Of all the rooms in a home, the kitchen may the most difficult to decorate. It has all of the high-traffic of the bathroom, without the added bonus of being tucked away behind a closed door. Kitchens are generally open to the main room, visible from the entrance, and often double as dining areas (meaning that most meals are not only prepared in the kitchen, but also eaten there as well). Apartment dwellers may have the added stress of trying to find a way to beautify a kitchen that is very small, thus making it difficult to find sufficient storage space, resulting in tenants possibly having to choose between a kitchen that is cluttered-yet-functional, or one that is appealing-yet-impractical. When faced with these obstacles, many renters may be tempted to just give up, and accept the reality of having a lackluster kitchen.
Don’t be one of those renters.
With a bit of guidance, a spot of creativity, and the willingness to try something new, you can transform your kitchen from a dull and uninviting eyesore, into something that you’ll be proud to show off to guests. We’ve compiled a list of possible decorating ideas for every part of the kitchen. Just make sure that you get permission from your property manager before you make any permanent changes to the property.
General Decorating Tips
Kitchen decorating ideas don’t have to be off-the-wall or crazy; sometimes, the most obvious solutions really are the best. If you aren’t happy with the way your kitchen looks, then finding a solution may be as easy as finding some new colors. A fresh coat of paint on the walls, or purchasing some updated-looking appliances might just do the trick. Likewise, cleaning out your cupboard and drawer space so that you have more room to store everything conveniently out of sight can help the entire kitchen feel more open, more spacious, and more stylish. And, when all else fails, remember that a thorough scrubbing can work wonders. Clean counters, walls, windows, floors, and yes, even the inside of your cupboards, drawers, pantries, and refrigerator can all help your old kitchen feel like new. Above all, remember that your goal with DIY kitchen decoration is to create a kitchen that you’ll be proud to show off—so show it off. Get honest feedback from friends and family, and be prepared to try new things.
Cabinets
What can be said about cabinets? They have doors. They hold things. Do they really need to be incorporated into overall kitchen design? Yes, because when you consider the amount of kitchen surface area being taken up by cabinets, then their importance becomes fairly obvious. Thankfully, there are a number of decorating ideas for kitchen cabinets that are easy to implement, and eye-catching in appearance. Here are a few of our favorites:
-Open it up. It’s natural to want to use cabinets as hidden chamber in which to stash disorganized dinnerware and mismatched cooking utensils, but don’t give into the urge! A well-decorated kitchen is one that should be able to stand up to scrutiny (and that includes the opening of cabinets). Instead, consider removing the temptation entirely, and remove your cabinet doors. You can remove all of them, or strategically remove select doors for an interesting pattern. Glass doors are a good alternative as well Experiment and find out what works best for you.This will allow you to display your collections proudly, and will motivate you to not only clean in spots that may not often be cleaned, but it will also give you an incentive to finally update your kitchenware to something beautiful.
-Use a Lazy-Susan. If you have deep or hard-to-reach cabinets, then you probably know how difficult it is to have to retrieve something from the back. Installing a Lazy-Susan in cabinets such as these is a stylish way to make your kitchen experience more enjoyable. Pick a Lazy-Susan that matches the color of the inside of your cabinet, so that it can function properly, without drawing too much attention. The Lazy-Susan should look like it belongs.
-Replace cabinet hardware. Unless you are absolutely in love with the knobs, handles, and pulls that adorn the outside of your cabinets, consider replacing them with something new. Cabinet hardware is not generally very expensive, but can still give your kitchen a new look.
-Expand your storage space. If storage is really a problem in your kitchen, think about installing a few more cabinets. Freestanding armoires and other furniture pieces can function well as cabinets, if you have the free space in which to place them. Otherwise, look for space in your kitchen that is going to waste, and consider installing a cabinet in that location. For example, often time the space directly above the refrigerator goes completely unused, and would make the perfect place for a cabinet designed to house items that you don’t need on a regular basis.
-Don’t forget the tops. The tops of cabinets may not actually need any sort of decorating. After all, if there isn’t much space between the cabinet tops and the ceiling, then anything you place up there will just come off as ‘clutter.’ However, if you have tall ceilings, or if you just really want to try some new decorating ideas for kitchen cabinet tops, consider that simple is generally best. Choose items that are repetitive in color and shape, such as vases of similar shape and hue, as these will create a ‘border’ along the tops of your cabinets. Alternatively, you could place artwork above your cabinet, as this will draw the eye upward, and help your kitchen look larger in the process. 
Walls
No matter how large, small, or unconventional your kitchen may be, chances are it has a few walls enclosing it. But despite this universality (or maybe because of it), most of us tend to overlook possible wall decoration ideas for the kitchen, unconsciously choosing to leave our walls colorless and unadorned. But if instead you’d like to put those walls to use in livening things up, here are a few decoration ideas for kitchen walls:
-Consider wallpaper. Although it is not quite as popular or common as it once was, wallpaper allows for a more unique and/or complex design than is generally possible with basic wall paint. Choose a wallpaper that will complement the rest of your decor. You could also paper the inside backs of your cabinets and pantries (which is particularly effective when your cabinets are left open, exposing the intriguing cabinet backs for everyone to see). Just make sure that you speak to your property manager before you start so that you don’t end up violating your contract.
-Make some writing on the wall. Use vinyl lettering to post your favorite quote or phrase on the wall of your kitchen. This will help you share your own personality through your kitchen’s design.
-Achieve form and function. Your kitchen wall should look nice, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t also be functional. A long, flat, metallic strip along the wall above the counters can provide the perfect place to hang knives and other often-used utensils. Likewise, various knobs and hooks may be able to give you an upscale place to hang things like whisks and ladles. On the other hand, a bit of blackboard paint can give you an easy DIY message board that will also give your kitchen a cozy, domestic feeling. 
Counters
Your kitchen counters say a lot about you, and so you should make sure to include them in your decorating plans. If they are overly cluttered, worn or aged, or simply not quite the color or material that you’d prefer, then they can have a negative effect on the overall design of not only your kitchen, but also your entire home! Here are several decorating ideas for kitchen countertops that may help you bring them in line with the rest of your design-vision:
-Decorate with what you already have. The decorating ideas for kitchen counters that work the best for you are going to depend upon how much counter space you have, and what you are currently doing with it. If appliances—such as toasters, mixers, microwaves, etc.—are taking up a lot of your counter space, you have a few options: You can leave them as they are, put them away in cupboards and cabinets until you need them, or you can incorporate them into your design. This may mean upgrading your appliances to ones that match your decor (and each other), or it might mean investing in new countertop that better fits the appliances you already have.
-Use jars and containers. The spice-rack long ago proved that it is possible to display foodstuffs as part of a kitchen’s decor. Take it one step further by purchasing some stylish containers to use as decorative flourished across your counter. Mason jars, jugs, tins, or any other containers that look good can be adopted for use as decorative storage for the top of your counters. Label each one with its contents for easy use.
-Provide food. Everyone likes to snack. Decorate your countertop with stylish fruit bowls, complete with fresh produce that can be grabbed and consumed while on the go. Cookie jars serve the same basic function.
Islands
An island is a useful way to give your kitchen some additional counter space. On the other hand, given the fact that they generally sit square in the middle of the room, they also tend to stick out like a sore thumb—which isn’t always a good thing. If you feel as though your island is bringing down the rest of your decor, here are some decorating ideas for kitchen islands that may be able to help:
-Make it mobile. Not all islands need to be permanent. If your kitchen has no island, or if you don’t have much space, consider investing in a tall desk or table, and adding casters to the bottom of its legs. This will allow you to remove your island when it is not in use, thus freeing up more space when needed.
-Add barstools. If you aren’t getting as much use out of your island as you would like, introduce a stylish set of barstools to your design. This will turn your island into another several sitting places for when guests are visiting, and will also give your kitchen a feeling of casual entertainment.
-Don’t forget the lighting. The island has a tendency to double as a prep-surface, and even when it is isn’t, it’s still important to provide sufficient lighting. Hanging overhead lights are always a good addition to an island. On the other hand, a nice-looking lamp may add a bit of personality to an otherwise dull area.
Windows
By providing natural light and a view of the world outside, windows help improve the ambiance of a kitchen. Sometimes this is enough. Still, you should always consider your windows when you are planning on improving the decor of your kitchen. After all, there’s no rule saying that you can’t take something that is already good, and make it even better. Here are a few kitchen window decorating ideas that you might want to try:
-Pick out some curtains. Beyond picking out curtains, many renters don’t give much thought to decorating ideas for kitchen windows. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with this. A simple set of curtains can provide a touch of class, while also filling an important function (i.e. keeping passersby from seeing what you look like before you’ve had your morning coffee). Just pick curtain fabric that goes well with the overall color and feel of your kitchen, and you should be fine. Alternatively, you can choose something contrasting, or with a unique print to it, to help show off your personality. Of course, there are any number of other window dressing options to consider: Bamboo shades can give your kitchen an exotic-yet-simple look, by providing natural tones and textures to your window area. Roman shades provide decent privacy and sun-blocking, without having the ribbed-texture of most other vertical shade designs. Cafe curtains give the best of both worlds, by providing privacy while also allowing light to enter the kitchen.
-Forget the curtains. Of course, if you’d rather not have to worry about curtains, shades, or blinds, then simply leaving a window uncovered may be the best solution. This allows more light to enter the room, and can help your kitchen feel more spacious and open. If you choose to go this direction, remember to clean your window thoroughly, and consider adding some other decorating flourish to the area around or above the window (such as a potted plant, wooden sign, etc.).
Tables
A table is a luxury that many smaller kitchens don’t have. Of course, if your kitchen is large enough to accommodate a table, you need to be able to incorporate it into your design scheme. Otherwise, you’ll be left with a very prominent—and very depressing—blemish on your kitchen decor. Take a look at these suggestions, and see if you can find the right decoration ideas for your kitchen table:
-Choose the right table. The table you choose will depend heavily upon the size and existing decor of your kitchen. First of all, you should recognize that not every kitchen needs to have a table. If you’d rather not limit your food preparation-space, then you might be better off converting part of your living room into a dining area, and leaving your kitchen open. However, if you have the space, choose a table that will match the color and feel of the rest of your kitchen. For a larger kitchen, a banquet-style table, which uses benches rather than chairs, might be a fun addition. Of course, if you don’t have much room, a small circular table, or one that fits snuggly into a corner may be a better choice.
-Introduce a runner. A runner can give your table a splash of color and texture. Choose something that fits your overall design, or better yet, make or purchase a variety of runners for each season, and switch them out to match whatever holidays or festivities are upcoming. Couple them with some decorative salt and pepper shakers, and you’ll have a variety of upbeat decorating ideas for kitchen tables through the entire year.
-Place some mats. Placemats aren’t just for kids. By choosing some stylish, well-made mats to mark the various seating spots around the table, you help to break up and define the table surface. Choose something made from a material that fits the rest of your design (there are many more options available than colored plastic).
-Top it off with a centerpiece. Somehow, a table just doesn’t seem complete without some sort of centerpiece. The good news is that it’s not difficult (or expensive) to find a great centerpiece that will tie the table decor together. Candles are always a nice choice, especially during the holidays. Consider tall candles sitting in decorative candle sticks. Or, go the other direction, and use a collection of tealights. Several tealights, placed in a bowl to keep them from coming into contact with those using the table, provide soft, low illumination. You can even purchase floating tealights, and fill a glass or crystal bowl with water for them to drift lazily in. If a specific holiday is approaching, select something with festive significance (such as a pumpkin, or a small standing American flag) to place in the center of your table. When in doubt, a vibrant bouquet of flowers in a nice vase is always a good option. Just remember to either keep the centerpiece below eye level, or to keep it thin enough that it doesn’t block the sight-line of those sitting at the table, so that conversation can flow normally.
Shelves
Last but not least, let’s take a look at shelves. Nice-looking shelves have the unique property of completely filling requirements of both form and function, and are thus an important part of kitchen decor. To ensure that your shelves are everything you want them to be, here are some kitchen shelf decorating ideas that we think you’ll like:
-Put up some DIY shelves. It doesn’t take much skill or effort to install smart-looking shelves in your kitchen. All you need is a board of appropriate thickness, length, and width, a few brackets, and some paint. Find some empty wall space (such as above doorways) that could be used for storage, and set up a shelf that is out of the way, while still being stylish enough not to offend any eyes it might catch. Just be warned: Once you see how easy it is to make your own shelves, you’re going to want to do it a lot, which can lead to some very cluttered looking kitchen walls.
-Install a hanging drying rack. Drying racks are important, but they can get in the way by taking up valuable counter or sink space. Installing a hanging drying rack above the sink, where wet dishes can drip their water right down the drain without getting in the way, is a great use of vertical space.
-Try new shapes. Decorating ideas for kitchen shelves aren’t limited to long, horizontal, flat boards. Try something more geometric by creating shelves of different shapes and styles. For example, x-shaped inserts into boxy cabinets are a great way to organize and display wine bottles. Let your imagination run wild, and see what new shapes you can come up with for your own shelf designs.
-Suspend it. Shelves don’t have to be attached to walls. With some wire and a level, you can create hanging shelves that dangle down from your ceiling. A hanging shelf is perfectly suited to kitchens with limited wall space, and helps give the kitchen an open, expansive feel. Just make sure that the shelves are either out of the way from main traffic areas, or that they are high enough not to pose a collision-risk for those walking underneath. A collapsible step-stool is recommended to help you reach items on these shelves without knocking anything down. Once again, be sure to check with your property manager before beginning any projects.
-Make them removable. There’s no reason why you should have to have your shelves up all of the time. Removable shelves are easy to install, and give you the freedom to determine exactly how much extra storage space you need at any given moment. Additionally, vertical rows of removable shelves make it possible to store items of varying height.
What did we miss? Share your own kitchen decorating ideas in our comments-section!
The post 25 Decorating Ideas for (Almost) Every Part of the Kitchen appeared first on Apartment Living Blog.