painting. nine0003

Decoupage: paper and fabric

For table coverings, it is recommended to replace the usual decoupage napkins with a fabric with a beautiful pattern or thick wrapping paper.

After fixing the decorative layer and arranging the various installations, the tabletop is covered with a wear-resistant and durable varnish, which can be applied in several layers.

Mosaic: a choice of materials

The simple decoration of the worktop with mosaic allows you to create unique and designer compositions, and the master can use different materials for this. nine0003

Shards of ceramic tiles and dishes, natural pebbles and shells, compositions of originally laid beads and beads, plastic or cork stoppers are suitable for table decor.

Wall murals with a beautiful pattern

Ordinary or large murals with large patterns, suitable for decorating tabletops using a simple decoupage technique.

Experts recommend that you first think over the location of the central element of the composition on the table top and, if necessary, supplement it with small, separately carved decor or self-adhesive. nine0003

Ceramic tiles for the table

When choosing where to buy decor for the countertop, you can pay attention to the ceramic tiles left after the repair work.

Several elements laid in different variants and combinations will perfectly decorate a wooden canvas, and decorative panels and compositions can be created from small tiles.

DIY stencil technique

It's easy to see the diversity of countertop decor ideas, painting remains the simplest and easiest option, easily reproducible with your own hands.

A unique stencil staining technique can be used to create a refined and sophisticated finish on the wood surface of an old table.

Consumables

Careful and complete preparation of all the necessary materials will ensure the quick completion of the main work, the master will need: nine0003


During the application of paint and varnish, it is necessary to ensure the supply of fresh air and to carry out all work in a mask to protect the respiratory tract.

Application technique

The selected piece of tulle should exceed the area of ​​the table top by 5-10 cm, for its secure fixation to the back of the table, the following procedures are carried out:

To preserve the effect of the design composition, before applying the second coat of paint, the edges of the table are covered with masking tape and the paint through it will not get on the tabletop.


Source: https://dekorexpert.ru

Top decor photo

nine0003

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10 beautiful countertop decor ideas that won't get in the way

Tray

Often, small kitchen utensils placed on the work surface make it visually cluttered. A beautiful tray made of natural stone, noble wood or high-quality plastic will combine several small jars and bottles, thereby creating a single composition.

Instead of a tray, you can use a wicker basket with low sides or a small box.

Greenery

If you love houseplants, a couple of compact pots with hardy flowers that don't need a lot of sunlight would be a great decor. Ideally, when the work surface is large and located near the window. nine0003

To make the decoration not only pleasing to the eye, but also beneficial, you can plant fresh herbs: parsley, watercress, onion, herbs.

Bread box

Not at all an obligatory kitchen attribute that can take up too much space in a small room, but useful and beautiful as a decoration. Often bread bins are a real work of art.

Choose the container that suits your style: you can store not only bread in it, but also various packages of products that, when opened, are unlikely to decorate the interior. The top part is easy to use as a shelf. nine0003

Fruit bowl

Whether in a glass dish, fruit bowl or metal basket, fruit will look perfect in any kitchen. They will enliven the atmosphere and add homeliness to the most restrained and minimalist interior.

This is not only beautiful, but also useful - passing by, you can replenish the supply of vitamins in the body.

Photo Frames

A decor option for real aesthetes who want to add coziness to the kitchen and minimize its perception as a technical space for cooking. That is why "non-kitchen" images are chosen for decoration: posters with inscriptions, laconic drawings and photographs, botanical illustrations. Frames are placed on the table top and open shelves, creating an unusual gallery. nine0003

Whatnot

A real trend that has become widespread abroad is the use of a multi-tiered fruit shelf for other purposes.

Small pots with houseplants are placed on a three-story tray, decorated for the holidays, decorated with candles, Easter eggs and sweets, and a tea station is set up, demonstrating aesthetic mugs and various types of drink. In priority, as usual, wood and metal.

Flower pot

This idea from IKEA is not new, but it still might surprise those who don't expect to find a flower pot without plants on the kitchen worktop. A bold decision is suitable for those who are looking for an unusual container for a whole bouquet of cutlery.

A pot with a hole in the bottom will serve as a good dryer, because all the moisture will drain into the pan.

Lemonade

Another great way to decorate your kitchen is to put a beautiful colored glass jug or lemonade in the most prominent place. If you like soft drinks, you should place a glass container with bright contents on the countertop to give yourself and others a good mood, reminding you of a sunny summer. nine0003

Epoxy Resin Board

See also

Epoxy Resin Tables

Impressive hardwood craft and compositions in the form of a piece of space or sea are not only used as decoration - they can also be served on cutting boards food.

Learn more