Category: Kitchens

Oak cabinets have been around almost as long as kitchens. Oak wood comes in over 60 different varieties and its durability makes it an excellent cabinet material. Honey oak cabinets were extremely popular in the 1990s and remain in many kitchens today.

If you’re tired of the golden glow of honey oak cabinets, the easiest solution is to paint them. However, you can save a lot of money by working with what you have. Choosing a coordinating color backsplash can really elevate your kitchen. Here are some of our favorite kitchen backsplash ideas for honey oak kitchen cabinets. 

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How to Choose a Kitchen Backsplash

Whether you have honey oak kitchen cabinets or not, certain rules apply when shopping for the right color backsplash. First, take into consideration all the colors that are present in your kitchen. This includes wall paint color, floor color, and countertop color. Your appliance color may also factor into the mix. 

Ideally, the color backsplash you choose will integrate all the colors in the room. However, this isn’t a rule that’s set in stone. You may want a backsplash that’s just one color, or perhaps a metal tile that provides its own unique home decor touch.

Because honey oak adds such a warm golden-orange color to the kitchen, the best backsplash for honey oak cabinets should complement this hue. You can either choose a tile backsplash color that’s a similar warm shade, or choose one that contrasts with the honey oak wood finish.

Choosing a backsplash also involves deciding whether you want tile, wood, brick, or another material. Consider the texture you like to look at, and your personal design style. Do you love sleek, modern finishes or highly textured rustic surfaces? 

Finally, because a backsplash is often exposed to moisture and messes, easy cleaning is a must. If you prefer a highly textured backsplash, cover it with clear acrylic panels so it’s easier to clean. This will also protect your kitchen walls from grease and water damage over time.

Read also: 68 Kitchen Backsplash Ideas on a Budget

Beige

Warm beige is a great color beside honey oak cabinets. It’s a classic neutral that allows you to use just about any other accent color in your kitchen—and to change that accent color whenever you feel like it. 

Light beige is a good alternative to white, especially if you feel that white is too stark beside your warm oak cabinet finish. Light, creamy shades of beige are excellent with any color of oak trim and cabinets, particularly when the countertops and wall color are also in the beige family.

Greige is a mixture of grey and beige that also looks nice with honey oak cabinets, but as with plain beige, make sure you choose one that has a warm undertone. Cool beige or greige will look bluish next to the warm honey hue on your oak cabinets.

Black

Black can be a fantastic color beside warm color wood surfaces, including maple cabinets, cherry cabinets, and the classic honey oak. Black adds drama and intensity to the kitchen, especially when the room has black appliances and an equally dark countertop. 

Your backsplash should balance the dark and light colors in the rest of the room. If your granite or quartz countertops are a medium shade similar to honey oak, a dark backsplash will add a sense of depth. 

A black granite countertop with topaz colored flecks would look amazing with honey oak cabinets and a mosaic tile backsplash that includes all those colors. A black geometric tile backsplash, glossy or matte, increases the modern flavor in a contemporary oak wood kitchen. Black subway tile with black grout is also an excellent modern backsplash choice. 

Blue

Because blue and orange are on opposite sides of the color wheel, they’re called complementary colors. Cheerful and casual, complementary hues make each other pop when they’re placed beside each other. Therefore, if you enjoy bright colors and interesting juxtapositions, blue could be the perfect color backsplash for your honey oak cabinets. 

Blue and deep honey oak add a Mediterranean vibe to the kitchen, so look for a painted tile backsplash that incorporates these colors. Think colorful mandala patterns, or Spanish or Italian floral designs. For paint and tile choices, pale blue and darker blues work equally well beside a honey oak kitchen cabinet. Navy, cobalt, or a grey-toned sky blue are quite complementary with honey oak wood cabinets.

Bohemian decor is another great casual style where blue and honey oak look great together. Because boho style is based on personal taste instead of following the latest trends, it doesn’t matter if your honey oak kitchen is “in style” or not. The room—and its backsplash—will reflect your unique personality.

Green

While hunter green might be a little too “90s fabulous” parked beside a honey oak cabinet finish, lighter, earthy shades of green can be a gorgeous choice. Soft bluish-greens or greens with a slight grey tint work best beside warm honey oak wood. 

A mosaic backsplash made from tile in beach glass colors would convey this cool, earthy vibe—especially if you cover the walls with coordinating kitchen paint colors. Sage green, moss green, and pale mint green are colors to look for in paint swatches and tile samples.

Army green, with its greyish undertones, is a good choice if you can’t decide between a grey or green backsplash. Just remember to add green plants against your new backsplash, to further tie in the color palette. 

Grey

If you have stainless steel appliances, grey is already well-represented in your kitchen color scheme. Therefore, a grey tile backsplash is a logical choice that will tie your oak kitchen cabinets and appliances together. Look for a backsplash material that incorporates grey and touches of warm browns that pull out the color of  your oak kitchen cabinets. 

Another place to look for the right shade of grey is your granite countertops. Make your backsplash tile choices coordinate with any flecks or veins that flow through the worktop, especially the ones that equal your cabinet color. 

Choosing cool or warm grey for your backsplash and wall paint is a personal preference. If you want the kitchen cabinet finish to be part of an overall warm color scheme, go for grey that has a warm undertone. If you feel the kitchen needs a cooler shade to contrast against the sea of warm wood cabinets, go for a cool light charcoal tile and paint color. 

White

Warm wood cabinet tones and white are a classic kitchen combination. If you already have a white quartz countertop, a white quartz backsplash is a logical accompaniment. White subway tile is a great modern backsplash option, especially against oak shaker cabinets. Dark grout highlights the tile shape and helps bring the cabinet and backsplash together visually.

Because it’s already such a large presence in the room, choose your white backsplash tile based on what coordinates with the countertops. White paint and tile come in so many different hues, with warm or cool undertones, and matching them correctly is a must. 

A great backsplash has the power to balance your kitchen color scheme, so a white backsplash is a good choice for adding contrast against dark kitchen cabinets and countertops. White is also a must if you have farmhouse or coastal decor. 

Mixed Earth Tones

So many natural materials, from stone to clay tiles, include warm accents and undertones that make honey oak cabinets look amazing. Choose a basic mosaic pattern for your under cabinet zone, or hire an artist to create a tiny tile mural in the many earthy colors that complement your wood cabinets. 

Faux brick is another great warm color choice beside honey oak cabinetry. Look for warm brick red, or go for a whitewashed multi-color brick backsplash. If you cannot find one that’s already whitewashed, it’s easy to DIY a whitewash finish with paint. Just be sure to seal any real stone or rough-textured backsplash with a waterproof sealant.

For a real designer touch, paint your kitchen island to match the darkest color in your mixed earth tone backsplash. This solid dark island will contrast against the honey oak cabinet color and help all the room’s colors flow together. 

Walk into most new homes today and you’ll see a granite countertop in various shades of grey. But not long ago, most kitchen countertop materials were in different shades of brown. Because granite is such an expensive natural stone, it’s easier to work with the brown granite than to replace it.

While a brown granite countertop might not be the first choice of builders today, brown granite is still a beautiful, neutral countertop material. Few types of brown granite are pure brown; most have accents of other colors that you can use as your cabinet color and wall color. Here are our top ten colors to use in a room with brown granite countertops.

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Beige

Whether you call it beige, buff, tan, or sand, this lightest shade of brown is a natural pairing with brown granite counters. White cabinets and trim are a classic look beside beige paint and a similar value of brown granite. This overall pale, neutral background allows darker accents to become the room’s focal point.  

A coffee brown countertop and similar color kitchen cabinets go well with creamy caramel beige walls. Add plenty of green plants and metal accents to brighten up your darker neutral colored kitchen.

Black

Black isn’t a common wall color in the kitchen, but it is a popular kitchen cabinet color. This is especially true when the kitchen has upper and lower cabinets in different colors. You can also paint a kitchen island black to make it stand out from the other kitchen cabinetry. 

For extra variety, top your black island with a white granite countertop—something that looks really good with white-flecked brown countertops in the rest of the room.

Baltic brown granite is a mixture of brown and black granite, with smaller flecks of light tan and grey. It has a speckled or spotty pattern that’s reminiscent of cheetah fur. Oak cabinets and a dark brown tile backsplash look great with Baltic brown granite and a black or charcoal wall color. 

Read also: What Color Cabinets Go With Black Stainless Steel Appliances?

Blue

Deep navy blue adds masculine elegance to a kitchen with brown granite countertops. Midnight blue or even cobalt blue can also work with a granite color along the brown spectrum. If you prefer blue as a wall color, a tan brown cabinet color will look good with blue walls and a brown countertop. 

Touches of gold always look classy beside darker shades of blue. So consider replacing your cabinetry hardware with gold or bronze knobs and drawer pulls.

Lighter shades of blue paint, including turquoise and sky blue, are excellent wall color choices in a coastal cabin. Pair your brighter blue walls with a sandy brown granite or quartz countertop and pure white cabinets.

Brown

Brown might not be the first color that comes to mind when you’re wondering what color paint goes with brown granite. But monochromatic color schemes are wonderful when they’re well designed. A variety of brown shades can be simply beautiful in a kitchen or bathroom.

Fantasy brown granite looks more like marble than granite, with its wavy lines and curvy patterns. In fact, it isn’t granite at all but a metamorphic rock that isn’t as durable as real granite. It’s still hugely popular because its veining is so beautiful.

While marble tends to be in the black and grey spectrum, fantasy brown granite includes cream, brown, and sandy hues. Any of the shades of brown in your fantasy brown countertops is a good option for your interior paint color. 

To keep a room with wood cabinets, brown walls, and fantasy brown countertops from being too monochromatic, add decor that adds another color, such as gold or blue. Baltic brown granite is another good selection for this color scheme.

Green

Earthy green is one of those paint color choices that’s not quite a neutral, but works like one. It adds a natural warmth to the kitchen and pairs well with brown cabinets and countertops. Try pairing maple cabinets with sage green walls and a lighter brown countertop.

Because red and green are complementary colors, cherry cabinets look particularly great with a brown granite countertop and a green wall color. If your home has honey oak cabinets, you can strip them and stain them with a cherry cabinet stain to get this dark cabinet effect. 

Uba tuba granite is such a dark green that it almost appears black. However, it includes flecks of other colors, including gold, brown, black, green, blue, and/or white. Though not as popular as it used to be, it’s still a great granite counter choice in a kitchen with green walls. 

Grey

Grey and brown can be a surprisingly cool pairing, particularly when a brown, grey, and white granite countertop ties your colors and wood finishes together. Black granite countertops with flecks of grey and brown are another good match for grey kitchen walls or cabinets.

If you love grey but don’t want to replace your brown granite counters, shop for a mosaic backsplash that includes both grey and brown glass tile. Choose a warm grey such as Sherwin Williams’ Repose Grey for your kitchen cabinet color, and your kitchen will look like you planned it that way all along.

Read also: 37 Grey Kitchen Ideas

Red

Red and brown are a natural color pairing when you want to create a warm, welcoming kitchen. Barn red, brick red, and wine are all great color choices for kitchen cabinets or walls. If you go with this color scheme, choose a warm brown tile that looks like wood to further enhance the homey feeling. 

Lighter colors on the red spectrum, such as salmon or coral, can also look amazing with dark brown granite. Perhaps limit this cabinet color to an island or an accent wall and use it in other decorative touches.

Taupe

Taupe is a mixture of grey and beige, much like the popular color greige. Both of these colors are great neutrals for pairing with grey or brown granite countertops. They add a casual, comfortable feeling to the space—much like your favorite pair of relaxed khaki pants.

White

Cool white is a little harsh next to warm brown granite, but warmer shades of white or ivory give your kitchen or bathroom a timeless look. Because outdoor lighting and the lighting inside your home can make a paint color look different than it does in the store, always take home samples before choosing a color.

Santa Cecilia granite is a beautiful lighter colored granite to install with white or cream cabinets. Depending on the type you choose, you can end up with grey, beige, yellow, burgundy or brown veins that will stand out if you include those colors elsewhere in the room.

Whether in the kitchen or on a bathroom vanity, distress your ivory or white cabinets to add a touch of brown to your cabinetry surfaces. Rubbed bronze light fixtures and cabinet hardware will draw attention to the distressed surface.

Read also: 49 Must-See White Kitchen Ideas

Yellow

Pale, buttery yellow kitchen cabinets look amazing next to light brown granite countertops. Pair this with a wallpaper that incorporates both hues. If you use dark bronze cabinet hardware, it will add contrast and tie in a darker brown kitchen floor. 

Gold granite is another good match for yellow cabinetry or walls, but you have to carefully choose your paint color to make sure they’re compatible. Many brown or black granite kitchen countertops include flecks of gold or yellow stone. Choosing a yellow shade of paint helps those flecks of color stand out.

You’re standing at the entrance to your long and narrow kitchen, wondering how you’re ever going to make it feel like the open and airy kitchen of your dreams. It’s time to look at design ideas that can show you how to make the most of your galley kitchen. You can turn a galley kitchen into a comfortable and functional space from the floor to the cabinets, paint choice, and lighting scheme. 

These galley kitchen ideas will help you make small to big improvements and changes to your kitchen.

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1. Maximizing Space in Small Galley Kitchens

A small galley kitchen is standard in apartment kitchens. Unfortunately, because you’re renting, you don’t have a lot of options when it comes to making a smaller kitchen larger or more functional.

However, you can make the most of what you have with the right design accents. For example, add a long colorful runner rug on the floor. This helps the kitchen to feel longer and larger while also bringing life and color into what is probably a dull and neutral-colored kitchen.

See more apartment kitchen ideas and designs here.

2. Balancing Cabinetry in Galley Kitchens

Kitchen cabinets are handy because they give you enclosed storage space. This keeps your kitchen looking clutter-free and protects whatever you keep in them.

The downside of cabinetry is that in a galley-style kitchen, the wall cabinets can close the space in. While too many base cabinets can reduce the floor space, reducing the amount of room you have to move about. You may find that reducing the depth of the wall units or removing some of them entirely may be the best option for creating more space.

3. Contemporary Decor for Small Kitchens

A small kitchen looks beautiful with contemporary home decor. The colors are light and neutral, helping the space feel bright and welcoming. Use light-hued wood for the cabinets or even the countertop.

Balance the use of wood with other contemporary materials. For example, you could use a subway tile for the floor that’s made from rough marble or a light wood laminate floor. Keep the cabinet design and hardware simple but not super sleek. You don’t want the kitchen to look sleek and modern. A simple shaker cabinet would be a good choice.

4. Enhancing Galley Kitchens with Breakfast Bars and Lighting

Adding a kitchen island probably isn’t possible with a galley kitchen, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add some design. A breakfast bar is a great option. If you have a kitchen counter that extends out to create one side of the galley, turn the other side into a breakfast bar. Place stools on the other side of the counter and turn it into a space where people can sit.

Another option is to make the space brighter. Add LED puck or strip lights to the underside of the upper cabinets. This easy design adds more light, makes the workspaces brighter, and can change the optical illusion of the kitchen.

5. Creating a Farmhouse Feel in Galley Kitchens

You can give your galley kitchen layout a farmhouse feel. Replace upper cabinets with long open shelving that runs the length of the kitchen. This can help it to feel longer and larger. However, doing this can limit your available storage space. This approach works best for small spaces because the benefit of a larger feeling space can outweigh the loss of storage space.

If you don’t want to give up the cabinets, consider changing the cabinet doors. Add large cutouts to the doors and cover them in chicken wire. This allows you to see through the cabinet door, helping the space feel larger.

See more farmhouse kitchen design ideas here.

6. Optimizing Lighting in Galley Kitchens

Creating the right lighting scheme is crucial in a galley kitchen. The right kind of light can make your galley kitchen feel bigger and broader. The wrong type of lighting can make a galley kitchen feel like a cave, with many dark shadows throughout.

Ideally, you should have more than one type of lighting source in your kitchen. First, there should be ambient light overhead that illuminates the entire space. Then there should be task lighting that’s bright and directed toward the workspaces. For example, adding lighting to the ceiling is good for ambient light, while adding light under the upper cabinets creates task lighting on the countertops.

7. Luxury Upgrades for Galley Kitchens

Just because you have a galley kitchen and they are typically smaller than other kitchens doesn’t mean that it can’t be a luxury kitchen. To elevate the look of your kitchen, use high-quality materials that will be more luxurious than standard builder-grade materials. For example, replace the laminate floor with real hardwood flooring.

Consider decorating ideas that showcase materials like marble, custom lighting, or custom cabinets. Replace the builder-grade cabinet pulls with upgraded ones. Finally, look for ways that you can add innovative technology to your kitchen. Perhaps you add smart appliances, warming coils under the tile, or custom cabinet organizational units.

8. Modern Design Elements for Galley Kitchens

Taking a modern approach is smart for the interior design of a galley kitchen. A modern kitchen reduces clutter, opens the space, and creates a clean design. A white galley kitchen design uses white, black, dark gray, or neutrals.

You could have white cabinets on dark walls, creating the illusion of a bigger space. Or have white walls with light wood cabinets for a fresh feel. White countertops reflect light back up, making a space feel brighter. Avoid an all-white kitchen, as this can be too bright and cause the design to fall flat as everything blends together. Using dark and light together can create depth, making the space feel bigger.

See more modern kitchen ideas here.

9. Creating Openness in Narrow Galley Kitchens

It can be tough to make the limited space feel open and airy when you have a narrow kitchen. The kitchen space is long and narrow, which can feel restricting. The galley layout is made to feel more narrow by the upper cabinets. These cabinets are at eye level and extend out from the wall. You can remove the cabinets and replace them with open shelving to address this.

Another option is to keep the upper cabinets but replace the solid doors with glass ones. This allows you to retain the benefit of the enclosed cabinets while also creating more visual space in the galley layout.

10. Remodeling Ideas for Galley Kitchens

If you have the budget and ability to do a galley kitchen remodel, then you have the opportunity to make the most of the available space. Think about the final interior design aesthetic that you want to create.

Perhaps you want to build in more counter space. This could require building out the kitchen counter to extend longer. Or perhaps you’d like to move some of the major appliances so that they are in better locations for improved functionality. Another option is to remove the upper cabinets to open up the space and replace them with long open shelves.

Living in a tiny kitchen can be frustrating. Its lack of storage and countertop space means you’ll need to get creative. By taking advantage of your kitchen’s features, you can make the most of your space. This could be adding shelving for more storage or giving it a cute theme to make it more inviting. Check out these tiny kitchen ideas and make the most of your small cooking space.

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1. Maximizing Kitchen Space in an Apartment

Apartments are known for having small kitchens, as builders tend to reserve the majority of the square footage for the living spaces and bedrooms. If you live in an apartment with a small kitchen space, you’ll need to look for ways to maximize the available space.

Add shelves to the backside of the cabinet doors. Add a kitchen island on wheels that you can roll out when needed and tuck away when not. Add a shelving unit or freestanding cabinet that you can use as additional pantry space.

See more apartment kitchen ideas here.

2. Creating a Bohemian Oasis

Embrace the intimate and cozy feeling of a tiny bohemian kitchen. Arrange fresh growing herbs in handmade pots on a floating shelf. Add home decor that you would normally place in other rooms to give it less of a kitchen feel and more of a homey feel.

Emulate the kitchens of exotic places by hanging cooking pots from around the world. Spread a handmade area rug on the floor. Use cutting boards made from exotic woods. Display decorative jars that are full of spices that are used for preparing a variety of cuisines.

3. Contemporary Design Tricks

Creating a contemporary feel in your tiny kitchen is smart because it keeps the kitchen bright and clutter-free. Floating shelves, kitchen cabinets with organizational drawers, decorative lights, and marble countertops are common.

Focus on using a mixture of materials, which creates depth and dimension. This helps trick the eye into thinking the kitchen is bigger than it really is. Don’t be afraid to use a combination of light and dark colors. Try to keep the dark shades low in the room to keep the heaviness low and help the upper half feel bigger.

4. Country Charm in a Compact Kitchen Space

A tiny kitchen is perfect for embracing a country aesthetic. An open shelf gives you more storage and helps the kitchen feel spacious. Add a farmhouse apron kitchen sink that you can have storage underneath.

Add a shelf up high on the wall that gives you plenty of storage for less often used items like specialty appliances and serving dishes. Hang handwoven baskets from the ceiling that you can fill with produce. You could even hang a vintage produce scale with a large bin with plenty of space for storage.

5. Balancing Dark Colors in a Small Kitchen Design

Be careful when creating a dark kitchen. While it’s possible, you need to choose the right shade and balance the dark colors with light or metallic accents. Dark small kitchen design ideas make a bold and polarizing statement, which also means that the design won’t be appealing to everyone.

Instead of choosing a stark black color, soften the look by choosing another dark color. A deep navy, dark forest green, charcoal gray, or blood red are all good alternatives. Their deep hue and heavy saturation make them perfect for adding drama to your small kitchen.

6. Optimizing Space in a Galley Kitchen Design

A galley kitchen is a typical setup for a tiny kitchen. They are long and narrow, like a ship’s galley, hence the name. The key to making a galley kitchen a comfortable space to be in is creating the illusion that it’s wider. While it may have limited floor space, you can make the upper half feel bigger.

Paint the walls a darker color than the trim and cabinets. It doesn’t have to be a drastic difference; even a slight one will do. The darker color on the walls will cause them to visually sink back from the brighter and lighter cabinets in front of them. Another option is to paint a line down the center of the ceiling. This creates the illusion that the kitchen is longer and bigger than it really is.

7. Incorporating Gray for a Spacious Kitchen Feel

Gray has made its way throughout the entire home and is now making its presence known throughout the kitchen. The color works well in small kitchens because it’s soft and unassuming.

A light gray is best for a small kitchen because it still reflects plenty of light while being softer and less harsh than an all white kitchen. To create a well-designed gray kitchen, use more than one shade of gray. This creates depth and variation, which helps your kitchen feel bigger while also preventing it from falling flat.

See more gray kitchen ideas here.

8. Industrial Style Tips for Small Kitchens

Use the small size of your kitchen to your advantage by giving it an industrial makeover. Strip it down to the bare essentials by taking out the cabinetry and replacing them with open shelves made of metal.

The bare-bones approach keeps the small space feeling bigger while also adding character. Replace your countertops with stainless steel to make them easier to clean. Install industrial lighting that is high and out of the way. This prevents a closed-in feeling from above. Add wood elements, such as bar stools or flooring, to bring some warmth into the space.

9. Minimalist Design Strategies for Tiny Kitchens

When working with a small space, a minimalist approach is one of the best decor ideas. Stick with a single color for the color scheme, preferably white or black. This creates a minimlist and uniform look throughout the space. Then accent the space with metal or wood.

The cabinets should create a smooth and continuous front. It’s also good to hide the fridge, stove, and any other major appliances. Elevate the minimalist design by using high-end materials, such as marble on the countertop. Use light fixtures that have a simple and slim design.

10. Modern and Sleek Design for Compact Kitchens

A sleek and modern small kitchen with its minimal clutter is perfect for a tiny space. Use accent lighting to highlight the long lines and sharp corners. Hide the kitchen appliances behind slab cabinet fronts that create a smooth and uniform front.

Replace cabinet doors that swing out on hinges with louvers or hydraulics that lift the doors out and up. This gives your kitchen a modern feel while also reducing the amount of required space needed for them to open. Stick with neutral colors that are a combination of light and dark.

See more modern kitchen ideas here.

11. RV-Inspired Space-Saving Ideas for Small Kitchens

Step inside an RV, and you will see an example of some of the smallest kitchens. Use RV small kitchen ideas to get inspired for the kitchen in your home. Add a pull-out counter space that expands the available workspace when you need it but tucks away when you don’t.

Additionally, look for multi-function small appliances. The more tasks a single appliance can perform, the more useful it will be. You’ll also need less storage space to hold all of your kitchen appliances.

12. Rustic Elements for Enhancing Small Kitchens

Add open shelving to your kitchen by using rough-hewn planks with a raw edge. This gives your kitchen a rustic aesthetic. Vintage appliances are perfect for your rustic kitchen. They have a worn and aged look that fits perfectly. They also tend to be smaller, helping them to fit perfectly into a tiny kitchen.

Add rustic touches to your kitchen by hanging vintage kitchen utensils on the walls as decor. Use more wood elements in your small kitchen than you would with other design themes. This could be wood beams in the ceiling, a wooden countertop, or furniture.

See more rustic kitchen ideas here.

13. Scandinavian Simplicity for Tiny Kitchen Spaces

A Scandinavian design theme in your tiny kitchen is perfect because it embraces comfort and simplicity. The lack of clutter and over-styled details help your tiny kitchen feel comfortable and functional.

You can still have usable countertop space, a kitchen island, or upper cabinets despite the limited space. Laying down light wood flooring, paint the walls white, and add black or gray accents. Maximize the available cabinet storage space by optimizing the shelving and drawers with organizers and pull-out units.

14. Timeless White Design for Small Kitchen Spaces

White kitchens have been popular for decades and have no sign of ever going out of style. People appreciate the bright and clean feeling that the color white creates. When using white in your tiny kitchen, be sure to use a true white. Avoid whites that have a color undertone, especially a white with yellow undertones. It will end up looking dingy and dirty in your kitchen.

White cabinets look bright and reflect the most light. Because cabinets take up a large visual space in your tiny kitchen, making them white makes a big impact. Paint the inside and out of your cabinets white to prevent your cabinets from looking too dark.

15. Enhance Small Kitchens with Stylish Backsplash Solutions

A kitchen backsplash is the area between your countertop and the bottom of your upper kitchen cabinets. It’s not the biggest area in a small kitchen, but it has amazing kitchen design impact.

Sometimes the backsplash area is bare but most are covered in some type of tile. Peel and stick backsplash panels are an inexpensive way to update this cabinet gap area. They can last around three to five years—or even longer—although it is fun to switch them out every couple of years for a quick kitchen update idea. Ideally, the kitchen sink area will have a waterproof or water-resistant surface.

See more kitchen backsplash ideas here.

16. Creating Airy Small Kitchens with Cabinet Upgrades

Painting your kitchen cabinets a light color is an idea that makes a small kitchen feel less cramped. Replacing a few solid cabinet door panels with glass is another way to visually open your kitchen design.

Inside your kitchen cabinet doors is another great hidden storage space. Hang hooks inside the doors and use them for towels, measuring spoons, or utensils. Another great storage hack is a wire basket that hooks onto the bottom of a cabinet shelf. This small kitchen idea makes use of the unused space above your dishes or glasses.

Make the most out of any open space you have above your kitchen cabinets. Treat this space as you would open shelving, using it to store platters and other equipment you only use occasionally. Make it a beautiful space by displaying trailing plants, antique kitchen signs, woven baskets, or other home decor touches.

See more kitchen cabinet ideas here.

17. Elevate Kitchen Aesthetics with Budget-Friendly Curtains and Accents

New curtains are a quick, inexpensive idea for sprucing up the kitchen. A bold buffalo check valance or café curtain adds a farmhouse vibe, while sheer kitchen curtains allow the most light to filter through. Curtains are a great way to introduce a new color or pattern to your kitchen design ideas.

After you choose your favorite new curtains, shop for coordinating kitchen or dining room chair cushions. Also, upgrade a boring kitchen mat with a non-slip rug in your chosen colors. These little splashes of color and texture are great affordable kitchen ideas.

See more kitchen curtain ideas here.

18. Budget-Friendly Farmhouse Kitchen Charm

Farmhouse style is a casual, welcoming way of decorating that’s perfect for a budget kitchen remodel. Farmhouse small kitchen ideas include white walls, reclaimed wood floating shelves, touches of black, and plenty of natural textures.

Replace an ordinary sink with a small farmhouse sink, or put in a copper kitchen sink with copper faucets. Hang pots and pans from a wrought iron ceiling rack over the kitchen island. Not only is this a great farmhouse kitchen design idea, it also frees up extra storage space for other kitchen necessities.

See more farmhouse kitchen ideas here.

19. Brighten Small Kitchens with Clever Lighting Choices

If your small kitchen space is low on natural light, it will look dark regardless of what kitchen design ideas you use. Mimicking the beauty of natural light is a must when kitchen space is limited—especially if the room doesn’t have a window.

A small kitchen often has just one light, so make it a statement piece. An oversized light fixture can look grand in a small space. Be sure to fit it with an LED bulb that mimics natural daylight. 

Woven metal or rattan pendant lights over the kitchen island have an open, airy design that can help a small kitchen feel spacious. Add hidden task lights under the kitchen cabinet to help illuminate your worktop and brighten the space.

20. Opt for a Rustic Small Kitchen Oasis

Your dream kitchen makeover may include lots of rustic elements—especially if you live in an industrial loft or country cabin. Rustic design ideas that work well in a small kitchen include exposed brick, reclaimed wood, stone and concrete surfaces, burlap, and other natural textures. Add a faux exposed beam to the ceiling and you’ll instantly up the rustic ambience.

If your budget includes appliances, choose industrial-style stainless steel surfaces. If those are beyond the budget, look for black appliances instead of white ones. Remember that your light fixtures and cabinet hardware choices can supply a lot of a kitchen’s rustic vibe.

See more rustic kitchen ideas here.

21. Maximizing Storage in Small Kitchens with DIY Floating Shelves

Open shelving is a fairly easy DIY kitchen design idea that modernizes the room while adding kitchen storage space. A floating shelf is basically just a wooden board attached to the wall with a special type of hidden bracket. Floating shelves can extend over windows, creating new storage space for beautiful glassware.

You can also buy decorative shelf brackets and simply lie a wooden board on top. If you want to double each shelf’s storage capacity, screw cup hooks into the bottom and hang your mugs there. Always keep your most-used items on your shelves, so they’re easy to grab when you need them.

See more kitchen shelf ideas here.

22. Optimizing Natural Light in Your Small Kitchen Space

Allow as much natural light as possible to flow through your small kitchen. If light is limited, don’t exacerbate the problem with dark, heavy curtains. Replace drapes with light colored blinds or sheer fabrics to maximize the available light.

If your small kitchen budget includes enough for replacement windows, choose windows with large glass panes for a more open view. Windows with lots of small panes and wooden mullions can make a small room feel a bit claustrophobic.

Buying new lighting fixtures is a great way to update a room without putting in a lot of effort. A kitchen island is the center of the room so these kitchen light fixtures are the perfect place to broadcast your personal style.

It’s important to choose the right kitchen island light, scaled in size to fit the room. We have 55 amazing kitchen island pendant lighting ideas to help remove the guesswork in your next kitchen makeover.

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1. Candle Bulbs and Chandeliers

Candle-shaped light bulbs are a popular addition to kitchen island lighting fixtures. They add a warm, ambient glow to the kitchen, especially at night. Chandelier island lighting adds elegance to a traditional kitchen. Hang one large chandelier or two smaller ones over your island.

Although they’re essential in chandeliers, adding candle bulbs is a good way to update any open pendant light fixture. Install a dimmer switch to maximize the impact of these electric candle alternatives.

2. Coastal-Inspired Casual Pendant Lighting

A home with coastal inspired home decor needs casual pendant lighting that fits into the theme. Casual kitchen island lighting ideas include rope, wicker, weathered wood, and other materials that inspire costal visions.

Shop for open basket weave pendants to give an airy, seaside ambience to your kitchen island. They’re available in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, with finishes ranging from whitewash to espresso brown.

3. Conical Kitchen Pendant Lighting

Conical, or cone shapes, are common kitchen fixture design options. From metal lamps to fabric shades, conical is a shape that works in modern or traditional homes alike. Long, tapered cone shapes continue to be a popular choice in midcentury modern home decor.

Metal conical kitchen pendants come in every finish imaginable, including shiny brass and brushed nickel. Powder-coated paint options are also popular, from glossy white to black matte. Cone shaped glass pendant light shades are an elegant kitchen lighting idea.

4. Dome Pendant Lighting for Your Kitchen Island

A rounded, curving, half-ball shape is the hallmark of dome pendant light fixtures. This simplistic kitchen island lighting silhouette merges with most home decor styles and is available in nearly unlimited colors and sizes.

For contrast, look for domes with different finishes inside and out, such as a black exterior and white interior. Having a light color inside the dome helps it reflect more light.

5. Dramatic and Fancy Pendant Lighting

Don’t be afraid to get a little dramatic with your kitchen island lighting ideas. After all, it’s the centerpiece of your kitchen—it should be something fabulous! Fun pendant lighting ideas include installing a group of small hanging light fixtures, such as a dozen small glass pendants at varying heights.

Hang a wide sputnik light fixture to add a midcentury vibe to your modern kitchen island. Or go shabby chic with vintage pendant light fixtures covered in crystal beads. Turn a simple light fitting into something fancy by adding a plaster ceiling medallion to its ceiling insertion point.

6. Cozy Farmhouse Kitchen Island Lighting

A farmhouse kitchen island lighting idea will follow the template for farmhouse style: cozy, casual, or reclaimed. Black metal or wood-beam hanging light fixtures fit comfortably over a farmhouse kitchen island.

Farmhouse island lighting is usually simple in design, and may carry a slightly industrial vibe. Plain metal domes or conical glass shades work equally well for farmhouse or industrial kitchen lighting ideas.

7. Geometric Island Lighting

An assortment of geometric shapes adds dimension to any home interior, and island lighting is no exception. While most islands are rectangular in shape, their accent lighting doesn’t have to mimic this basic outline.

Look for open metal lanterns with hexagonal or triangular shaped frames. You can even find star-shaped pendant lighting to hang over your island. Look for coordinating wall light fixtures to tie together your island lighting and cabinet lighting choices.

8. Open and Airy Glass Pendant Lighting

Glass pendant lighting not only looks elegant, its transparency makes the kitchen look more open and airy. Glass ceiling light fixtures can be clear, frosted, colored, or include bubbles or etching as a textural feature.

It’s nice to replace ordinary bulbs with Edison or other decorative bulbs when they can be seen through glass shades. This is true for island lighting and other task lighting fixtures in the kitchen. If the room includes a ceiling fan, make sure its light bulbs coordinate with the rest of the kitchen lights.

9. Globe-Shaped Kitchen Pendant Lighting

Round, globe shapes abound in home decorating ideas. Orbs are one of the ambient light fixture shapes that truly fit into any decor style.

Round kitchen pendant light fixtures distribute light evenly, making them ideal as a task light for any work you’ll do on the kitchen island. Globe shaped island lighting products aren’t limited to glass shades. Round wicker, metal, and fabric options should also be considered.

10. Rugged and Stylish Industrial Kitchen Island Lighting

Industrial ambient lighting is often made of distressed wood or dark-toned metals. An industrial kitchen island pendant may incorporate wire cages, open geometric shapes, and exposed bulbs.

Pair industrial kitchen island lighting with recessed light fixtures for balanced kitchen light distribution. Note that contractors often want to install more recessed lighting fixtures than you need, so have your task lighting needs clearly mapped out before installation begins.

11. Simplicity in Pendant Lighting

Minimalism requires its adherents to keep all things simple. When this comes to island pendant light selections, only the most basic lines and shapes will do. Beading or other embellishments are shunned for simplicity’s sake. 

Track lighting can be a good choice if you want to keep your light sources understated. If you use simple track lights for your minimalist kitchen lighting, aiming certain bulbs at specific work stations makes it double as task lighting.

12. Modern Kitchen Island Pendant Lighting

Modern island pendant light fixtures are often imaginative in their simplicity. A row of narrow black cylinder lights can multitask as both lighting and a work of art when displayed appropriately.

It’s also OK to take modern kitchen island lighting in a direction that makes it less predominant. A row of recessed can light fixtures will beautifully illuminate the island without the need for extraneous decor.

13. Colorful and Whimsical Kitchen Island Lighting

Novel approaches to kitchen island lighting include colorful or whimsical fixtures. Hang a cluster of pink glass orbs over the island for a bubble gum vibe, or look for chandeliers covered in with feather or petal-shaped pieces of glass.

Long, rectangular light fixtures look great over kitchen islands. Options include a rustic beam entwined with Edison bulbs on thick cords, and a tray-shaped metal fixture with irregular-height candlelike lights on top.

14. Go Big with Kitchen Island Lighting

A common mistake when choosing kitchen island lighting is to go too small. When considering your kitchen lighting ideas, bigger is usually better. This is especially true if you have an exceptionally large island, 12 feet or more in length.

Shop for long and wide hanging light bars, or a series of pendants that measure at least 12 to 15 inches in diameter. Remember that the light fixture is the “centerpiece” of the kitchen island, so it’s fine if it makes a bigger statement than you’re accustomed to seeing.

15. Vintage Island Lighting: Retro Charm for Your Kitchen

If your kitchen decor has a strong retro aesthetic, you have two options for vintage island lighting. Raid antique stores—and your grandmother’s attic—for genuine vintage kitchen light fixtures, or shop for new pieces that carry a strong vintage vibe.

Look for distressed paint finishes and metal with natural-looking patina. Hand blown glass shades that incorporate bubbles or wavy patterns also look like those made in years gone by. 

Kitchen islands are more popular than ever, with more homeowners adding these separate countertop spaces to their kitchens. Once you have the kitchen island, you need to figure out the rest of it. This includes adding the right amount of lighting. The lighting over your kitchen island is necessary for illuminating your kitchen and adding enough illumination to create a functional workspace. Check out these creative kitchen island lighting ideas for your kitchen.

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1. Balancing Your Kitchen’s Aesthetic with Three Light Fixtures

Adding three light fixtures over your kitchen island follows a classic design rule. Kitchen islands are located in the center of your kitchen, so your island lighting is going to be a focal point in the room. Because of this, having the wrong number of lights or lights that are incorrectly spaced will throw off the entire kitchen’s balance.

Three lights is an odd number that helps to break up the space. When you choose two or four lights, any slight mismeasurement will be glaringly obvious.

2. Optimizing Lighting for Low Ceilings

You need to consider a lighting option other than pendant lights if you have a low ceiling. However, you can’t just have a general flush mount fixture that creates ambient lighting. You need directed task lighting. Recessed lighting is installed into the ceiling, so the lights are sunk into holes and then shine a light directly below.

Another popular kitchen lighting idea is to use track lighting. This style of ceiling lights works well as island lighting because you can move the lights around and direct them to where you need them. Be careful when choosing your light fixture, as track lights can look dated.

3. Elevating Traditional Kitchens with Chandelier Lighting

Consider hanging a chandelier or two over your kitchen island if your kitchen design is more traditional. Look at decorating ideas that show you how to successfully use a chandelier in your kitchen.

If you can readily see the dining room from the kitchen, then consider mounting a more elegant design that coordinates with the chandelier in your dining room. However, not all chandeliers are traditional or ornate. If you have simple and modern wall decor, you could add a chandelier to match.

4. Choosing Glass Pendant Lights

Glass pendants give your kitchen island an elegant look. Depending on the style of the glass shade, your pendant lights could complement the rest of the design in the kitchen. Clear glass in a simple geometric shape will look modern.

Glass that’s a blue or green shade can mimic sea glass, giving your kitchen a coastal feel. Hand-blown glass shades will provide your kitchen with a bohemian feel. Stained glass shades will have a traditional feel. Consider the amount of light that your glass shade will diffuse. Colored and opaque glass will block more light than clear glass.

5. The Classic Appeal of Pendant Lighting

Pendant lighting is the classic hanging light solution. What is nice about these lights is that they create a strong directed light right where you need it. Because they hang down lower than ceiling height, they create a stronger light on the countertop. They also add a focal point to the kitchen because they typically hang out in front in the middle of the kitchen.

When choosing your pendants, consider size and scale. You don’t want oversized pendants that will overpower the kitchen. You also don’t want small pendants that get lost in an oversized kitchen.

6. Authentic Industrial Style with Salvaged Lighting Options

If you have an industrial kitchen, then you need lighting to match. Not only will you add overhead lighting, but you can also add decorative cabinet lighting. Just like the other cabinets in your kitchen, you can add cabinet lighting to your kitchen island. Add LED strip lights to the cabinet’s underside to illuminate the kick plate. Or add lighting along the countertop edge for a soft glow that will illuminate the kitchen when you need a late-night snack.

Consider also having lighting that looks commercial. It could have a metal cage over the light bulbs. For a curated and authentic look, you could use salvaged or reclaimed lights that are pulled from a commercial building.

7. Modern Lighting for Your Kitchen

Complete the look in your modern kitchen by replacing old and tired lights with innovative tech lighting. It should have modern LED light bulbs that produce a bright white natural light. For the fixture, look for a clean and simple design with minimal ornamentation. Typically, the lights are black, but you can also find modern lights that are brush gold or silver.

Modern lights can also use a mixture of materials. They could have smooth, polished wood elements that are paired with sleek metal elements. You’ll find options that feature long straight lines and sharp 90-degree corners and others that feature curved lines.

8. Embracing the Farmhouse Aesthetic with Rustic Lighting Fixtures

Rustic lights may look like rough and tumble kitchen lighting fixtures, but they have all of the modern technology to make them safe for installation in a modern kitchen. Wooden box lights are popular for a rustic or farmhouse look. Another option is to hang black metal fixtures that mimic the look of cast iron.

A third popular option is to hang a log from chains with lighting cables that each supports a single bulb. Look for fixtures that are imperfect. They could be handmade or just look handmade. Perhaps they have a weathered look as if they are aged.

9. Combining Classic and Modern with Traditional Wall Lighting

If you love the traditional look, then consider adding wall lights. These lighting fixtures get mounted on the wall instead of from the ceiling. They tend to be smaller, with only one or two bulbs. They don’t typically produce a lot of light but are perfect for creating a traditional style.

It’s helpful to use traditional lighting styles in addition to modern ones. This gives you more flexibility in how you use your kitchen lights, such as turning on additional lights when you need a bit more light or turning them off when you don’t.

10. Personalizing Your Kitchen with Unique Lighting Choices

If you have a new kitchen or are remodeling your old kitchen, this is your chance to choose unique lighting that reflects your taste and personality. While you could follow lighting trends, this may not suit your style.

Perhaps you’d like to have a ceiling fan that can circulate air and also has a light on it. You could choose a light fixture that matches the rest of your kitchen and home decor. This is also your chance to add accent lighting. This is lighting that highlights the unique features of your kitchen.

11. Choosing Easy-to-Clean White Lighting for Practical Kitchens

White lights are good because you can install them in almost any kitchen, no matter their size or ceiling height. This ensures you have adequate light in a large or small kitchen. Choose a light fixture that is bright white.

Pay attention to the finish, as it needs to be easy to clean. A kitchen is a messy place, where grease can become airborne and will settle on the surfaces in your kitchen. White gets dirty quickly, so you need to be able to quickly and easily clean them.

In this age of modern simplicity, you may wonder if kitchen curtains belong in the past. The truth is that kitchen window treatment options are more amazing than ever! 

Like the sprinkles on a cupcake, kitchen curtains can be just the finishing touch that your kitchen needs. Take a few minutes to check out our top kitchen curtain ideas and be amazed at all the great ways you can embellish your kitchen windows.

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1. Burlap

Burlap—also called hessian—is a loosely woven type of fabric made from jute, hemp, flax, or another natural fiber. It’s commonly used to make sacks and mats, but its casual, earthy color and texture has made it a popular fabric for curtains and roller shades.

For a farmhouse kitchen, look for burlap printed with vintage grain sack images or phrases. Striped burlap fabric can add a punch of color in the kitchen. Burlap also looks great paired with lace, gingham, plaid, or floral fabrics.

2. Cafe

Café curtains are ideal when you need privacy but also want a good amount of natural light to flow freely through your kitchen. These half-sized curtain panels are often paired with a coordinating valance curtain, but that’s not required. You can drape a coordinating piece of fabric at the top of the window instead.

Make simple, inexpensive café curtains with thin placemats or napkins and clip-on curtain rings. Install a basic tension curtain rod and enjoy your stylish DIY window treatment.

3. Elegant

The word “elegant” means tastefully fine or luxurious, of a high grade or quality. Therefore, elegant kitchen curtain ideas include high-end fabrics, finely detailed curtain rods, and dignified embellishments. Examples include cut crystal curtain rod finials or a gilded fringe at the bottom of linen roman shades.

Solid dark color fabrics work well if you have elegant kitchen window curtains in mind. Plain grey or black linen panels convey a simple elegance. A jewel-toned velvet valance may be the perfect touch in a traditional kitchen design.

4. Floral

Floral print fabrics are a classic material used in making kitchen curtains. From abstract, tropical floral prints to tiny, Victorian roses, there’s a floral print that will work with most kitchen styles.

Mixing floral curtains with striped or checked trim makes a charming kitchen window treatment for country or shabby chic decor. Faint leafy or floral prints on sheer curtain panels are a gorgeous second layer beneath solid color kitchen curtains.

5. Half Curtain

Half curtains are thought to date back to the 19th century, when they first appeared in cafes and coffee shops in Vienna, Austria. These unique window treatments offered such a pleasing combination of natural light and privacy that they soon became popular in home kitchens and bathrooms.

Even though kitchen window covering styles have changed through the years, the half curtain or café curtain remains popular. They convey a comfortable, informal vibe, especially when they’re a bright color accent in an otherwise neutral modern kitchen.

6. Long Curtains

As kitchens have become larger, their window sizes have grown, too. It’s not uncommon to have one or more kitchen windows that need full length curtain panels. Long window treatments also work well in kitchens with patio doors.

If you have an open floor plan, it’s helpful to have your home decor coordinate in these connected living areas. Try to match your long window curtain style with the drapes in your dining room or living room. Hang roman shades on shorter kitchen windows, or buy a coordinating café curtain design.

7. Macrame

Macrame is enjoying a resurgence of popularity not seen since the 1970s. This ancient Arabic art of knot-tying makes fantastic window treatments for bohemian or eclectic style kitchens. Textile advancements have resulted in softer, easier-to-work-with cotton blend cords, making it easier than ever to find gorgeously crafted macrame kitchen curtains.

While macrame is a uniquely beautiful kitchen curtain idea, it won’t provide much privacy. If you need more window coverage, layer the macrame kitchen curtain panel over roman shades, bamboo shades, or solid curtain panels.

8. Mini Blinds

Mini blinds are one of the more affordable kitchen window treatments. Chances are, if you live in an apartment or rental home, all of your windows are outfitted with mini blinds.

Although they’re great for controlling the amount of light and privacy in your kitchen space, they can look quite boring. Valance curtains can help soften the appearance of plain miniblinds, or you can hang tier curtains on each side of the window frame to add color and texture to your kitchen decor. 

9. Roller Blinds

Roller blinds made from open-weave or translucent fabric do a great job of blocking outside views—without darkening the kitchen. If you need more privacy at night, choose a roller shade made from heavier or lined fabric.

Matchstick roller blinds allow light to filter in even when they’re pulled all the way down. Their relaxed texture and natural finish look equally nice in a traditional or modern kitchen. 

10. Roman Blinds

Roman blinds are an excellent option in a streamlined, modern kitchen. These basic kitchen curtain alternatives consist of a fabric panel that can be raised or lowered by a cord and curtain ring system sewn onto the back.

While a roller shade lies flat at any height, a roman shade stacks evenly in horizontal folds when it’s raised. A roman shade is an energy efficient window treatment option, especially when it’s made from the material used for blackout curtains or thermal curtains.

11. Shabby Chic

A shabby chic kitchen needs kitchen curtains to complete the look. Shabby chic interior design includes furniture, wall decor, and fabrics that have a comfortably worn, vintage vibe. Anything faded or distressed is at home in this decorating style.

Because shabby chic has a strong feminine aesthetic, sheer fabric is great for kitchen curtains. Lace and eyelet sheer curtains are beautiful in this style of kitchen, either alone or layered with a vintage floral or stripe patterned curtain.

12. Sink Curtain Ideas

The most common place for a kitchen window is over the sink. That’s why your kitchen curtain choice is so important: you’ll spend a lot of time looking at them while you’re washing dishes, cooking, and cleaning.

Because of the risk of splashes and stains, it’s best to use a durable kitchen curtain fabric over the sink. A paper folding blind won’t hold up to repeated water splashes, and white kitchen curtains will turn dingy much faster than a colorful print.

13. Tie Up Curtains

A tie up kitchen curtain is similar to a roman shade, but instead of a sewn-on ring system, there are long ribbons or fabric strips to adjust the curtain’s height. You can either roll up the excess fabric or neatly fold it accordion-style before tying it off.

Tie up kitchen curtain styles look particularly nice when each side is a different coordinating fabric. Perhaps have a printed fabric on one side and a solid color on the other.

The word “valance” is derived from the Old French word “avaler”, which means “to descend.” It’s a short length of curtain fabric or wood that hangs from the top of the window, often to cover curtain or window blind fittings.

A window valance adds softness and style to your kitchen window. It can be hung with or without curtains or blinds. A valance is a great option when you want to accentuate your windows without committing to full curtain panels. Check out our 35 best kitchen valance ideas to see how much ambience they can add to your kitchen decor. 

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1. Ballon

A balloon valance is a voluminous window treatment that’s made from gathered or pleated fabric. It has distinct poofs that stand out from the window, sometimes trimmed with fringe. They are popular window coverings in traditional and country style homes.

The bottom of this valance style looks scalloped, but its volume is what makes it different from a scalloped or swag valance. The poufs at the bottom of a balloon valance should stick out at least eight inches from the wall.

2. Bay

Bay windows are a sought-after feature in kitchens, especially in those with a breakfast nook. They are a combination of three or more windows that project out from the exterior wall in a square, hexagonal, or octagonal shape. There’s often a window seat at the bottom of the bay window.

Bay windows admit more light into the kitchen than an ordinary flat window, so most people don’t want to hang heavy drapery that will block the light. Therefore, a valance is a good way to embellish bay windows. Add wood blinds or a roller shade to each panel if you need more privacy.

3. Box

A box pleat is a popular curtain valance embellishment. These pleats consist of two sharply pressed knife pleats, folded away from each other to create a wide, vertical pocket of sorts.

Box pleating is a subtle way to add fullness and dimension to an ordinary window valance. It conveys the tailored, linear style that’s currently trending in window treatment style. The bottom of a box pleat valance may be straight or arched.

4. Cornice

A cornice board is a wood or faux wood panel at the top of the window. Sometimes a cornice is covered in fabric and padding; other times, it’s painted or stained to match the kitchen cabinets or furniture. It helps hide the headers on window blinds or drapes.

This type of upholstered valance box looks more formal than a flowy, scarf valance. A cornice board is good for windows viewed from above, such as those seen from a second story landing, because the fabric wraps around the top.

5. Country

The window valance will always be a welcome addition to casual, comfortable, country home decor. Vintage fabrics in muted colors, striped, checked, and floral—all these elements can be found in soft, flowy kitchen window treatments. Eyelet fabric and lace are also lovely in a country kitchen.

A scalloped valance and other classic window curtain styles work well with this design scheme. Pair a lace-trimmed gingham curtain with a matching café curtain set for a traditional country kitchen window treatment.

7. Decorative

Valance ideas aren’t limited to just plain swaths of fabric. Embroidery, appliques, and various trims and adornments are all ways to add a creative twist to  your valance ideas.

While most valances have a rod pocket at the top, some have a visible curtain rod, which adds another possibility for creative embellishments. Crystal finials or designer brackets can turn a plain kitchen curtain valance into something special.

6. DIY

A window valance is an easy project for beginning DIYers, especially if you have a sewing machine. You can save money by transforming a shower curtain or even sheets into simple valances. If you cannot sew, there are still plenty of valance and cornice options for a DIY window treatment.

Make a cornice box out of thick foam-core board and hot glue batting on top. Then cover it with a beautiful fabric for a simple modern DIY valance box.

Use clip-on curtain rings and hang a row of decorative napkins, kitchen towels, or vintage handkerchiefs from a simple curtain rod.

8. Farmhouse

A rod pocket valance looks amazing paired with farmhouse decor. Hang a short buffalo check valance over a longer lace sheer curtain, and drape the top with a dried vine garland.

Burlap is another excellent window treatment fabric in a farmhouse kitchen. Use it as a window scarf or a roman shade. Pair it with lace or grosgrain ribbon if its rough texture feels too rustic for the space.

9. Lace

Turn to lace whenever you need to soften the edges of a valance, curtain panel, or shade. Or shop for full lace panels with a rod pocket top for a fully delicate window treatment.

Lace adds a Victorian flavor to traditional home decor. It allows natural light to filter through, making it perfect for when you want a little window embellishment that doesn’t block light.

10. Mock Roman Shade

A real roman shade has strings or ribbons that allow it to be raised and lowered. A mock roman shade looks the same as a half-raised roman shade, but it’s permanently sewn into that position. It cannot be raised or lowered.

Also called a faux roman shade, fake roman shade, or roman shade valance, these are an attractive decorative window treatment. Its clean, horizontal pleats merge well with most interior design styles.

11. Modern

Modern home interiors celebrate minimalism, so a valance in this type of space should be simple and solid-colored. A simple strip of white, black, or grey fabric that hides miniblind or window shade hardware is enough.

If you feel your modern valance needs some embellishment, keep it simple. Hang it from a brushed nickel curtain rod, or attach a few bronze buttons along the border. Or look for an arched valance in a solid color, to add a different shape while maintaining a modern aesthetic.

12. Pattern

Flowered, striped, plaid, and dotted fabrics have long been used for kitchen window treatments. A delicate toile or cabbage rose print is perfect in a country kitchen while fabric with stripes better suits a traditional cottage.

Fabric pattern options are limitless, with options for every style of decorating. White fabric embellished with loose colorful brushstrokes could be perfect in a modern kitchen. Sputnik or space-age prints are ideal on a café curtain/valance duo in a midcentury modern ranch.

13. Pelmet

A pelmet is similar to a cornice in that it’s a framework placed above a window or door to conceal curtain hardware. It can be covered in fabric, stained, or painted. They were often installed in European homes to help prevent convection currents.

Pelmets usually project further from the wall than a valance or cornice, which may be a look you’re after. Because they’re made with a sturdy frame, they are good for hiding heavy curtain hardware, such as the kind used to hang blackout curtain or velvet curtain panels.

14. Scalloped

A softly scalloped valance in a floral print is a common fixture in French provincial and English cottage kitchens. Its curved edge adds a nice sense of motion to your window areas.

Scalloped edge valances can be left plain or finished with cording or ribbon edges. Tassel or lace borders are also classic embellishments to add to a curvy scalloped valance.

15. Swag

A swag is one of the simplest options for a kitchen valance. Simply drape a length of material over two brackets attached to each side of the window.

Upcycle a vintage scarf or table runner by turning it into a kitchen window valance. Tulle is another pretty material to drape into a swag when you want a sheer feeling without the details of a lace valance.

If your family is like mine and loves to spend time in the kitchen chatting and cooking together, then a bar kitchen is the perfect spot to entertain! You don’t really need a large space, any little nook can be an awesome bar, you just need to accessorize it properly and it will be an inviting space for you and your friends to hang out, watch sports, and have a few drinks while preparing a delicious meal. That’s what interior design is all about: creating cozy spaces that fit your lifestyle and help you make the most use of your house.

Check out the kitchen bar ideas we have selected for you and get inspired to decorate your home bar right now!

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1. Build a Basement Bar for Entertainment Spaces

Whether you have a man cave or a family room in your basement, a home bar is a must-have. When you’re watching TV or entertaining, you don’t want to go up and down the stairs to fetch something to eat or drink. So, a wet bar or even a dry bar are essential in a basement.

Style up your bar by installing open shelves to display bottles and glassware, and mirrored walls, which will make the space feel brighter and bigger. 

2. Versatile Kitchen Bar Countertop Choices for Social Cooking

When you’re entertaining, you don’t really want to be apart from your guests while preparing meals or drinks. That is why a kitchen bar is fundamental. Install an island or a peninsula with bar stools, so you can be surrounded by friends and family while cooking or fixing drinks.

Granite countertops have been a homeowner’s favorite for a long time, and it still remains the number one choice in breakfast bars and kitchen counters. Marble countertops are also a hit, even though they need some maintenance. Marble is a porous stone that requires professional sealing upon installation, to help prevent damage. 

Quartz countertops, on the other hand, are the most durable ones. They are very easy to clean, are not susceptible to knife cuts, and won’t chip or crack. Contrary to marble, quartz is highly stain-resistant. Other options to choose from are resin countertops, wood or butcher’s block, laminate, concrete, solid surface, soapstone, and glass countertops.

Solid surface countertops mimic natural stone, but are manmade, and come in a wide variety of patterns and colors. They don’t need to be sealed and won’t absorb stains. Glass countertops are extremely heat resistant and look awesome with LED lights or epoxy resin.

See more countertop ideas for your kitchen here.

3. Curved Kitchen Bars: A Unique Twist for Home Entertainment

A kitchen bar can be the centerpiece of your home if you like to entertain. And if you want this space to stand out, why not have a different and exclusive design? Have a look at this design idea we have selected for you.

Curved bars are unique! Differently from a square or rectangular kitchen island, the curved layout allows for people to sit across from each other, like around a table. It’s welcoming and great for hosting guests. With a curved bar, you will hold your parties in the kitchen from now on, instead of the living room.

4. DIY Kitchen Bar Creations: Repurposing Vintage Furniture

If you are the DIY type, why not repurpose a vintage dresser into a cool kitchen breakfast bar?

Add casters and a wooden top on a sideboard or refinish an old desk into a cool rolling dry bar! You can upgrade a rustic table and transform it into a stylish wet bar, with a wine sink. Add some counter stools and let the party begin!

5. Create a Kitchen Bar with a Half Wall

If your kitchen is separated from the living space, and you don’t want to go through a full kitchen remodeling, open a half wall. Add a countertop and stools and you’ll have your kitchen bar, and the open space feel.

You will be able to use your kitchen cabinets, so you won’t need extra storage for the bar area. If the space allows, install a wine fridge under the counter.

6. Industrial Style Bar: A Blend of Concrete, Wood, and Granite

If you like the industrial style, think of concrete flooring, open ceiling, and wood elements. Bar stools with a granite countertop and pendant lights are complemented by floating shelves to display glassware and bottles.

7. Transform Kitchen Space into Versatile Bar Areas

Kitchen bar designs can be versatile to suit different needs. You can transform your peninsula into a bar area, with some barstools and shelving for bottles and glasses.

That coffee nook can also be upgraded into a bar area for when you have guests over.

Read also: 88 Coffee Bar Ideas

8. DIY Minibar Design with Pallets and Stone Blocks for Cozy Nooks

Pallets and stone blocks, that’s all you need to build a cool minibar, and create a cozy little nook either inside, or outside. Pallet racks on the wall will look awesome with your pallet mini bar!

Small spaces can be accessorized with a bar cart and some seating, which include patio chairs in outdoor spaces.

9. Distinguishing Kitchen Islands and Breakfast Bars

A kitchen island and a breakfast bar are very similar, with the exception that you need a 12 to 16-inch countertop overhang for a breakfast bar, to create enough room for seating. A kitchen island, on the other hand, does not have these space requirements.

If you don’t have a countertop overhang, there won’t be enough leg room, and seating will be rather uncomfortable.

10. Create an Outdoor Kitchen Bar with Durable Materials

An outdoor kitchen is a great addition to any home and a perfect spot to entertain. Materials that can endure weather conditions, like granite countertops and wood, are ideal for outdoor bars.

Aluminum and stainless steel elements are also a good call. It’s important to install cabinets in your outdoor bar area, to avoid all the running around from the house to the bar, to fetch things. Wood and stainless steel cabinets are the most common choices for outside spaces.

11. Install a Kitchen Bar in Small Spaces

A comfortable bar with seating area for three should be at least 6 feet long, and about 16 to 20 inches wide for the bar counter.

If your space is too small for a bar with seating, a bar cart is an option. Or you can create a dry bar with cabinetry and shelving in a cozy nook.

12. Wall-Mounted and Murphy Bars for Compact Areas

You don’t need much for a wall-mounted bar, other than a beautiful wooden slab and some stools.

A murphy bar is also a great solution if you don’t have enough room for a standing cabinet.

13. Create a Rustic or Classic Home Bar

Natural décor and earthy colors complemented by wooden cabinetry provide a rustic feel to your bar area.

Dark wood cabinets, on the other hand, bring a classic touch and casual sophistication to a home bar. White countertops with dark wood cabinets are a perfect contrast, along with stainless steel beverage fridges.

The kitchen is the heart of your home, where family and friends gather to share stories and delicious meals. It needs to be a comfortable and inviting place to be. The right color in your kitchen can fuel your appetite and create the right atmosphere you hope to create. The wrong color can make your kitchen feel uncomfortable and dark. When choosing your paint colors, think beyond the walls. You could paint the cabinets, island, ceiling, or floor. 

These kitchen paint ideas will help you figure out which colors are the perfect addition to your kitchen.

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1. Blue

Turn your white walls blue and make your white subway tile pop. Whether it’s a bright pastel or a deep, highly saturated navy, the combination of white and blue is one of the most popular color ideas. If you have a neutral farmhouse kitchen, adding blue can refresh it. Dark blue looks classic when paired with white.

Paint your lower cabinets dark blue and leave your upper cabinets white. Or paint your kitchen island dark blue and your wall cabinets white. For a unique approach to the color combination, paint your ceiling blue. This works for both light and dark shades of blue.

2. Brown

Don’t paint your kitchen brown. It will look outdated and dirty. A darker shade will not inspire feelings of hunger, life, or comfort. If you have your heart set on a neutral color palette, consider more earthy tones. Instead of chocolate brown, consider rust, terracotta, mustard, clay, or moss.

These colors aren’t brown but are in the same color family and will give you an updated look to your kitchen. For homeowners who aren’t willing to give up on brown, achieve your desired color in another way other than with paint. Choose a wood in your chosen shade of brown for the cabinets and a brown stone for the countertop.

3. Dark Green

When it comes to kitchens, dark green and white is quite a trend these days. If you’re feeling adventurous, dark green cabinets paired with a white wall make for an incredibly cozy atmosphere that many people find calming.

With dark green cabinets, you can always add a burst of color to your kitchen through some fun decor pieces — like patterned tea towels or vibrant potted plants. And if dark greens are too much for you, opt for lighter shades that still allow the white wall to stand out as the main focus of the room.

When it comes to creating the perfect kitchen color scheme, dark green and white is a winning combination.

4. Dark/Black

If you have dark cabinets and countertops, then you’d be wise to paint your walls a complementary dark color. If you used a light color for the walls behind the dark cabinets, you would close your kitchen in, making it feel darker and smaller than it really is. If your kitchen units are light-colored, dark walls also work for you. If you aren’t ready to paint your entire kitchen a dark color, there is another option.

Paint your kitchen island a dark color. This kind of accent in your color palette gives your kitchen a fresh design while also helping to define your kitchen. The dark island keeps the dark color low so it won’t close your kitchen in. By keeping the visual weight low, the upper half of your kitchen feels bigger.

6. Gray

If you’re looking for a contemporary color that feels modern but not too sleek, then consider gray. It’s a perfect kitchen color idea for a kitchen that has broad appeal. A light gray will give you a bright design that works well with Scandinavian, contemporary, and farmhouse designs.

A dark charcoal gray is perfect for giving your kitchen a more masculine and sophisticated feel. It’s softer than black, so it’s a more approachable color for an intimidating design style. The only drawback of gray is that you need to be careful with your stainless steel appliances. Choose a shade too close to the stainless steel, and your kitchen design will fall flat and look bland.

See more gray kitchen ideas here.

7. Beige

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it’s never more apparent than when you choose beige cabinets to be the star of the show. Beige cabinets are an amazing way to bring in a subtle warmth while still creating an atmosphere of relaxation.

The beige color will bring out wood accents and be complemented by almost any wall color, bringing a level of versatility along with timeless charm. Whether you’re adding new beige cabinets or refreshing existing ones with beige paint, your kitchen will be one-of-a-kind and beautiful.

9. Pink

Pink is a less common kitchen cabinet paint color. There are a few shades that people typically gravitate towards. Pastel, magenta, and mauve are popular. Depending on the interior design style you are aiming for, you will choose a different shade of pink.

Magenta is vibrant and intense, making it perfect for a glam kitchen. Pastel is soft and gentle, perfect for a farmhouse, country, or even contemporary kitchen. Mauve is muted and darker, making it a good choice for a bohemian, rustic, or retro kitchen.

10. Red

Choosing a red color for your kitchen is a smart decision. There’s a reason many restaurants choose the color for their color scheme. Red inspires energy, passion, and appetite.

This bold color is perfect for the walls or your kitchen cabinet color. However, it doesn’t work with all interior design styles. It looks best in modern and minimalist styles. It’s a little more challenging to use with a farmhouse or vintage design, but still possible. It won’t look right in a contemporary or Scandinavian kitchen.

See more modern kitchen ideas here.

11. Yellow

Yellow is a bright and cheery kitchen paint color. It’s the color of the sun, which helps it feel energetic and youthful. To keep it from becoming too intense, choose a softer shade. Unless you’re aiming for a kindercore design, primary yellow has a limited number of applications where it looks beautiful and isn’t overwhelming.

Avoid a muted yellow shade. It will look dull and slightly dirty. A soft pastel shade is perfect for a farmhouse, country, or contemporary kitchen. It softens the look of an all-white kitchen while not detracting from the light reflecting effect.