How to Decorate Kitchen Counters

Get all the info you'll need on decorating kitchen counters.
Kitchen Sink With White Cafe Curtain and Butcher Block Counter

Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink WIth Butcher Block Counter

A white cafe curtain and gray tile backsplash provide a white palette for the rich wood countertop. A stainless steel kitchen sink and brushed nickel faucet break up the brown countertop for an industrial touch.

A white cafe curtain and gray tile backsplash provide a white palette for the rich wood countertop. A stainless steel kitchen sink and brushed nickel faucet break up the brown countertop for an industrial touch.
By: Sean McEvoy

Kitchen countertops are a major feature of any kitchen design, and once you've decided on the type of counters you'll incorporate into your design, the work is almost done—but not quite. Knowing how to decorate kitchen counters will help you beautify your cooking space.

10 Tricks to Wake Up a Kitchen

See All Photos

Shop This Look

After your countertops are installed, you'll want to explore the multitude of options for how to decorate kitchen counters, from elaborate themed designs to subtle storage features. Finding the right decorative approach for your kitchen countertops will help create a stylish and welcoming kitchen space in your home.

The first consideration you'll encounter when contemplating kitchen countertop decoration is how much countertop space you need to decorate. For an extensive countertop design—one that wraps around several walls in the space, for example—you may need more decorative flourishes, or even have an opportunity to create separate decorative areas. For a smaller counter space—one or two sections only, for example—you may only need a few subtle decorations to make the countertops an inviting and attractive element of your kitchen design.

One way that many homeowners approach kitchen countertop decoration is to combine decoration and function; cooking supply containers and even some appliances can easily double as decorative flourishes. Mason and apothecary jars, old-fashioned milk jugs and other interesting objects used for storage can create great visual interest and work well in just about any kitchen style, from contemporary to traditional. Appliances like blenders, coffee makers and mixers are all now available in a veritable rainbow of colors and hues, and kitchens everywhere are featuring these useful and attractive implements in bold reds, greens, blues and yellows.

Another option for countertop decoration in kitchens is to feature not just the supplies for cooking, but actual foodstuffs. Large fruit bowls, bread baskets, cookie jars and even canned goods like jams, jellies and other stores can create a bright, colorful and inviting kitchen countertop design.

Lighting is another feature you can add to kitchen countertops to create warmth and visual interest in your kitchen design. Recessed lighting can be installed in the countertops themselves, or you can add rope, task or accent lighting to help illuminate darker areas under the bottoms of cabinets or in corners.

Finally, building on the theme of adding both functional and decorative elements to your kitchen countertop design, consider investing in cookware, cutlery or large utensils with a bit of style and visual interest. Multicolored and uniquely shaped utensils are widely available, and when stylishly stored on kitchen countertops, these can help to enliven any countertop area.

Next Up

Resurfacing Kitchen Counters

What's the difference between resurfacing and refinishing kitchen counters? HGTV has the answer.

Which Countertops Are Most Expensive?

In the market for new countertops? We're giving you the lowdown on seven high-end countertop material options.

Granite Vs. Quartz: Is One Really Better Than the Other?

We break down the two most controversial countertop materials.

Painting Kitchen Countertops

Is painting your kitchen countertops an attractive alternative to replacing or resurfacing your counters entirely? HGTV says the answer is a resounding, "Yes!"

How to Remove a Kitchen Countertop

Save money on your kitchen remodel, and remove your countertop yourself. We share steps on how to remove a laminate countertop.

Glass Kitchen Countertops

Infuse your kitchen the lightest and brightest surface around: a colorful but opaque glass kitchen countertop.

How to Install Your Own Granite Kitchen Countertops

Granite, like most natural stone, can be expensive. Here’s everything you need to know to install countertops yourself, saving 20% to 30% over a professional installation.

Kitchen Countertop Prices

What should you expect to pay when upgrading and installing new kitchen counters? HGTV uncovers the most cost-effective materials.

Laminate Countertops

If budget is a top concern, then a laminate countertop may be the best choice for your kitchen surface. Find out the pros and cons of laminate and why laminate might be a good option for you.

Cheap Kitchen Countertops

Is it possible to add character and interest to the kitchen without breaking the bank? When you discover the world of eco-friendly or stone-look surfaces, the answer is "absolutely."

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.