8 Simple Kitchen Decorating Ideas For An Easy Updated Look

Give your kitchen a fresh, updated look with 8 simple decorating ideas you can add in just minutes—no remodeling required!

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure statement for details. 

Sometimes a kitchen just needs a few new things to look fresh and updated. You don’t have to remodel or even repaint to give it a little boost. Just adding or styling a few pretty things can make a big difference. These kitchen decorating ideas are simple, quick, and don’t take much time or effort to do.

Here are 8 simple kitchen decorating ideas that give a kitchen an instant updated look.

Hang a Piece Of Art

Art in the kitchen might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it can make a big difference in how your kitchen feels. A well-placed piece of art gives your kitchen personality and warmth. It can be as simple as a framed print, a small oil painting, or even a charming vintage find. Try hanging art on a blank wall or propping it on the counter or open shelf for a casual, collected look.

We recently hung a rather large botanical picture over our stove. I’d been thinking about filling this blank space with something for quite a while. I love botanicals, especially those with an Audubon feel. This picture not only fills the space but also works so well with our color palette.

Dishes look right at home hanging on a wall in the kitchen. They add charm, color, and a bit of vintage appeal. This grouping is still a work in progress, but that’s part of the fun.

Choose something that reflects your style or complements the colors in your kitchen. Even one pretty piece can draw the eye and give your kitchen that lived-in, loved look.

Add A Lamp To The Counter

Adding a lamp to your kitchen counter is one of the easiest and most charming ways to update the space. The soft glow of a lamp makes a kitchen feel warm and welcoming, especially in the morning or in the evening when the overhead lights are off. Look for a small lamp that fits neatly in a corner of the counter.

Choose a lamp with a pretty base or, even better, an interesting lampshade that works with your kitchen’s color palette. A plug-in sconce also works if counter space is limited. Lighting adds instant coziness and gives your kitchen a fresh, designer look.

The small lamp with the gingham shade lights up a dark corner on my counter, which also adds a nice glow seen from our dining area, sunroom, and living room. It was such a cozy addition to our kitchen.

Add Flowers And/Or Potted Plants

This is my go-to way to make our kitchen feel fresh, happy, and updated. And it works every time!

A vase of flowers or a little potted plant adds life and color to any kitchen. It’s such a simple thing, but it makes a big visual impact. Fresh flowers are always lovely, but a good faux arrangement or a potted herb like basil or rosemary can look just as beautiful and last even longer.

The zinnias in our garden are riotous right now! Enjoying them in the kitchen brightens both the kitchen and my day.

Place flowers or a plant near the sink, on the kitchen table, or next to the stove where you’ll see them often. They help soften the hard surfaces in a kitchen and make it feel more lived-in and welcoming.

Create A Vignette For A Large Counter Or Island

If you have a larger open space, like an island or a long counter, try styling a vignette to add interest and create a focal point. A vignette is simply a small arrangement of decor grouped together with intention that tells a story. Start with a base like a tray, cutting board, or basket. Then layer in other items, especially ones found in a kitchen.

Keep your vignette simple. This is a great spot to show off your personality and change things out as the seasons or your mood change.

The corner of our counter is where I like to add something eye-catching. The limelight hydrangeas by our front walk have just started to bloom, and they are a very welcome part of this kitchen vignette. My number rule for creating vignettes is to put them together quickly and not to take them too seriously!

Decorate With Dish Towels

Pretty dish towels are one of the easiest ways to bring color, texture, and even a little style to your kitchen. They’re inexpensive, functional, and easy to switch out. Choose towels that go with your kitchen’s look and fold or drape them neatly over the sink, an oven handle, or a hook.

Try using dish towels to repeat a color you already have in your kitchen. It’s such a small touch, but it helps pull everything together and gives the space a finished look.

I have a stack of dish towels that work with the kitchen’s color story that I use to decorate with. When I need a little color or an extra layer of decor, I grab one (or two) and style it. Done!

Display Your Cookbooks

If you love to cook or bake, bring out a few of your favorite cookbooks and let them become part of your kitchen decor. Cookbooks stacked neatly or propped on a stand can be both beautiful and useful. Choose books with attractive covers and use them to repeat colors you’re using in the room.

A few well-placed cookbooks add warmth and personality and remind everyone that your kitchen is a place where good food and good memories are made.

I like to open a favorite cookbook and put it on a cookbook stand, open to a favorite recipe. Especially if it includes a delicious-looking picture.

Style A Tray Or Basket With Kitchen Essentials

Trays are a smart and stylish way to organize everyday kitchen items. Choose a tray or low-sided basket and group together things you use often, like olive oil, salt, pepper, a pepper mill, and a small potted plant or candle. This keeps your counters tidy while still looking thoughtfully decorated.

The key is to choose practical items and arrange them so they look intentional. Grouping items on a tray also makes it easier to clear the counter when needed. It’s one of those little things that make your kitchen feel put together.

I’m a huge fan of keeping a few essentials for cooking next to my stove. Instead of a tray or a basket, I use a large white platter. You can see it HERE. I like to keep a crock of wooden utensils, a salt and pepper urns, a salt pig, olive oil, and something seasonal.

Use Seasonal Decor

One of the easiest ways to keep your kitchen looking current and fresh is to change out a few small things each season. A bowl of lemons or a vase of garden flowers in the summer, mini pumpkins in the fall, or a small evergreen in a crock at Christmas gives your kitchen a pretty seasonal touch without much effort.

Keep it simple. A few changes with the seasons help your kitchen feel warm and inviting all year long. You probably already have a few things on hand you can use.

Flowers and herbs in the kitchen are signs of mid-summer in my kitchen! I keep a small crock of fresh herbs near my work station.

More Kitchen Decorating Ideas

Sometimes it just takes one small change to make a kitchen feel refreshed. If you want to do a little more or try something different, here are some easy kitchen decorating ideas that can quickly update your space. These are all simple things you can add or do in just a few minutes.

• Switch out a kitchen rug or runner for something washable and colorful
• Display a bowl of seasonal fruit on the counter or table
• Add a small stool or bench near a counter or island
• Layer a cutting board or bread board against the backsplash
• Use matching jars or canisters for flour, sugar, or snacks
• Add a new candle or diffuser with a clean, kitchen-friendly scent
• Use a pitcher to hold cooking utensils instead of a traditional crock
• Update the soap dispenser or dish soap bottle with something prettier
• Restyle open shelves with a mix of dishes and a few decorative pieces

A few small decorating touches can go a long way in making your kitchen feel fresh and pretty. Try one or two ideas at a time and see what works best in your space. When your kitchen looks updated and thoughtfully styled, it makes spending time there even more enjoyable.

Other Posts You Might Enjoy

12 Chic And Practical Ways To Decorate Kitchen Countertops
Get inspired with simple and stylish ways to decorate your kitchen counters without adding clutter. These ideas are practical, pretty, and easy to do.

The Digest: 4 Smart Kitchen Organizing Ideas
If your kitchen needs a little organizing help, this post shares four quick and doable tips that will help you keep things neat and make the space work better for you.

6 Best Kitchen Organizing Your Entire Kitchen
These tried-and-true kitchen organizing tips will help you make the most of your cabinets, drawers, and workspaces so your kitchen runs more smoothly every day.

Are White Kitchens Really Out Of Style?
If you have a white kitchen or are thinking about one, don’t miss this post! It answers a popular question and shares helpful decorating insight for any kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shopping The Post

Click on the image to go to the item.

Happy decorating, friends…