What To Put On Kitchen Countertops for Decoration

Kitchen counters can easily become a catch all for anything & everything! At some point in our lives we have ALL been guilty of cluttering our countertops with unopened mail, miscellaneous school or work papers, prescription drug or supplement bottles and clutter that just doesn’t look good when we really take the time to zone in. What to put on kitchen countertops for decoration and creating a useful functional kitchen can be a challenge, however…certainly achievable!

In the past the trend was to fill our countertops with jars filled with colorful olives & peppers soaked in oil , overly arranged silk floral decorations & ceramic roosters… all to add a pop of color! Yes, I have been guilty of having at least some of these items. However, let’s step into current times when the style for what to put on kitchen countertops for decoration is more simplistic & practical.

I used to say “White is a non-decision” because I have always preferred a colorful palette, however, I must admit that I am now embracing the simplicity of White. With that said, some of my favorite trends are simple, white ceramic jars that can serve with function and style. They can serve as a great way to store some of your utensils & wooden spoons.

I love visiting Crate & Barrel to see what’s new. They have so many fun vases shown here that can be used to hold utensils or stand empty, ready to receive fresh flowers from the garden or when a guest shows up with a beautiful bouquet. It saves you the trouble of digging through your cupboard to find one.

Wooden cutting boards can also be beautiful accessories for what to put on kitchen countertops for decoration. Lean them back against the backsplash or lay them down ready to use. They add an organic feel and a warm color tone yet at your disposal and ready to serve their purpose in your kitchen.

Greenery & Flowers are an excellent choice to add softness to your kitchen & work well to distract the eye from looking at outlets, switchplates & small appliances such as a coffee maker. Fresh is always my favorite but silk can serve the purpose nicely. Here is a great example of how to intermix them! Consider something like this which has an organic feel & simple container. Maybe you want a pop of color and you don’t have a lot of extra time to be changing out fresh flowers. Here is a perfect example! The simplicity of flowers like poppies is a refreshing & a clean look. I recently came across Petals.com & have been very happy with the quality & pricing. Make sure you check the measurements because photos can be deceiving. Most kitchens will have 18” between the counters & bottom of the cabinet. A height of 16” would be the maximum that I would recommend for greenery & floral arrangements. The width is more flexible but be sure not to take up too much valuable prep space.

Even salt & pepper shakers and salt cellars can be interesting as to what to put on kitchen countertops for decoration. A Polished Silver set from your Grandmother or from an Antique Shop you happened upon on a the weekend can add another element of interest that ties into appliances and adds sophistication. Let them tarnish, even better!

Consider a tray to place some of the items I’ve mentioned so far. Silver, wooden, ceramic, lacquered can all be a great choice & make it much easier for quickly wiping down kitchen countertops. West Elm has a nice selection right here. Trays are also handy to have easy access to when serving guests too!

Candles are an essential part of adding ambiance to our homes & certainly should be included in your kitchen! If your island provides seating then you should consider a pair of candlesticks, pillars or votive candle holders. Or perhaps a lantern! I always find that Pottery Barn has a nice selection…here are some great choices. Scented Candles in simple jars are my favorite! I love the warmth, scent & ambiance they add to a space we spend a lot of time in. Soy candles can get costly, especially if you burn them everyday like I do. Here is a great line I came across. They use naturally grown domestic soy and have long burn times when following their directions.

We also need to consider how we display the essentials. Paper Towels, Napkins, Dish Soap, Drying Mats & Racks all of these items can look ugly in a hurry if you don’t put a little thought into how to display them. William Sonoma is where I like to shop for these items. They know what’s stylish & you can’t go wrong with anything from them!

Oh, what about small appliances!

I’m not one to store all my small appliances away so I certainly don’t recommend that you do either! What I do recommend is that they should meet certain criteria.

Here’s your checklist for small appliances:

1. Do I/We use it often enough to justify taking up valuable real estate?

2. Once you decide which small appliances qualify then ask: a) Does it fit nicely into my kitchen design? b) Is it clean & presentable? c) Does it fit nicely in the space I would like it to stand?

3. If you answered no to any of the questions listed above than store it away, replace it or give it a good cleaning.

   Nasty looking small appliances are not what to put on kitchen countertops for decoration!

If you’re still struggling with what to put on Kitchen Countertops for Decoration consider my Local or Online Design Services!