Between the appliances, countertops, and floors, art might not be the first thing you think of when decorating a kitchen, but that doesn’t mean the right kitchen wall art can’t make all the difference when it comes to making your eat-in feel like a proper room. From colorful photography to old French advertisement posters, kitchen art doesn’t have to take itself too seriously—which means it’s all the more fun to source and style. Overwhelmed by the endless array of options? Ahead, we break it all down, from deciding on a kitchen wall art style to choosing a medium, plus six palette piquing subjects to consider.
Choosing a Style
Kitchens come in all shapes and styles. So before you start shopping it’s wise to take stock of the language your kitchen’s speaking. Is it farmhouse-inspired with rustic details? Or does it take its cues from a minimalist Mid-Century Modern handbook? The former might lend itself to a series of pastoral landscapes or produce-inspired still lifes, while the latter might do better with splashy abstracts or minimal photography. When surveying your kitchen, also take note of its colors and construction materials. Colors can give you cues on art palettes to consider, while materials can clue you into possible framing options.
Where to Hang Your Kitchen Wall Art
Generally, wall space is at a premium in kitchens (thank tall appliances like refrigerators, not to mention cabinets and backsplashes). But that doesn’t mean a few choice spots still remain for art. If your sink doesn’t overlook a window, a piece of art hung over it can provide your resident dishwasher with a little eye candy. Connecting walls between a kitchen and a dining room can also be a great space for kitchen art, while offering up some of the best opportunities for integrating larger-scale artwork into a kitchen. If neither of those spots yields an open space, consider leaning a small framed piece of artwork on an empty stretch of countertop or layering a piece into an open shelving display. The effect can make even the most lofty and industrial of kitchens feel instantly more cozy.
Mediums to Consider
Much like countertops and cabinets, you want your kitchen art to be durable, wipeable, and stain-resistent. Especially for pieces in the direct line of fire (be it over a sink or near a stovetop), avoid textile-based art or unframed or wrapped canvases. Instead, stick to prints and paintings framed under glass or plexiglass, which often require nothing more than a quick Windex wipe-down after a blender blowout or the like. If you are inclined to go glass-less, keep it limited to small countertop pieces which, if push comes to shove, can easily be stashed in a drawer come homemade Bolognese night.
6 Tasteful (And Cool!) Kitchen Wall Art Ideas
Vintage Advertisement Posters
If you’re on the prowl for kitchen art that hits a gastronomic note, but also adds a dose of wit and sophistication, look no further than a vintage advertisement poster. Depending on your kitchen’s tone, look for old French posters hawking vermouths, or Italian posters touting hand-cut pastas and wines. Usually featuring vivid colors and character-filled typesites, these posters can be easily custom-matched to your kitchen’s color scheme or theme. Another benefit of vintage poster kitchen art? Unlike original art, most vintage advertisement posters are reproductions, so you can often land large-scale pieces for a relative deal.
Produce Still Lifes
From eggplants to lemons, small-scale vintage paintings featuring nature’s candy are as custom tailored to the kitchen as art gets. While browsing produce portraits you’re likely to come across artwork in all styles, but we especially love those pieces that skew more towards the Dutch realist style. Dark, dramatic colors make these portraits feel like tiny jewels in the kitchen. As a bonus, with quick change of frame, these pieces can transition from the most traditional of kitchens to the most modern in a flash.
Landscapes
In truth, there’s no room in the house that can’t be perked up by a landscape. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t feel especially fitting in a kitchen where they can mimic windows portal-ing to outdoor views. For kitchens, pastoral paintings painted on canvas or board can be a so-right-feeling moment, recalling the farmlands from where kitchen veggies originated. As a bonus, these types of landscapes can evoke a restorative calmness. They’re perfect for brining a sense of “Om” to the heart of the home.
Kids’ Artwork
Take a page from your refrigerator swag and use your kiddos’ artwork as low-cost, low-stress artwork in the kitchen. Awash in color and plenty of cheer, finger paint and magic marker masterpieces can be professionally matted and framed. Alternatively (since they’re relatively replaceable), they can also be hung as-is with clips strung from a wall-mounted string. If you don’t currently have a crew of little Picassos at home, but love the look, consider DIY-ing it. Hang unframed prints, screen prints, or even artist-penned greeting cards (often available for mere pennies) on a wall. The effect will be much the same—casually cool and easy to change up on a whim.
Upbeat Photography
While it’s true not every kind of photography is right for a kitchen (think moody fashion prints), photography in a kitchen is by no means a no-go. The key to making kitchen photography work? Seeking out splashy photography featuring optimistic or neutral subject matter. If you’re still sweating it, consider opting for a piece with a retro feel. In a modern kitchen, a photo of a retro hotel sign, building façade, or sun-streaked beach can impart a sense of diner kitsch. If you do want to integrate photography that’s more vanguard, save it for a shared wall between a dining room and kitchen. On average, dining rooms tend to fare better with reflective subject matter.
Colorful Abstracts
From chopping to sauteing to washing and drying, there’s a lot going on in kitchens. Which means minimal art can sometimes be all you need. For those on the hunt for simple kitchen art, few things fit the bill better than colorful abstracts. A simple abstract can imbue a kitchen with an upbeat feel, while simultaneously lending it a polished sheen. Since abstracts are all about color, consider abstracts in colors proven to stimulate appetite. Reds and oranges land at the top of the heap, with green tailing right behind.
Lead photo by Trevor Tondro / OTTO
