12 Decorative Touches to Make Your Kitchen Countertop Shine
A beautiful kitchen begins with a well-organized and aesthetically pleasing countertop. The right accessories can transform your countertop into a functional cooking space that also dazzles the eye. Whether you want to add a pop of color, maximize storage, or display decor with purpose, these clever touches will help your countertop reach its full potential.
Essential Decorative Accessories
Fruit Bowl
A colorful fruit bowl adds freshness and encourages healthy snacking. Citrus fruits like lemons and oranges inject bright pops of color. Berries and apples also make great choices for displaying in a bowl. Opt for a bold or unique shaped bowl to really make the fruit stand out against more neutral countertops. Having fresh fruit front and center inspires you to grab an apple instead of a cookie.
Herb Garden
An herb garden on your countertop provides the ultimate convenience when cooking. Herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, and chives can be grown in small planters or hanging pots with minimal care required. Seeing vibrant green herbs within arm's reach as you cook is a simple joy. And having fresh herbs to flavor dishes takes your cooking to the next level. Get creative with self-watering pots or cascading wall planters.
Cookbooks
Displaying a few favorite cookbooks adds warmth and personality to your countertop. Use bookends to neatly organize them in an upright position. When styled creatively, they become decorative objects that also provide daily inspiration for meal ideas. Cookbooks filled with beautiful photography and recipes will entice you to cook more. They add plenty of visual interest to your countertop too.
Kitchen Canisters
Kitchen canisters are a must for storing coffee, tea, sugar, flour, and other dry goods. But they also provide the perfect opportunity to incorporate some style. Glass, ceramic, or metal canisters grouped together contribute to a collected look. They keep your countertop organized since related items are corralled together. Plus you can satisfy your inner interior decorator by choosing canisters that match your kitchen's color palette.
Functional Countertop Accessories
Knife Block
A knife block keeps your cutlery organized in plain sight for easy access. Wood, acrylic, and stainless steel holders allow you to store sharp knives safely on the countertop within reach. This saves drawer space and avoids rattling utensils around. Having your knives organized in a block also helps streamline meal prep. You can see what you have available at a glance.
Colander
A colander is indispensable for draining pasta, washing vegetables and fruit, and rinsing beans and rice. A stainless steel or ceramic colander can be left out on the countertop without detracting from the decor. It becomes a sculptural element that also serves an important purpose. Opt for a colander with a wide base to provide more stability if living in an earthquake zone.
Trivets
Trivets protect your countertop from very hot pans, dishes, and appliances like instant pots. But trivets also allow you to display your unique personal style. Options like marble, slate, or cork trivets add natural visual interest. Or choose a trivet with a special pattern or phrase. Use trivets as landing pads for hot dishes you pull from the oven. They prevent scratches and scorch marks.
Kitchen Towels
No countertop is complete without kitchen towels for drying dishes, wiping up spills, and grabbing hot pans. Rolled up neatly or folded into perfect squares, they add a decorative touch even while waiting to be used. Opt for 100% linen or cotton towels that absorb liquid and dry quickly without leaving lint behind. Neutral solids look elegant, but infuse color with striped or patterned towels.
Accessories that Maximize Space
Shelving
Extra shelving above your existing counters instantly expands your storage capacity. Wall-mounted shelving and freestanding pot racks create another tier for displaying and organizing kitchen items. Group items in neat rows to maintain a clean, styled look. Shelving ensures every inch of vertical real estate in your kitchen gets utilized.
Trays
Using decorative trays to contain small appliances, utensils, and spices clears clutter from your countertop. It corrals items into a single organized zone you can move or tuck away as needed. Trays also add style with their unique shapes, materials like rattan or metal, and fun patterns. For example, keep coffee supplies together on a tray that can be stored in a cabinet when not in use.
Spice Racks
Spice racks free up precious counter space by storing spices vertically. Mounted racks keep spices visible and within arm's reach while cooking. For a flexible option, turntable racks allow you to access spices from all angles and pull individual jars out as needed. Keeping spices organized in racks declutters the counters and makes cooking more seamless.
Utensil Crock
A crock for storing cooking and serving utensils clears off room on your countertop while keeping essentials handy. Choose a crock to match your kitchen's style - ceramic for cottage, stainless for modern, wood for rustic. Position the crock near your food prep zone for easy access when cooking. Having tools like spatulas, tongs, and serving spoons just an arm's reach away makes meal time a breeze.
It's easy to elevate your kitchen countertop with a mix of decorative and practical accessories. From fruit bowls to cookbooks, each carefully chosen accessory enhances both beauty and function. A well-organized, aesthetically pleasing countertop makes cooking and baking an absolute joy. Which of these clever touches will you incorporate first to give your countertop the style and utility it deserves?