Learn how to decorate kitchen walls that could be in a magazine – without having to drop $100,000 to get the look.
Once upon a midnight dreary, I found myself standing in my kitchen, a paintbrush in one hand and a comically oversized clock in the other, wondering how I’d ended up in this little predicament. As it turned out, I had wildly overestimated my ability to eyeball a straight line on a wall and had grossly underestimated the square footage my so-called ‘statement clock’ would cover. My kitchen wall looked like Salvador Dalí’s timepiece had collided with a Picasso – and not in a good way.
But fear not, dear readers, because I’m here to ensure you don’t fall into the same soup as I did. Our mission, should you choose to accept it, is to transform those blank, boring, and perhaps botched kitchen walls into a bonafide gallery of gastronomic greatness. With a dash of creativity and a pinch of style, we’ll turn that once culinary canvas into a gastronomic gallery.
Now, hold on to your oven mitts because there’s a bit of fine print we need to address. Once you follow these tips and transform your kitchen walls, there’s a possibility your kitchen might end up outshining your culinary skills. I mean, when your kitchen looks like it stepped out of a gourmet magazine, that microwave lasagna might not cut the mustard. But hey, who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? Or in this case, your pretty kitchen and your half-burnt cookies. But remember, no amount of kitchen décor can disguise the taste of burnt cookies. Trust me, I’ve tried.
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Featured image source: Set of 3 Old World Rustic Windows by NLS Design
How to Decorate Kitchen Walls in Real Life
The Dynamic World of Printable Art
Printable wall art, ladies and gentlemen, is the new kid on the décor block – and I’m obviously a huge fan since I create it and have two Etsy shops to show for it (here and here 😊)
Think of it like this: it’s simple, it’s affordable, and it adds a dash of artful sophistication to your kitchen faster than you can say “ramen”. You know how people rave about the speed and ease of instant noodles, only minus the questionable nutritional value? Printable wall art is like that, but instead of providing a quick meal, it gives you a quick room makeover and instead of leaving you with a sodium overload, it fills your heart with pure joy. Only a little sarcasm inserted here.
So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of how to decorate kitchen walls so they look like a fabulous art exhibit worthy of the Louvre (or at least your neighbor’s covetous gaze).
- Selecting your masterpiece: This is akin to pairing wine with cheese. You don’t want to slap a wall art of a vibrant, bustling Italian marketplace on a minimalist, monochromatic kitchen, unless, of course, you’re going for the ‘I tripped and dropped my art portfolio’ look. So, choose a printable that resonates with your kitchen’s style, vibe, and color scheme.
(For more info, check out my post Printable Art Salad: How to Mix and Match Art in Your Home Like A Pro)
- Choosing your frames: Ah, the unsung heroes of wall art! They’re the crust to your pizza, the frosting to your cupcake, the – well, you get it. Frames can subtly accentuate your art and complement your kitchen’s overall design, or be bold and become part of the artwork itself.
You don’t need to go crazy expensive here. Online big box sites like Amazon and Overstock have a lot of great options.
- Placing it right: This is the final and perhaps the most crucial step of all. When it comes to positioning your artwork, you must approach it with the precision of a seasoned baker measuring flour for a soufflé. And no, that empty spot splattered with last night’s spaghetti sauce isn’t the ideal place.
Since there are usually a lot of cabinets and what not in the kitchen, make sure there is enough space around your art. You want to make sure there is enough breathing room or wall space so you do make your kitchen feel overcrowded.
Expanding Beyond Printable Art
I am biased towards printable art, obviously, but just like any good cook knows the importance of a well-stocked pantry, a seasoned decorator knows that a well-adorned room isn’t just about one type of décor. Sure, printable wall art is a great starting point; it’s the sizzling onion and garlic base to your kitchen design pasta sauce. But there are plenty of other herbs and spices – I mean, elements – you can throw into the mix to make it a truly Michelin-starred visual feast.
And before you start breaking into a cold sweat, no, you don’t need to have graduated top of your class from an elite interior design school in Paris to learn how to decorate kitchen walls. Heck, you don’t even need to know the difference between Art Nouveau and Art Deco! To create a kitchen that has a better chance of appearing in ‘Vogue Living’ than your burnt toast has of being in ‘Gourmet Traveller’, all you need is a keen eye, an open mind, and possibly a step ladder (because, let’s be honest, we can’t all be 6 feet tall).
Paint: Your Kitchen’s New Best Friend
Allow me to introduce you to an unsung hero of the how to decorate kitchen walls world, something that can change the game quicker than the latest TikTok dance trend. I’m talking about paint, my friends. Not just any paint, but the perfect hue that aligns with the stars of your kitchen design horoscope.
Picture this: I was standing in the paint aisle of my local home improvement store, squinting at paint chips and feeling entirely out of my depth. I thought I had picked out the perfect color—a light, creamy hue that I believed would complement my rustic kitchen aesthetic and be the perfect backdrop for my printable art.
Long story short, when I opened the can at home, it wasn’t cream; it was neon peach. Now, if you’ve never seen a neon peach kitchen, let me tell you, it’s quite…just quite. I’m talking brighter than a thousand sunrises. But I was in a pinch (pun entirely intended), so I decided to roll with it—literally.
Here’s the twist: once the paint dried, and I placed my printable art on the wall, something unexpected happened. The neon peach wasn’t the garish disaster I anticipated; instead, it morphed into a vibrant backdrop that brought out colors in the art I hadn’t noticed before. What was supposed to be a culinary catastrophe turned into a design delicacy.
So, remember, folks, don’t underestimate the power of paint. Sometimes, the biggest mistakes can lead to the most beautiful results. But for the record, I don’t recommend neon peach for everyone – it takes a certain level of courage…
(If you’re interested in my modern rustic kitchen, check out my post How to Easily Get a Modern Rustic Living Room With Printable Art to get a matching living room.)
The Magic of Wall Tiles
Friends, it’s time to abandon any preconceived notions you might have about tiles. They’re not just for bathrooms or the backdrop for your toilet selfie anymore. With their incredible array of colors, patterns, and textures, tiles are a surefire way to make your kitchen walls stand up and say, “We’re not just about holding up the ceiling, you know!”
Picture yourself weaving through the bustling alleys of a Moroccan bazaar, where each corner turned uncovers a new treasure trove of beautiful, hand-painted tiles. The vibrant colors, intricate designs, and hypnotic patterns beckon you. And though you’re miles away from your actual kitchen, you can’t help but imagine these artistic marvels adorning your walls.
But the magic doesn’t stop with the selection process. Once you’ve got your tiles, that’s when the fun begins. Who needs a video game when you can play a real-life version of “Tile Tetris”? Arrange and rearrange your tiles in a design that suits your style. Go for symmetrical patterns if you want a classic look or mix things up for a more avant-garde effect. But remember, just like in the game, it’s all about making everything fit together to create one seamless masterpiece.
The Joy of Open Shelving
Next on our grand how to decorate kitchen walls adventure, let’s tackle an aspect that’s notoriously tricky: storage. But what if I told you that there’s a two-for-one solution that’s as functional as it is stylish? A solution that doubles as a storage unit for your mismatched mugs and a display space for your art? Let’s talk open shelving.
Now, let’s get real here for a second. We all know the struggle is real when it comes to kitchen clutter. If you’re anything like me, you’ve got enough kitchen gadgets to audition for the next Star Wars droid role. It’s like every time you turn around, there’s a new blender, toaster, or air fryer a certain husband couldn’t live without playing a high-stakes game of Jenga on your countertop.
Open shelving is here to rescue you from the dark side of clutter. And no, open shelving isn’t just an invitation for your stuff to put on a show. It’s an opportunity to be creative, to be organized, and to finally have a place for that artfully designed olive oil bottle that’s too pretty to stash in a cabinet.
Just imagine a neatly stacked row of colorful plates, a collection of vintage mugs, and yes, even that printable wall art. Not only does this open shelving concept keep your kitchen tools within arm’s reach, but it also provides an opportunity to curate your kitchen aesthetic. A little planning, some artistic inclination, and voila! Your storage woes have been transformed into a visual smorgasbord.
And remember, in the world of open shelving, there are no rules, only possibilities. But keep this in mind: if you wouldn’t want your mother-in-law to see it, it probably doesn’t belong on an open shelf. Unless, of course, it’s your mother-in-law’s Christmas present from last year…then, by all means, display it front and center…or not…
A Holistic View of How to Decorate Kitchen Walls
Now, let’s do a little thought experiment, shall we? Picture all these elements – the printable wall art, the paint, the tiles, the open shelving – as individual pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle. Each piece has its unique shape, color, and texture, but when you start piecing them together, a beautiful, cohesive picture begins to emerge.
Each element is crucial in its own way, but when combined, they form a symphony of visual delight. Your printable art sets the tone, your paint color sings the melody, the tiles provide the harmonious rhythm, and the open shelves strike the perfect balance between function and aesthetic.
How to Decorate Kitchen Walls Like an Interior Designer
Alright, folks, let’s wrap this up before your dinner burns and sets off the smoke alarm again. Remember, a well-decorated kitchen can make anyone feel like Gordon Ramsay on a good day – minus the colorful language, of course. The difference is that instead of slicing and dicing, you’re sticking, painting, tiling, and shelving your way to a stunning masterpiece.
So, the next time you’re about to lament over your undercooked pasta or the cake that looks more like a deflated balloon, just take a look around your beautiful kitchen. Then remind yourself that you’re a maestro of décor, and trust me, that’s a title not even the toughest cooking failures can ruin.
