My Favorite Kitchen Countertop Decor Ideas
Today I’m sharing my favorite kitchen countertop decor ideas, including simple ways to style everyday essentials and add warmth and texture without creating clutter.
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Do you struggle with knowing what to keep out and what to store? What should you decorate with? Which areas should stay clear for food prep? You’re definitely not alone!
I hate cooking in a cluttered kitchen, so keeping plenty of open workspace is always a priority for me.
The best kitchen countertop decor ideas make your kitchen look pretty and pulled together while still keeping your counters functional for everyday life. Here are my go-to ways to decorate your countertops while keeping your kitchen uncluttered and easy to work in.
1. Store your small appliances.
This should come as no surprise to you since I just mentioned it above. Store those less-than-attractive small appliances. Create space in your cabinets, pantry, or drawers to keep them nearby but tucked away.
Not only does it look more appealing, but it also cuts down on countertop clutter, which in turn makes food prep so much more enjoyable.
A good rule of thumb is to keep the appliances you use every day within easy reach and store the ones you use less often.
Not everyone has built-in cabinet accessories for appliances (I don’t!), so I just keep my most-used appliances in a cabinet or drawer below the space where I use them. The bigger items like crockpots I store in the pantry.
Our coffee pot stays out since both my husband and I enjoy a cup of coffee every morning. Our toaster stays out too, since it’s this cute one from Crate & Barrel that I love leaving out. 
2. Decide what countertop areas need a little sprucing up.
I have an area in my kitchen that is always a struggle for me! It’s the corner countertop on the open side of our kitchen. It’s a large space with no upper cabinets above it, or wall either, for that matter. It calls for something large and attention-grabbing.
A turned wood vase is the perfect solution. The texture and color add so much warmth to a corner that could easily feel empty. Consignment and thrift shops are great places to hunt for vases and bowls like this.
3. Use staple decor pieces that you can easily update with the seasons, or for anytime you need a change.
Pretty bowls, trays, baskets, and vases are perfect pieces to use to decorate your countertops. You can easily change out flowers and greenery and other seasonal items to update your look. I’m using our dried hydrangeas from our garden last summer in my new wood vase.
You can read about some of my favorite staple decor pieces for changing out season-to-season here.
4. Add a pretty lamp to your countertops.
Light up a dark corner of your kitchen with a small table lamp. It’s an unexpected source of lighting in your kitchen. It can act as task lighting if you don’t have under cabinet lights, and can also provide a soft source of light when you don’t want to use the bright overhead lights of your kitchen.
Our corner lamp is on most of the time in our home — day and night. If you love the warmth of a small kitchen lamp, I’m sharing more ways to use lamps and other sources of ambient lighting throughout your home here.
5. Add fresh flowers or greenery.
You can never go wrong with flowers in your kitchen. A pretty vase beside the sink or in a corner can really brighten the room. Fresh stems are lovely, but dried hydrangeas from our garden add a natural touch that lasts much longer. Swap in fresh flowers or greenery whenever you feel like a change.
6. Corral decorative accessories or kitchen items in pretty trays or baskets.
This cuts down on countertop clutter. Try to use fewer larger decorative items on your countertops, but if you have smaller items that need to stay out, grouping them in trays and baskets minimizes the visual clutter.
I placed a three-tiered tray next to our sink to hold small plants, pretty dish towels, soaps, or other items.
Whether you use real or real-looking faux plants, they look adorable on a tiered tray next to the sink.
I also keep a tiered tray full of mugs, coffee, and sweetener next to the coffee maker to serve as a coffee bar. It’s a decorative piece that also adds a lot of functionality to that area of the kitchen.
7. Display seasonings, pepper mills and oils on a pedestal stand.
I keep our salt box, salt and pepper mills, and olive oil next to our stove for easy access. The pedestal adds a decorative touch and keeps these items grouped together, which cuts down on clutter.
8. Keep pretty cutting boards out to add warmth and hide ugly electrical outlets.
Is it just me, or do all builders/electricians put plugs in the most unsightly places — like right in the center of the backsplash! You can find a wide variety of wooden cutting boards in various shapes and wood tones. The wood tones really warm up your kitchen and add texture and layers to your countertops.
9. Keep fresh fruit out on your countertops in a pretty bowl.
Don’t forget that fresh fruit can be just as pretty as fresh flowers. Green and red apples, bright oranges, lemons, or limes all add pretty color and natural elements to your kitchen.
These are just a few kitchen countertop decor ideas that you can implement in your kitchen.
Glass canisters are another pretty way to keep baking staples within reach.
You don’t need lots of decor to make your kitchen feel inviting and look pulled together. Start by clearing away the things you don’t use regularly, then add back the items that are useful, beautiful, or ideally both.
The goal is to create kitchen counters that look pretty but still leave you plenty of room to actually use your kitchen. Choose what works for the way you live, keep it simple, and leave yourself some breathing room.
Happy Decorating!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy:
20 Tips for Organizing Your Pantry
The Best Ambient Lighting Ideas to Make Your Home Feel More Cozy
The Best Kitchen Rug Runners for Your Color Scheme
