Decorating the walls in our living rooms and hallways often feels like an obvious feat, second nature if you will, but when it comes to kitchen wall ideas, it always somehow feels more challenging.
Whether it's the presence of cooking fumes that make us veer away from decorating walls or it being a practicality-first space, there's no real reason why our kitchen walls can't look as good as those elsewhere in the home.
Filling the empty spaces in your kitchen ideas becomes so much easier when you treat it just like any other room in the house. Hanging prints, family photographs or plates are popular ways to adorn blank kitchen walls but you needn't stop there. Add interest and personality with kitchen wall decor ideas such as murals or a bespoke neon light. These ideas will inspire your kitchen wall ideas so that your cooking space feels full of personality.
Kitchen wall ideas
Bringing your kitchen to life doesn't have to be expensive – we've found some cost-effective options if you're on a tight budget. Be inspired by our kitchen wall ideas and create a space that's personal to you.
'Kitchens are hardworking spaces, so practicality and durability often lead the conversation during the design process,' comments Ben Burbidge at Kitchen Makers. 'If you are working with the main wall in the space which is in the vicinity of the hob or sink then consider using an interesting splashback solution.'
'Tiles are a traditional choice and there are some beautiful decorative patterns and plains on the market, but you can also use other materials such as stainless steel, copper, brass, or granite for more modern kitchen ideas.'
1. Curate a display of plates
If you're looking for a way to repurpose what you already own for wall decor, then plates are your best bet. By simply buying a plate hook, like these from Amazon, you can securely hang your favourite crockery on a wall for all to see.
This is a budget-friendly way to put your stamp on the space and create something totally unique. Plus, even just a few look striking, meaning they work perfectly in small kitchen ideas. Pick up plates of different shapes and sizes in charity shops or on your travels for daily reminders of holidays to sunnier climes.
2. Tile all the way up
Kitchen wall ideas are even better when the decorative choice is also practical for everyday living. Kitchen tile ideas are exactly that - they easily fill a wall with interest (and as much colour and pattern as your heart desires) while creating a wipe-clean surface.
Here, a splashback idea has been taken across an entire wall to contrast the rustic kitchen cabinets with a more industrial white metro tile. It adds the perfect amount of edge without overwhelming the scheme.
3. Don't forget something vintage
Source some second-hand artwork at flea markets and car boot sales – or online – to soften the look of your modern kitchen ideas. A landscape painting in a gold frame will make your kitchen feel less 'kitcheny' and more like any other room, creating a more inviting and homely impression. As well as being stylish and unique, this is a great example of budget kitchen ideas, as you're bound to pick up some bargains.
Sarah and Sally Wilkie, founders of Home Barn say vintage or antique pieces are a great way to add character, be it a print, photograph, or even just the frame. 'This will bring characterful charm into your kitchen, as each piece will have its own history or story before hanging on your wall,' they say.
4. Get creative with tiles
Use mismatched tiles as a way to add colour and pattern, arranging them to make a visually interesting feature. Arranging tiles in a herringbone pattern will also add a pop of interest as kitchen splashback ideas, or simply for decor.
'Any brick tile can be ‘herringboned’ but it works especially well with ‘kit-kat’ style brick tiles that are long and thin,' says Hannah Guilbert from Original Style. 'This is also a great way to introduce colour into a scheme while including some texture and interest.'
5. Visually expand with horizontal and vertical lines
Kitchen design is constantly evolving, comments Matt Phillips, Head of UK Operations at kitchen manufacturer Rotpunkt, and with today’s busy lifestyles, it has become a space that requires easy, everyday use and lack of visual clutter. 'Interestingly, combining a series of horizontal and vertical lines will mean you can visually expand the height and/or width of your kitchen space,' says Matt.
This is ideal for how to make a small kitchen look bigger, or you want to emphasise the architectural features of your space, such as the windows or a bare wall.
6. Bring in textiles with a wall hanging
'Opt for a beautiful wall hanging to make a statement in a kitchen as it will naturally draw the eye of you and your guests to the space,' says Ann Marie Cousins from Yorkshire-based interior design studio AMC Design.
'Not only is this easy to instantly make an impact, but it can be easily swapped out later on if you choose to redecorate.' With some fabric glue, a wooden dowel and some string you can make your own out of a rug or runner, like this £30 one from Dunelm.
7. Embrace bare brick
An exposed brick wall makes for cool decor in it's own right! Perfect for period and contemporary homes alike, either strip it back to the originals, or if the bricks aren't in good shape, or you want to make a feature of an internal wall, opt for brick slips. Brick slips are thin slices of brick that can be added retrospectively to walls, to create the look of a bare brick wall.
To stop exposed brick walls looking too cold and bare, bring some life to it by hanging and displaying an array of houseplants along it, in a variety of colourful pots.
8. Make a display of boards
Got an impressive collection of wooden chopping boards? Then make a display of them to create stand-out kitchen wall decor, plus free up cupboard or surface space. Use screws fitted into wall plugs for your heavier boards, but for lighter, smaller ones, you could just use some transparent plastic hooks, or some brass nails that easily tap into the wall.
Play around with the orientation of the boards, so some are hung upside down, to create a stylish and whimsical display.
9. Fill your wall with open shelving
If you have lots of glassware, crockery and cookbooks, make a display of them by opting for open shelving that covers an entire wall of your kitchen. Not only will this mean everything you need is to hand, but it will also create an impressive display on your wall, and one that can easily be changed to suit your style.
'Open shelving, whether it's from reclaimed timber or chic minimalistic glass can really liven up a wall,' comments Looeeze Grossman from The Used Kitchen Company. 'Just don’t worry about filling every inch of space. A well-positioned vase of flowers, candles, wine glasses, or even stacked crockery can look simple and chic.'
Worktop to ceiling kitchen storage ideas can easily be built by a carpenter, or even yourself if you're a dab hand at DIY. Add even more colour and personality to your kitchen wall, think about painting the shelves in bright colours to match your flooring or tiles, or even pop some wallpaper at the back of each shelf too.
10. Light up your wall with neons
Forgo traditional wall lights in your kitchen and opt for something that sparks a bit more personality and fun, like a neon light. Letters, words, slogans or even a line from your favourite song look super cool lit up in neon.
Think about choosing your lights in a colour that will really pop against the wall behind it. And don’t be afraid to go big - small kitchen lighting ideas don't have to be small themselves, after all.
11. Super-size your shopping list
Make a giant shopping list or meal planner to display on your kitchen wall, by hanging a roll of brown kraft paper. Use a length of dowl or a wooden baton to support the roll of paper and hang on the wall with leather drawer pulls, like the Östernäs leather handles, £12 for 2, IKEA. Position the roll of paper so that it can be unrolled and written on, and use bulldog clips to weigh it down.
12. Frame your favourite wallpaper
If you’re unsure how to wallpaper a feature wall but love a wallpaper design, try framing small sections instead. Framed samples of vintage wallpaper makes for interesting alternative artwork that can tie in colour choices that feature throughout the rest of the kitchen.
Plus it’s a cost-effective type of kitchen wall ideas and a great way of making artwork work harder.
13. Captivate with a large wall clock
Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, a large wall clock helps to keep track of time while adding kitchen wall ideas. In open-plan kitchen ideas which are frequented by all the family, a clock becomes invaluable, because they say time flies when you’re having fun!
This functional but attractive solution helps to ensure time doesn’t get away from you.
14. Add accent colour with wall art
Artwork can help to add bold accent colours to the kitchen wall ideas. If your kitchen colour scheme is that of on-trend dark grey or navy, you might be looking to lift the colour palette with hits of bright colour.
One statement artwork is enough to do that in abundance. As this fine example shows, the expressive wall art jumps off the wall to add an element of decorative flair.
15. Embrace a gallery wall element
To give the kitchen unprecedented style credentials a gallery picture wall is the ultimate in wall decor. This can be easily achieved on a budget thanks to the handy Mosslanda Picture Ledge, £5, IKEA. Simply mount one or two together to create a unique display space for all manner of prints and decorative items.
The beauty of using a picture ledge means you can mix things up and rearrange the displays whenever the mood takes you. As opposed to making holes in the wall to hang each frame independently.
FAQs
What can I do with a plain kitchen wall?
'If I had a plain kitchen wall ideas, I would try and be practical with it – because, let’s face it, there is never enough storage space in a kitchen – while making sure that it’s still beautiful to look at,' says Abbie Ireland, Director at Patrick Ireland Frames.
'Shelves are perfect for kitchen wall decor ideas as you can lean framed artwork and photos next to some of your prettiest cookbooks. Indoor plants, or even better, kitchen herbs can also adorn the shelves. Just don’t clutter!
'If practical isn’t your thing, then get creative and hang a gallery wall; they are the perfect excuse to show off your eclectic mix of art. The framing of each piece is essential – in my opinion combining different styles and finishes can elevate a gallery wall beyond just the artwork.'
How can I make a kitchen wall more attractive?
"I buy artwork when I fall in love with it, so an obvious answer would be to find one of your favourite pieces and hang it!' says Abbie Ireland. 'Depending on the wall space you have, sometimes just a single, larger piece is all it takes.
'Another idea would be to find a mirror you love, or even better, have a bespoke one made to complement the style of the kitchen wall ideas. As well as being beautiful to look at, they are a great way of bouncing light around the room and creating a greater sense of space.'
What is wall decoration?
Quite simple it's anything hung from a wall that adds a decorative element. Whether it be a piece of captivating artwork, a metal sculpture-style piece, or even a length of fabric like a wall-mounted rug – anything goes. If you can safely and securely attach it onto walls, it can welcome a decorative touch.
Wall decoration can help to add colour where necessary, it can add a colour inject for an all-white colour scheme or act as an accent colour in a bolder navy kitchen ideas for instance. You can add texture with kitchen wall ideas, too, to break up the blank canvas of a bare wall.
What should I put on my kitchen wall?
That all depends on the style and scale of the kitchen in question. As we've shown from our ideas above, if you can wall-mount it then it's fair game to consider as kitchen wall ideas.
But there are lots of ways to decorate your kitchen walls, from panelling, to tiling, painting or artwork. It's all about getting creative and turning your vision into reality. With kitchens often being the hub of the home, it's a space you can have fun with and show some personality in too.
So what are you waiting for, time to get decorating with kitchen wall decor ideas!
