How To Accessorize And Decorate A Kitchen Counter
Let’s be real, a kitchen counter can be one of the hardest things to decorate and accessorize. Your kitchen is the heart of the home, and you want it to look amazing. But it’s also one of the most functional rooms in your home, so it needs to be super practical at the same time.
At ASR Design Studio, we’re no strangers to styling a kitchen, so we’re here to let you in on all of our design secrets.
Let’s address the elephant in the room. We all love scrolling Pinterest (can’t be just us!) and we see these incredibly gorgeous kitchens that are also…incredibly different from our own. But don’t worry — today our design mission is to help you make your kitchen look like that one you fell in love with on Pinterest. Let’s get started!
BEFORE WE begin…DITCH THE CLUTTER
No, you can’t skip this step. Queue up season one of The Home Edit for some inspo and get purging. We promise when you start decluttering, you’ll feel a thousand times better. Here’s how to tackle this step:
Clear off your kitchen counters (including the items you use every day).
Organizing your drawers and cabinets will help you clear away some of your countertop clutter. The Container Store has all the goodies you need to create an organized kitchen. Get your mail, keys, sunglasses and lip gloss into a home (preferably a drawer).
Select a few key items to display on your counters such as coffee maker, pretty coffee mugs, etc.
Give away, sell, or drop off any items you no longer need at a thrift store. A great tip is that if you haven’t used it in the past six months, you will most likely not use it. So it's a good time to ditch it.
time to decorate! Here Are Our Top 11 Professional Tips:
1: Bring some life to the space
Plants and flowers bring so much liveliness to the room. Plus, the added layer of colors and textures gives a ton of visual interest. Take it a step further with some basil or rosemary plants! Greenery and an ingredient? We approve.
Or, pop by your local Trader Joe’s for some sprigs and leaves. The varying heights add instant drama to your space.
Insider Tips!
Herbs, Philodendron, and Pothos are all great kitchen plant options.
Place small plants on open shelves, benches, or countertops.
Don’t overdo it — less is more.
If you’re a plant killer (guilty) then use faux plants.
Add even more texture with fun vases and planters.
2: Swap Out Your Dish Towels
You don’t need to go crazy buying dish towels in every color and pattern (we actually recommend against doing that), but have a little fun with your towels! They’re a great way to try out trends or change up the overall vibe throughout the seasons. Invest in some good quality dish towels that complement the colors of your kitchen and you’re all set.
INSIDER TIP
If your sink is against the wall, use a metal command hook or robe hook on your wall or cabinet for easy access. If your sink is in the island, drape it through your cabinet pull or attach a towel bar to the side of your island to hang towels + other accessories.
3: prettify your soaps
This is a quick fix that makes a huge difference. Swap out your branded soap bottles for a beautiful glass dispenser.
Of course, some soaps already come in pretty packaging, like Public Goods Hand Soap, Hawthorne Hand Wash, and Grown Alchemist, all of which we love and use every chance we get. These soaps not only have gorgeous bottles but have natural ingredients that nourish your skin.
Or, if you’re using bar soap — place it on a pretty soap dish!
4: Wooden Cutting Boards Are Your new bffs
We’re obsessed with wooden cutting boards in the kitchen, not only for their practicality but the texture and earthiness that they bring. The neutral tones that they offer warm up a kitchen and also give off that extra luxe vibe. If you’re wondering how to style them, a great way is to either stand them up against the backsplash or against a wall, being sneaky and covering your outlets. No one will ever know!
5: Bring In Earthy Textures And Tones
Using handwoven planters and handmade ceramic vases are great ways to add texture and warmth to a kitchen. They can make a space look more expensive and luxurious and bring a natural element to the room. Additionally, using these decorative items can be an environmentally friendly choice as it supports handmade and sustainable products. They are also great for displaying herbs, flowers, or plants to bring even more life to the kitchen space.
Over at Salt + Citrus Home, we’re a big fan of pulling in those earthy textures and tones.
6: Create An Ambiance
Let’s be real: we’ve all had friends over for dinner and ended up at the kitchen island deep in conversation until 2 in the morning. Your kitchen island is the perfect spot for convos while drinking cocktails or coffee, and creating the right ambiance makes it even better.
Candles
Who doesn’t love a good candle? Candles are great to use within a kitchen space, not only for the incredible scent but also for the styling aspect. We’re obsessed with our Teakwood and Tobacco Soy Candle. Even men will love the masculine and rustic smell. Wanting to create a more coastal vibe? Check out our Mango and Coconut Candles!
Room Spray
We love room sprays as they provide an instant refresh to any space and can be used throughout your entire home. Check out our Teakwood and Tobacco Room Spray from PF and CO.
7: Don’t Be Afraid To Style With Food
Fruits and vegetables displayed in a beautiful bowl is a great way to add a pop of color and texture into your kitchen. A simple wooden or ceramic bowl is all you need to add a bit of flair to your space. Don’t go overboard, though. Use things you’ll actually end up eating or cooking with. A bowl of fruit going soggy on the counter won’t do your kitchen styling any favors!
8: group Items together
Okay, we’ve talked a lot about what to add to your kitchen. However, you’ll want to carefully group items together so that your decor creates an overall scene, rather than looking like clutter. (We don’t want to mess up the decluttering progress you made back at the beginning!)
Curate like items together in groups of 3. A little interior design secret is that odd-number groupings is more interesting to the human eye!
9: Introduce Everyday Items
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for practicality. Your kitchen can have both form and function. How to create a functional countertop involves everyday items. Next to the stove in almost every household sits the usual culprits: olive oil, salt, pepper, and vinegar. Above your range, install a shelf if you have space to display these essentials. Swap out your branded olive oil for a pretty ceramic or glass dispenser. Upgrade your salt + pepper shaker to add in some character and flair. Finally, swap out your dated salt and pepper grinders for pinch bowls and display your cooking utensils in a sophisticated jar that adds color and texture into your space.
10: Display All Your Wooden Spoons And Utensils
We’ll let you in on a little secret, almost every designer does this! It’s a simple way to add major style to your space. Simple grab yourself your favorite tall pot or ceramic vase (we love this Krayt Pot!) and place all of your wooden spoons or utensils right inside.
Insider Tip!
Stick with wooden utensils or stainless steel. Avoid colored utensils if you can, as they tend to make a space look messier. Instead, bring in some color with the pot!
11: If You Have Open Shelves, Take Full Advantage
No one loves an open shelf more than us. If you’re lucky enough to have them, take full advantage! They are so fun to style, and once you’re familiar with the styling process, you can swap out accessories as often as you’d like.
Our method goes a little like this:
The top shelf is reserved for items you don’t use daily, like a cake stand or pretty cookbooks and plants.
The bottom shelf is for very neatly organized items you’ll reach for more often. Think glassware, plates, bowls, and coffee mugs. Group items together for a more organized look. Add in some small vases, candles, and those more frequently used cookbooks for a personal touch.
Final Thoughts
Kitchens are the bread and butter (pun intended) of your home. We spend lots of time in them with friends and family, nourishing our bodies and souls. Your kitchen should provide you with a super functional space where you can feed your fam, but also an inspiring room to start your morning.
If you're looking to remodel (instead of just restyle) your kitchen and create the home of your dreams, contact us for a design therapy sesh. We'd love to hear from you!
