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How to accessorize a kitchen counter


10 ways to a functional and chic space |

(Image credit: Jody Stewart, Emma Lewis, Michael Sinclair)

Knowing how to decorate kitchen counters comes down to finding the perfect balance between style and practicality. 

The kitchen should be an inviting area of the home, filled with character and charm, as well as a functional workspace where you can cook, entertain and store all of your kitchen appliances and accessories, and kitchen countertop ideas have a major role to play.

The key to decorating kitchen counters is to consider the everyday items that you use frequently that could benefit from being on display on the countertop, as well as the decorative pieces that make kitchen ideas feel unique and personal to you.

How to decorate kitchen counters

Kitchen styling involves curation of the objects you want on display as well as selecting the best placement. Be inspired by advice on how to decorate kitchen counters as well as tips from the experts.  

1. Keep the look clean and decluttered  

(Image credit: Elizabeth Krueger Design)

'Clean and decluttered is the name of the game when it comes to styling kitchen countertops. While other spaces in the home benefit from a heavier touch, countertops do not,' says Elizabeth Krueger, founder of Elizabeth Krueger Design . 

Of all the rooms in the home where you need the space to be highly functional and practical, the kitchen is number one.

Leaving enough space on your countertops and kitchen islands to prepare food and have people sit and eat is a top priority, so never over-fill the surfaces.

2. Accessorize with plants and flowers

(Image credit: Emma Lewis)

Decorating with plants and flowers in the home is always going to create a calming and tranquil atmosphere, including in a kitchen which can often be a busy and hectic hub.  

Kara Childress of Kara Childress Inc. Interior Design says, 'I love placing small cachepots of planted herbs like rosemary, basil, and thyme next to a window, not only for cooking, but for the calming, heady scents they weave throughout a kitchen. '

Whether you have beautiful blooms in a vase on a kitchen island, or pots of herbs and plants beside a window or near preparation areas, decorating kitchen counters this way can create an inviting space filled with color and natural beauty.

3. Extend shelving

(Image credit: Jan Baldwin)

Extending a shelving design to include a kitchen countertop creates more space for shelf styling opportunities and makes for a chic, tiered effect. 

In this kitchen, the countertop is treated like an additional shelf, decorated with an eclectic mix of items that mirror the styling above. 

This shelf and countertop decoration creates an eye-catching focal point in the kitchen, as well as a central, zoned area where decorative items and practical accessories are stored together.

4. Group items in small zones 

(Image credit: Simon Brown)

When working out where to place items to decorate kitchen counters, plan to collect objects together in zones. It will create a neat and tidy styled space. 

Elizabeth Krueger advises, 'Start with a blank slate and look to create small groupings to provide depth and vertical height.'

Corners of kitchen countertops allow items to be neatly tucked away from the main countertop surface area and, in this kitchen, the alcoves below the kitchen cabinets have been utilized to create two separate zones, one for books and the other for more practical items such as chopping boards and grinders.

5. Use decorative trays

(Image credit: Elizabeth Krueger Design)

Decorative trays can create an area for you to curate and display favored objects and accessories and is a way to decorate kitchen counters that is both stylish and practical. 

Great for placing vases of flowers, coasters and other small kitchen accessories, a tray gathers items all in one place, leaving more room for cooking and food prep. A tray can also be easily picked up and moved around depending on when you use different areas of the kitchen.

6. Prioritize the essentials

(Image credit: Jody Stewart)

There are some items that will always belong on kitchen counters, so working out where these go first will then help you assess what space is left for other pieces.

Lucy Searle, global editor in chief of Homes & Gardens, states, 'Start by placing essential appliances, such as kettles and toasters, on your countertops, then move onto secondary, decorative pieces such as vases, candles and books.'

7. Layer items to create depth

(Image credit: Michael Sinclair)

Layering objects on your kitchen counters can help make the space feel welcoming and cozy.

'Layering art or cutting boards by leaning them against the backsplash – with a few smaller items in front – provides depth, or using a wooden pedestal or tray topped with three items of different heights will draw the eye vertically,' says Elizabeth Krueger. 

In this kitchen, the layered, warming wooden chopping boards effortlessly add character to the space, as well as perfectly complementing the earthy terracotta paint shade on the walls. Other items such as the flowers and woven basket also add texture and depth to the sleek, modern kitchen space.

(Image credit: Alicia Taylor)

Opt for the meaningful when decorating kitchen counters. 'Focus on creating precious moments using wares that you love to see, as well as ones that help you effortlessly entertain,' says Kara Childress. It will help make the space truly reflect your identity and style. 

The kitchen can often be forgotten about when adding personal decorative touches, so get creative with your storage solutions and use pretty vases, bowels and trays to add personality, visual interest and practicality to your countertops.

9. Bring in colorful accents 

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Having colorful objects dotted around the kitchen can create beautiful accents and eye-catching elements of contrast in the space. 

'Accent color ideas, and decorating your kitchen counters with accessories that contrast to the main colors and elements of the room, can effortlessly lift the design scheme,' says editorial director of Homes & Gardens Sarah Spiteri.

In this kitchen, simple touches such as the fruit bowl and wooden chopping boards elegantly contrast with the blue paint, adding an enhanced element of contrast and color to the space.

10. Embrace a theme  

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Thinking of the bigger picture and the style of your kitchen when working out how to decorate kitchen counters will create a cohesive scheme. 

Embracing a theme when decorating can make it easier when choosing the types of objects you want on your kitchen counters. Choosing objects of the same color, style or texture can help to make space feel well thought-out and organized. 

In this stunning kitchen space that embodies a sophisticated yet relaxed design rich with texture and material, the decorative ornaments on the counter and shelf are all crafted in the same ceramic style. These pieces perfectly complement the wider kitchen design and continue the use of a calming color palette.

How do you decorate an empty kitchen counter?

When decorating an empty kitchen counter, always consider your essential items, decorative pieces that spark joy, and objects that can enrich and complement your kitchen design scheme.  

Keeping your kitchen counters clutter-free and decorated with a collection of select pieces will ensure that your space remains functional yet characterful.

Overall, choose multifunctional designs that have a practical use yet also add a stylish design element to the space.

Zara joined Homes & Gardens in February 2022 as a Content Editor. After studying English Literature at University, she worked as an Ecommerce Website Editor, Content Writer and Buying Intern at multiple independent businesses within the luxury retail and lifestyle sectors. Her role at Homes & Gardens unites her love, experience and passion for the world of design and desire to create inspiring written content. She enjoys nothing more than discovering new trends, brands and products, whether that be in fashion, interior design or lifestyle.

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

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

Tray

Often, small kitchen utensils placed on the worktop 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. nine0005

Greenery

If you love indoor plants, a couple of compact pots with low maintenance 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.

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

Breadbox

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. nine0005

Choose a 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.

Fruit Bowl

Whether in a glass dish, a fruit bowl or a metal basket, fruit will look perfect in any kitchen. They will enliven the atmosphere and add homeliness to the most restrained and minimalist interior. nine0005

It's 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. nine0005

Shelf

A real trend that has become widespread abroad is the use of multi-tiered fruit shelves 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 do not 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. nine0005

Epoxy Resin Board

See also

Epoxy Resin Tables

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

Even a single board, carefully and tastefully made, can give your kitchen individuality and elegance.

Books

In a small kitchen, you should not place a stack of books near the sink and stove - they will quickly deform and become unusable. But if there is enough space on the countertop, place cookery or art publications by collecting them in a wicker or metal basket.

It's a no-fail way to make your home feel like home.

Despite the fact that the kitchen serves as a place for cooking, the countertop can be decorated with completely "non-kitchen" items: this will give the interior an attractiveness and maintain the chosen style. nine0005

This is not superfluous: 8 things that will only decorate the countertop in the kitchen

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10/19/2020

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We'll tell you what to do if you don't like an empty table top and would like to leave something useful or just beautiful on it. nine0005

Unsplash

To be clean and beautiful, it is not necessary to get rid of all the items on the countertop. Plus, it doesn't always look good. What can be left on the work surface so that it looks beautiful and at the same time is not cluttered, we tell in the article.

1 Stylish bread box

If your family loves bread, instead of hiding it in the cupboard and taking it out every time, you can provide a beautiful bread box. nine0005

Instagram @bohoandnordic

This accessory will fit on the worktop, even if you have a small kitchen. Choose a design that matches the general mood in the interior.

2 Small houseplant

A houseplant in a stylish planter will help to add freshness to the room.

Instagram @thistlegrass

The flower can be left on the counter, but it is important that it is compact and not spreading, otherwise the leaves will interfere with cooking. nine0005

3 Tidy shelf with little things

A shelf can be an option for storing useful items on the countertop. Buy ready-made or adapt a three-story dessert stand for it.

Instagram @vicislandliebe

If you have a lot of small items that you always need to have on hand, whatnot is the most successful organization option. But do not get carried away and do not overload the compartments, store only what you need. nine0005

4 A bunch of ladles in a pretty glass

A variety of wooden ladles, skimmers and other cooking utensils can be left on the countertop. They look most aesthetically pleasing in the form of a "bouquet" in a stylish glass stand.

Instagram @_abouthome_

If you plan to store accessories openly, take care of their appearance: they must be clean and match the style of the kitchen interior. nine0005

5 Spice basket

The most popular spices in the kitchen are salt and black pepper. They are often used in cooking and added to dishes. It is logical that these seasonings are best left in plain sight and not hidden in the closet.

Instagram @cioccolatoalpeperoncino

Provide a beautiful basket for your favorite spices. It can be metal, mesh or woven from wood or straw. Such an organization will help to neatly decorate the countertop, and the decor will not look redundant. nine0005

6 Coffee "station"

A tea or coffee nook can be arranged on the kitchen worktop so that everything you need is at hand.

Instagram @poetit

Use decorative trays or baskets to hold jars of sugar, tea or coffee, and place coffee makers and teapots nearby. You can place the appliances simply on the countertop or organize everything on one large tray. The second option is more convenient when cleaning. nine0005

7 Bouquet of flowers

This is a purely decorative detail that is designed to fill the interior of the kitchen with a festive mood.

Instagram @mazale_

A bouquet of flowers from the store or your garden will perfectly decorate the countertop in the kitchen. Try to place it away from the stove, if the footage allows, so the plants will last longer.

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