Make the heart of your home match your design style.
We live in our kitchens.
Get inspired to transform this area with these practical and easy-to-steal decorative touches.
Photo: Christopher Testani
Don’t love wood grain?
Subway Style
deVOL Kitchens
Change up the backsplash to freshen up your kitchen without a big investment.
Subway tile is a timeless kitchen backsplash option.
Courtesy of MasterBrand
For a modern take, use darker grout to help the tiles stand out.
Solid and Bold
CreativaStudio/GETTY IMAGES
Another backsplash option?
Trade in the tile for a solid surface backsplash of quartz, stone, or marble.
Peter Valli; Design by Jeanne Chung of Cozy·Stylish·Chic
(Bonus: No more trying to clean caked-on messes out of the grout!)
Going With the Grain
Wood-grain cabinetry is a timeless style that’s having a moment once again.
Think white oaks, dark walnut, and natural woods.
deVOL Kitchens
So go ahead and swap it out.
The panel-front painted island adds a hint of texture to the space.
Shelf Life
Use every inch of space for smart, space-saving storage.
CreativaStudio/GETTY IMAGES
This 16-cube shelving unit steps up to the challenge of holding plates, linens, and serving pieces.
For an unexpected decorative touch, line the backs with wallpaper so it coordinates with your style.
Something Blue
Ready for some color?
Courtesy of MasterBrand
For an instant update, give cabinets afresh coat of paint.
This pale shade of blue is a cheery alternative to the sleek white look.
(Creamy almond beige is a timeless color that’s coming into vogue for kitchens.)
FollowTheFlow/Getty Images
Storage is maximized with a wall of cabinets, floor to ceiling.
A generously sized table is ready to accommodate holiday dinners, game nights, or even intense science projects.
Sunshine Day
Short on square inches?
Douglas Gibb/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
A tiny kitchen (and a tight budget) requires careful and creative planning.
A gray-and-white palette gets a burst of charm from bright pops of lemon and turquoise.
Color Story
If you have a modern decorating style, embrace a bold color and high-gloss finish.
You can stick to a monochromatic palette while still adding interest and personality to a room. A continuous pattern, like this modern black-and-white zigzag, running across a counter or backsplash is graphic and unexpected. If you’re short on cabinet space, consider hanging floating shelves to hold frequently used tools or display favorite accessories.Paul Raeside/ Livingetc/IPC+ Syndication
Vanilla white and cherry red lacquer cabinets take this kitchen to daring heights.
White Wall
Decorating a large kitchen can be an intimidating task.
Splash of Color
A really great stove can transform a kitchen.
Dan Duchars/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
For a nice pop of color, consider a pretty splashback like a marine blue glass.
Center Island
A sleek, modern kitchen needn’t feel cold.
Add texture by layering a striped rug over a seamless floor.
Nikki Crisp/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
Rather than recessed lighting, hang a pair of chandeliers from the ceilings for an unexpected twist.
Natural Selection
The quintessential white kitchen never goes out of style.
The extra seating along the island make it a comfortable spot for casual breakfasts or mid-afternoon coffee.
Brent Darby/Country Homes and Interiors/IPC+ Syndication
Farmhouse Fab
There’s something just right about gathering around a kitchen island for a late-morning breakfast.
The green-and-bluetiled backsplash feels right at home in this space.
The blue range cooker isand should bethis kitchen’s focal point.
Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Livingetc/IPC+ Syndication
For a home that relies on plenty of storage, hang extra floating shelves to hold cookbooks and containers.
Touch of Class
There’s something remarkable about a kitchen with an eclectic side.
Mixing styles can add both charm and comfort to a space.
Ben Anders/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
Think creatively when carving out extra spots for concealing belongings.
Touch of Turquoise
Cheery details can give a spare, modern room a more lived-in feel.
Choose strategic spots for working in bright bursts of color: overhead lighting,bar stools, countertop accessories.
Richard Gadsby/Beautiful Kitchens/IPC+Syndication
David Giles/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
Douglas Gibb/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
Lizzie Orme/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
Simon Whitmore/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
David Helsby/Beautiful Kitchens/IPC+Syndication
Douglas Gibb/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
Barbara Egan/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
Brent Darby/Country Homes and Interiors/IPC+ Syndication
Lizzie Orme/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
Simon Whitmore/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
Heather Hobhouse/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication
