The kitchen is often the place where you and your family will gather, spend time together, talk about your day, and strengthen your bond with one another. After picking the perfect countertops and deciding on a backsplash tile, don’t forget about your walls.
Kitchens often have one or two walls that seem to go unused. These spaces could greatly benefit your home when used and decorated correctly. You can add contrast, enhance your style, or use them as an opportunity to create something completely unique to your space.
Keeping things simple will be the best option since you’ll likely already have showstopping moments with your countertops, cabinets, or backsplash. You’ll want to choose decor that enhances your style but doesn’t take away from your permanent fixtures and features.
The possibilities are truly endless. Remember to keep your decor in line with your design style, and try repurposing or reusing materials when possible to save money. Here are a few ideas to get you started!
1. Use Antique Kitchen Utensils
Before throwing out old kitchen items like an antique rolling pin or the vintage pizza pan that’s been passed down to you, consider using them as decor. Adding unique and antique items can bring charm to your space and make your home feel authentic.
You can hang an old cutting board or a vintage cheese grater to add history to your space. This is a great option if you’ve been handed down a box of old kitchen supplies or if you have a local antique store. You’ll save money and enhance your wall space.
2. Create a Chalkboard Wall
Utilizing your wall space to create something fun and unique is always a great option. Consider using chalkboard paint if you have a large area that needs to be painted or refinished. Using black chalkboard paint allows you to create a functioning accent wall.
You can write reminders, draw pictures for the kids, and even leave messages to your guests in this space. The kids can get involved by creating a running list of supplies or food that needs to be picked up at the store or drawing cute pictures with their chalk. It’s a cost-efficient idea that will bring fun and joy to the family for years to come.
3. Turn the Wall by the Window Into a Banquette
You can create a custom banquette if you have space in your eating area that makes a 90-degree angle with two walls or even just a long stretch in the breakfast nook. This sophisticated and functional take on a window seat adds built-in seating for your table.
If you have an area that creates a 90-degree angle, you can use a round table, allowing you to add additional chairs on the outside to create more seating space. If you have a straight wall with a window seat, you can add a rectangular or square table and additional seating on the opposite side and the ends.
Make sure to add cushions or padding to the window seat area to keep your guests and family comfortable while sitting on that side!
4. Display Your Edible Herb Garden
If you enjoy growing your own herbs, you can put them on display to add color and character to your space. Creating a hanging fixture that holds several different herbs and pots will look great, and it’s a functional item you can use while cooking.
You can paint the pots to add color or texture to your space or keep them natural and let this feature become an authentic focal point. This beautiful display will save you from having to go to the backyard every time you want to cook with herbs grown in your garden, and it will become a beautiful feature that you and your guests will love.
5. Choose a Unique Sconce
Adding a unique or antique sconce to your space is a great way to bring functional light and character to the kitchen. You can enhance your design style by choosing a sconce that matches your existing finishes and accents. Shopping at a local antique store can save money and help you find the perfect fixture for your home.
Installing a gold sconce in a home with gold finishes or a black metal sconce in an industrial-style home can be the perfect touch and provide additional lighting for spaces in the kitchen that otherwise feel dark or unused.
6. Incorporate Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are a great addition to any space needing extra storage and decor. You can find floating shelves to match any interior design style, allowing you to add storage without clashing with your current color scheme or accents.
Add fresh flowers or plants on floating shelves to help the space feel organic and welcoming. You can display colorful dishes, antique kitchen tools, or just use this opportunity to show family portraits or meaningful art.
Make sure you keep this space clutter free since it will likely become a focal point. Keeping the floating shelves free of clutter or unused items will make your home feel organized and clean.
7. Display Your Weekly Menu
If you typically find yourself cooking for others, creating a weekly menu that stays on display is a great idea. This will keep you on track when grocery shopping or prepping for your meals, and it will prevent the constant question of “what’s for dinner tonight?” because you can just direct them to your board.
This could be a cute chalkboard you found in an antique store, or you can get creative by using dry-erase markers on an old window. The kids will enjoy helping you update the menu throughout the week, and you’ll love having a place to organize your ideas and meal plans.
8. Create a Designated Coffee Bar
There’s nothing better than waking up to the smell of coffee. Creating a designated coffee bar and using an open wall to hang coffee mugs or a shelf with K-cups is a great addition to any kitchen. You can even use a small area of your counter space if you have a nook that isn’t big enough to hold other large appliances.
Display your favorite coffee mugs, hang up a vintage “coffee” sign, and you’re ready to go! You’ll wake up to the delicious smell and have a designated area to add your favorite creamer or flavors.
9. Hang Antique Woven Baskets
A great way to add texture to your space while also adding character is with antique woven baskets. You can find these at most antique stores, or you may even have some lying around your home. Hanging these on an empty wall will create the illusion of layers and contrast all of the sleek finishes in the kitchen.
10. Add a Clock
If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, adding a clock is a great idea. You can find one that matches your design style, so it will look great but also serve a functional purpose. This is great for those who love to cook or bake because you can glance at your clock instead of tracking down your phone to check the time and make sure you’re not burning anything.
Adding a clock makes your space feel sophisticated, and it adds a functional purpose, making it a great addition. If you have a large empty area, you can search through antique stores or home-good stores and find an oversized clock that would look perfect and make reading the time easier than ever.
11. Decorate Your Cabinet Tops
Some kitchens don’t take the cabinets all the way up to the ceiling, leaving an awkward empty space at the top. You can make this space useful by adding fun decor pieces to the top of the cabinets.
Adding plants or fancy bowls and dishes on a display stand is a great way to fill the space without overwhelming the room. Try to add subtle pieces that aren’t too heavy or difficult to move since you’ll likely need to dust them regularly.
This is a great chance to add your style and cover an empty space in the kitchen.
12. Add Built-Ins
If you have extra materials lying around and you’re handy with a saw, you can create your own built-ins to fill a large empty wall and gain additional storage space. This is a great idea if you need more room for dishes, cookbooks, or specialty appliances.
A great way to finish this project is by adding lighting that highlights your items. You can even add a rolling ladder to help you reach items on the top shelf and make the whole area stand out.
13. Display Your Anituque or China Plate Collection
Many families have antique and fine china sets that have been handed down or bought for special occasions. Instead of keeping the nicer dishes hidden behind large wooden cabinets, you can install glass cabinet doors and add lighting to highlight your beautiful dish sets.
While you might need a professional to come out and replace the new cabinet doors, it could add so much style and sophistication to your home, making it worth every penny.
14. Paint a Custom Wooden Sign
Whether your home is inspired by a farmhouse style, industrial style, or French country style, adding a custom-painted sign is a great addition to your kitchen. You can paint a family motto, your favorite saying, or keep it simple and paint your last name.
You can make the sign out of pieces of scrap wood that would have been tossed out, or you could paint the whole thing a solid color to make it feel more sophisticated and modern. Try to keep the size relevant to the space you have on the wall.
You don’t want to make the sign too big or too small, so make sure you measure before cutting the wood.
15. Add Texture to Your Wall
If you don’t like hanging things on your walls but need something to complete your kitchen, consider adding texture to your walls. You can use leftover pieces of wood and a fresh coat of paint to create board and batten walls, or you can use thin bricks to create a beautiful and vintage focal point.
Before committing to a specific texture, you’ll need to consider the style of the rest of your home. If you have a farmhouse of French-inspired house, consider using shiplap to give it a vintage cottage look.
If you have an industrial or modern style, consider adding brick or a wallpaper that looks like the real thing to bring in a rugged texture that still looks timeless and sophisticated.
