1. Add an Accent Wall
Painting one wall a striking color or pattern is an easy way to spice up your kitchen’s aesthetic. An accent wall draws the eye, creates visual interest, and keeps the rest of the space feeling open. Some stylish accent wall ideas include:
- Rich navy or forest green
- Dynamic wallpaper print
- Textured paint technique like Venetian plaster
- Exposed brick for an urban loft vibe
Make sure your accent wall color complements the tone and palette of the rest of your kitchen.
2. Install Floating Shelves
Floating shelves instantly add charm and personality to blank kitchen walls. They provide decorative display space for your cherished cookbooks, plants, spices, or other kitchen essentials. Floating shelves come in myriad materials like wood, metal, or glass. Go for sleek minimalist shelves, rustic wood plank shelves, or ornate metal scrollwork shelves depending on your kitchen’s style.
Shelves add visual interest and depth to your walls. Cluster floating shelves artfully for maximum impact. Style them with colorful accents that pop against your wall color.
3. Use Wallpaper
Make a bold statement with eye-catching wallpaper in your kitchen. From floral prints to abstract patterns, wallpaper offers unlimited ways to express your personal style. Use wallpaper sparingly on one accent wall or go for full walls for a enveloping effect.
Consider washable wallpaper if you’re concerned about cooking splatters. Choose wallpaper with a sheen rather than flat finish for easier wiping. Stay away from heavily textured options that could trap grease.
Tip: pick wallpaper in a color scheme that complements your existing kitchen elements.
4. Show Off Collections
Turn your blank kitchen walls into functional display space by artfully showing off your collections. Some stylish ways to showcase your prized possessions include:
- Plate wall – hang plates, platters, or saucers in artistic arrangements
- Wine bottle display ledges
- Shadowbox frames filled with spices, cookbooks, or cooking utensils
- Magnetic knife strips
Mix and match collections for eclectic charm. Keep things cohesive by limiting yourself to one or two color schemes.
5. Hang Mirrors
Mirrors instantly double visual space and cast beautiful reflections to make your kitchen feel more open and airy. Large statement mirrors can make even the coziest kitchen feel grand.
Strategically place mirrors across from windows or other light sources to amplify natural light. You can also hang a focal mirror wall to add glamour to your cooking space.
Tip: lean into the reflective qualities by pairing mirrors with glass tile backsplashes or metallic accents.
6. Use Sculptural Lighting
Unique lighting fixtures bring drama while providing essential task lighting over kitchen islands or dining nooks. Sculptural pendant lights, chandeliers, and sconces make excellent focal points.
Some eye-catching options include:
- Multi-globe island pendants
- Branching nature-inspired lights
- Colorful stained glass pendants
- Rustic wagon wheel chandeliers
- Curving brass sconces
Let your lighting choices enhance your kitchen’s overall aesthetic for a cohesive look.
7. Display Framed Photos
Personalize your cooking space by decorating walls with framed photos of family, friends, travel adventures, or mouth-watering dishes. Cluster frames gallery style or creatively incorporate them into wall collages.
Black and white photos make an artistic impression in modern or minimalist kitchens. For a playful cottage kitchen, use an eclectic mix of colorful frames and prints.
Tip: choose frames with glass rather than acrylic coverings to protect photos from cooking grease and steam.
8. Paint On Chalkboard
Chalkboard paint allows you to transform any kitchen wall into a functional display space. Use chalkboard walls for playful doodling, writing menus or grocery lists, labeling spice jars, or allowing kids to express their creativity.
Strategically place your chalkboard wall behind a kitchen table, near an entryway, or above a bar cart. For a framed look, paint blackboard inside a rectangle or line drawing outline.
Tip: seal chalkboard paint with polyurethane for durability and easy wiping.
9. Try Textured Tile
Take your kitchen walls from boring to bold by installing textural tile. Options like handmade Moroccan tiles, terra cotta, or glass mosaics infuse personality and visual interest. Use textured tile:
- As a vibrant backsplash
- On the wall behind a range or cooktop
- To make a statement in a powder room off the kitchen
Combine tiles in coordinating colors and patterns for customized walls that delight.
10. Hang Open Shelving
Open shelving gives you pretty display space and instant kitchen storage. The trick is styling your open shelves just right. Follow these tips:
- Use baskets, glass jars, or ceramic canisters for visual cohesion.
- Style shelves in triangular formations for stability.
- Only display your most beautiful, functional, or sentimental kitchen items.
- Make sure things are secure so they don’t fall onto the floor.
- Light shelves properly with pendant lights or rail lighting.
With an abundance of chic options, from sleek metal rails to rustic wood planks, open shelving can make blank kitchen walls both useful and dazzling.
Jazz Up Your Kitchen Walls With Style
Kitchen walls offer the ideal blank canvas to express your personal style. From vibrant paint colors to artistic tile, collections displays to stylish open shelving, there are endless possibilities to make your walls as inspiring as the meals you craft there.
Use accent walls, wallpaper, mirrors, photos, chalkboard paint, textured tiles, shelving, and lighting strategically to delight your senses and make cooking a more uplifting experience. With imagination and bold decor choices, you can easily transform your kitchen from boring to spectacular.
