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Brie Williams, styling by Matthew Gleason

100 Best Kitchen Decor Ideas to Create the Most Welcoming Space in Your Home

It's the heart of the home for a reason.

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They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but if you're living with a too-cramped layout or outdated feeling cabinetry, it can feel more like heartache than true love. Updating your kitchen can be as simple as a refresh (think: a quick one-day DIY project like swapping out pendant lights or cabinet hardware) or as complicated as a full remodel (think: you’re calling the contractor, and the next thing you know it’s demo day). But there are plenty of projects in between that will make your kitchen feel more fun, more functional, and in many cases, brand new. Just imagine what a transformation giving your cabinets a fresh coat of paint would bring. (If that’s sounding like a good idea, check out our guide on how to paint kitchen cabinets.)

If you're ready for a change, this photo gallery of 100 kitchen ideas is sure to get your planning going. No matter if you’re looking for a budget-friendly facelift or splurging on a complete renovation, you'll find kitchen design ideas here at all price points and skill levels.

But the inspiration doesn't stop here. Need additional seating and more prep space? We have tons of kitchen island ideas to check both boxes. Want to give your kitchen a brand new color scheme? You'll find the perfect palette among these kitchen paint color ideas. Not even sure where to start? Browse these pretty white kitchens and farmhouse-style kitchens to cook up gorgeous design looks to suit your space and taste.

1

Painted Floor

best kitchen decor ideas painted floor
David Hillegas

“The best way to express color and pattern in a kitchen is with a painted floor,” says designer Heather Chadduck. “I’ve always been inspired by those in Bunny Mellon’s homes and wanted to do something similar.” To get the look, try a floor stencil (cuttingedgestencils.com), then give it instant age by using a palm sander to remove some paint. Coat with polyurethane.

RELATED: 20+ Brilliant Ideas for Painted Floors

2

Bifold Windows

the outdoorsy type southern california cottage, homeowner raili clasen kitchen
KARYN MILLET

Bifold windows (lacantinadoors.com) above the kitchen sink fully connect the indoors and out. Outside the windows, a bar-height terrazzo counter extends the kitchen's entertaining and dining space and serves as the small kitchen's work space. Meanwhile, a couple of wood chairs left as trash in an alleyway put homeowner Raili Clasen on the hunt for more mismatched pairs, all which she gave a uniform look with a very California appropriate avocado-toned green hue.

RELATED: See more of Raili's California cottage here.

Get the Look:
Chair Paint Color: Avocado by Sherwin-Williams

3

Classic Country Color Combo

becca and david mcdowell’s farmhouse in muldoon, texas kitchen
David Tsay, styling by Becki Griffin

Blue and yellow make for a classic country color combination, as seen here with happy canary yellow cabinets and a quilt-like cement tile backsplash.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color:
Honey Bees by Sherwin-Williams
Backsplash Tile: “Tangier Primero” by Villa Lagoon

SHOP WHITE TEA KETTLES

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4

Open Fronted Cabinets

best kitchen decor ideas open cabinets
MARTA XOCHILT PEREZ

Homeowners Nora and Doug O'Leary host lots of guests at their Wisconsin cabin. To make everyone feel more at home and make hosting a little easier, the couple chose to install their cabinets without doors inviting guests to help themselves. “The idea was to avoid people asking where things are,” Nora says. “It’s all right there.” Beadboard cabinets, soapstone countertops, and handmade terra-cotta tiles set on the diagonal add to the vintage cottage vibe.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color:
Phillipsburg Blue by Benjamin Moore

5

A Pretty Eating Bar

farmhouse homeowner courtney robertson bellville, texas kitchen
David Tsay, styling by Becki Griffin

Courtney and Ashley Robertson artfully outfitted their Texas kitchen with materials that are pretty but not precious. For example, soft gray concrete countertops pair well with limed oak barstools upholstered in an indoor-outdoor fabric. Reclaimed beams frame the inviting gathering spot and tie in to the other wood details in the kitchen.

Get the Look:
Stool Fabric:
For similar, try “Ticking Indigo” by Bella Dura.

RELATED: To find some reclaimed wood for your home, check out 6 Best Places to Find or Buy Reclaimed Wood Near You.

6

Bistro Shelving

holly williams' black and white tennessee kitchen
Annie Schlechter

Give a white kitchen the look of a French bistro with floor-to-ceiling subway tile (choose a dark grout) and bistro-style open shelving.

SHOP FRENCH BISTRO SHELVING

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7

Stone Range Hood

lakeside cabin home of megan and tyler duncan in bone lake, wisconsin kitchen with tons of textures countertops, subway tile, reclaimed beams, douglas fir cabinets, and rush barstools
DANA GALLAGHER

Mixed materials—an eye-catching stone range hood, soapstone countertops, subway tile, reclaimed beams, Douglas fir cabinets, and rush barstools— reinforce a collected aesthetic.

RELATED: See more of this cozy cabin here.

8

Hardworking Prep Area

beekman boys' farmhouse kitchen with built in spice shelves
Annie Schlechter

Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell of Beekman 1802 recently renovated their 200-year-old farmhouse giving the kitchen old-meets-new results. Tucked away behind the fireplace, they created a hardworking prep area that houses recessed shelves to keep ingredients within arm’s reach. The hanging collection of copper pots ensures the practical merges with the pretty.

RELATED: See more of their kitchen here.

SHOP POT RACKS

9

Creative Wall Storage

matthew gleason's 300 year old cape cod home in connecticut kitchen
ANNIE SCHLECHTER, styling by Matthew Gleason

A peg board (painted a sunny yellow) keeps tools at the ready and creates smart storage. Butcher block countertops from Ikea warm up the otherwise white kitchen.

SHOP PEGBOARD PANELS

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10

Skirted Sink

kitchen design ideas sink kitchen skirt
LAUREY W. GLENN

Achieve ultimate farmhouse-chic status with a sink skirt in a patterned fabric that looks vintage and sweet.

SHOP CAFE CURTAINS

11

Blue-Stained Cabinets

jolie sykes texas farmhouse kitchen
Annie Schlechter

To give the turquoise blue cabinets a slightly weathered look, Jolie Sikes-Smith (one half of the Junk Gypsy sister duo) first coated the them with blue interior oil stain, then used a rag to apply and partially rub off a layer of Provincial Wood Finish stain by Minwax. "Embrace color," says Jolie. "Just because kitchens are utilitarian rooms doesn't mean they should be quiet, sterile, or boring."

RELATED: Learn more about Jolie's kitchen here.

12

Floating Shelves

best kitchen decor ideas modern rustic cabin
Brie Williams, styling by Matthew Gleason

Homeowner Kay Stanley installed a pot rack above the sink for easy access to cast-iron skillets and other kitchen accessories. Above a pair of simple floating wood shelves hold antique finds such as stoneware, breadboards, whiskey jugs, and a collection of Native American baskets.

RELATED: Tour more of Kay's North Carolina cabin here.

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13

A Pass-Through Bar

kitchen reinvention designer kate marker’s “leo cottage” in union pier, michigan
DUSTIN HALLECK

A pass-through bar connects indoors and out making for easy entertaining. It makes a great casual spot to grab breakfast too!

SHOP WHITE METAL BARSTOOLS

14

A Cozy Breakfast Nook

liz marie and jose galvan’s farmhouse located near grand rapids, michigan breakfast nook, kitchen nook, bistro table
DAVID TSAY

Turn an under-utilized corner into a useful breakfast nook with a tiny round bistro-style table and pair of wooden chairs.

SHOP SCHOOLHOUSE-STYLE PENDANT LIGHTS

15

Blue and White Cabinets

south carolina river house homeowners gerard and shelia frey house designed by jim strickland of historical concepts interior and textile designer heather chadduck hillegas kitchen
David Hillegas

To give air to this itty-bitty kitchen, the designer painted the lower cabinets a happy blue hue but matched the upper cabinets to the light wall color.

SHOP BLUE AND WHITE PLATES

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16

An Antique Work Island

long island farmhouse of antiques dealer hadley wiggins marin owner of north fork antiques shop north found co and daniele marin kitchen
DAVID A. LAND

An old printing press work table is now a one-of-a-kind kitchen island in designer Hadley Wiggins-Marin's Long Island kitchen. Shallow drawers that once held type pages now house cooking utensils.

RELATED: Tour all of Hadley's farmhouse here.

SHOP BREAD BOARDS

17

Unconventional Cabinetry

1970s rancher designed by max humphrey in portland suburb kitchen
CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE

Lacquered plywood is an unusual material for kitchen cabinets. Normally matte, the lacquer finish gives a great shine and makes them wipeable. Brass hardware, modern lighting, marble countertops, and a creative backsplash complete the unique design.

18

Clever Hardware

best kitchen decor ideas flatware hardware
Rikki Snyder

Think outside the box when it comes to hardware. Vintage lover Jeannette Fristoe swapped out her drawers' store-bought pulls for repurposed silver spoons and forks.

RELATED: Tour all of Jeannette's antique-filled bungalow here.

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19

Eye-Catching Backsplash

maple island home of megan seeley in dowagiac, michigan situated on michigan’s magician lake kitchen
Diana Paulson, styled by Jennifer Berno DeCleene

Encaustic tile really pops in this kitchen along with a cool blue island topped with easy-to-clean quartz countertops. Tractor-seat barstools, wood cabinets, and a wood ceiling add warmth to the open layout.

SHOP FIESTA WARE

20

Overscale Pendant Lights

two vintage pendants hang over a massive kitchen island
Eric Piasecki

Instead of a standard cabinetry island, a built-in marble-top table anchors this kitchen by architectural firm Historical Concepts and interior designer Barbara Westbrook. A pair of bold-colored oversize pendants hang overhead.

RELATED: Tour a tour of the rest of this dreamy farmhouse here.

SHOP COPPER COOKWARE

Headshot of Amy Mitchell
Amy Mitchell
Managing Editor

Amy Mitchell is the managing editor at Country Living and VERANDA. She writes about a wide range of topics, including homes and lifestyle content.

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Genius Decorating Ideas for Every Room in Your House

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