How to Decorate a Kitchen in Any Apartment

Just because you’re living in a compact apartment doesn’t mean your kitchen can’t be both stylish and practical. With a few well-thought-out tweaks, you can design a stunning, efficient kitchen that truly embodies the warmth of home.

Opt for Open Shelving

Open shelves provide functionality and inject personality into smaller kitchens.

Choosing open shelving is a brilliant way to expand visual space and showcase your favorite dinnerware. In my own kitchen, simply taking off a few cabinet doors completely changed the vibe, making it feel more open and personal.

Give these a look:

Artisan Wood Shelves: Redesign your kitchen with these refined wooden shelves, perfect for creating a visually appealing display. Simple to install.
Vibrant Ceramic Tableware Collection: Inject a pop of color onto your shelves with a vibrant tableware collection. Sturdy and chic.
Crystal Pantry Containers: Keep your dry goods neatly arranged using see-through crystal containers. A seamless addition for a clean, breezy kitchen ambiance.

Attach Magnetic Holders

Magnetic strips keep essentials within easy reach.

A magnetic strip can organize knives and free up drawer space. This simple addition has been a major improvement in many of my compact kitchen layouts.

Try these:

Natural Wood Knife Hanger: Free up your drawer space with this attractive wooden strip, making it easy to grab your knives.
Sleek Steel Knife Display: Arrange your kitchen efficiently with this sleek steel strip for your knives.
Wall-Mount Knife Bar Kit: Enhance your kitchen decor and convenience with this wall-mount knife bar.

Splash on Some Color

A pop of color can transform the atmosphere of your kitchen.

A burst of vibrant color can energize your kitchen. Think about painting one wall or adding colorful accessories to boost the mood.

Might be a good match:

Cheerful Ceramic Kitchen Jar Set: Add charm with colorful jars, perfect for storing essentials while enhancing your kitchen decor.
Bold Pattern Kitchen Floor Covering: Inject energy with a vibrant kitchen floor covering, adding color and comfort to your area.
Lively Art Prints for the Walls: Adorn your kitchen walls with lively art prints, a simple way to brighten up any space.

Combine Diverse Materials

A blend of materials adds visual interest to any kitchen.

Blending different materials and textures introduces richness and visual intrigue. I’m particularly fond of combining wood with metallic accents for a modern, yet inviting atmosphere.

Possibly helpful picks:

Wood and Steel Bistro Stools: Improve your space with these trendy wood and steel bistro stools for a modern twist.
Modern Rustic Hanging Lights: Illuminate your kitchen with modern rustic hanging lights, perfectly merging vintage and contemporary aspects.
Steel and Timber Wall Units: Upgrade your decor with adaptable steel and timber wall units for enhanced aesthetics and utility.

Select Glass-Front Cabinets

Glass cabinets can make a kitchen feel more open.

Replacing traditional cabinet doors with glass can give a sense of more openness. This trick has worked wonders in some of my smaller projects, making the space feel bigger.

A few relevant products:

Refined Glass Cabinet Fronts: Amplify the openness of your kitchen with elegant glass cabinet fronts for an updated look.
Clear Shelf Add-Ins: Achieve a light and airy presentation by adding clear shelf inserts to your current cabinets.
Undercabinet Spotlights: Brighten your glass cabinets with stylish undercabinet spotlights for a vibrant, welcoming area.

Opt for Original Hardware

Unique hardware can make a big impact with minimal effort.

Replacing cabinet hardware is a quick and impactful update. I often suggest unique knobs or pulls to personalize basic cabinets.

Products that could assist:

Vibrant Painted Cabinet Handles: Give your kitchen cabinets a fresh look with these painted ceramic knobs.
Artisanal Drawer Handles: Personalize your kitchen decor with hand-painted drawer handles for a delightful enhancement.
Classic Inspired Knob Collection: Upgrade your cabinets with a vintage feel using these stylish knob sets.

Customize with Artwork

Personal art adds character to your kitchen space.

Incorporating art into the kitchen adds a personal touch. I love using eye-catching prints or family pictures to make the space uniquely yours.

Consider these options:

Collection of Fun Picture Borders: Liven up your kitchen with these colorful frames, perfect for family photos and distinctive prints.
Striking Geometric Art Pieces: Turn your kitchen into a gallery with bold geometric art pieces. Show off your personal style today.
Bespoke Family Memory Collage: Create a personal atmosphere with a bespoke photo collage. Highlight treasured memories in your kitchen.

Incorporate Light Hues

Light shades can give the illusion of more space in a small kitchen.

Employing bright and airy shades can make a confined kitchen feel more spacious and welcoming. In my projects, a new coat of paint is often transformative, really opening up the room.

Some handy options:

Sunny Kitchen Mat: Immediately revitalize your area with a radiant kitchen mat, creating an open and inviting atmosphere.
Vivid Wall Decor: Integrate captivating wall decor to introduce vibrancy and charm to your culinary space.
Lively Dinnerware Set: Revitalize your kitchen with a dynamic dinnerware set that brings a burst of color and flair.

Design a Coffee Station

A well-designed coffee nook can be a kitchen highlight.

A designated coffee corner can make your kitchen feel extra special. I enjoy setting up a cozy area with everything needed for a personalized morning ritual.

Possibly handy products:

Miniature Coffee Machine: Make your ideal cup every morning with this miniature coffee machine, perfect for small areas.
Wooden Coffee Trolley: Keep your coffee essentials organized with this attractive wooden trolley, ideal for any station.
Fairy Lighting: Bring a warm glow to your coffee corner with charming fairy lights.

Choose Space-Saving Dining Options

Compact dining solutions are perfect for small kitchens.

A small dining table or counter seating can fit perfectly in a limited area. I often suggest foldable tables for those who host occasionally but need to conserve space.

A few choices to try:

Collapsible Meal Table: Optimize your small space with a chic collapsible meal table, ideal for when you have company.
Petite Bistro Seats: Include more seating with petite bistro seats that can be easily stored when not needed.
Hinged Wall Table: Utilize your kitchen space efficiently with a hinged wall table, perfect for small areas.

Try Temporary Wall Coverings

Wallpaper can add personality without permanence.

Temporary wallpaper is a great way to add pattern and personality without commitment, especially for renters. I love using bold patterns to create a striking feature wall.

Some ideas to consider:

Abstract Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper: Redo your kitchen with a dynamic, geometric pattern that adds instant charm and flair.
Adhesive Panel Backsplashes: Modernize your kitchen backsplash with simple adhesive panels for a sophisticated appearance.
Retro Patterned Covering: Incorporate classic charm into your kitchen with easy-to-apply patterned covering.

Make Use of Vertical Storage

Effective use of vertical space keeps your kitchen tidy.

Taking advantage of vertical space with hooks or racks can free up valuable counter space. In my Denver apartment, hanging my pots and cooking tools enhanced both organization and the overall aesthetic.

You might give these a try:

Wall-Mounted Cookware Hanger: Conserve counter space and display your cookware in style with this resilient, wall-mounted hanger.
Suspended Utensil Holder: Keep your essential kitchen tools neatly organized and within easy reach with this suspended holder.
Durable Metal Kitchen Hooks: Maximize your wall area by suspending pots and pans from these durable metal hooks.

Incorporate Mirrors to Deceive the Eye

Mirrors can dramatically change the perception of space.

Carefully positioned mirrors can visually expand your kitchen. In my latest designs, mirrors have helped to amplify the light, enhancing the overall brightness.

Maybe worth checking out:

Oversized Wall Mirror: Effortlessly increase your kitchen’s space and light with an elegant oversized mirror.
Ornamental Bordered Mirror: Add charm and brightness to your kitchen area with an ornamental framed mirror.
Long Vertical Mirror: Create a spacious feel in narrow spaces using a long vertical mirror.

Introduce a Decorative Rug

A thoughtfully selected rug can completely alter the feel of your kitchen.

A beautiful rug can bring warmth and depth to your kitchen. I always advise picking a design that goes well with your color scheme to create a cohesive look.

Items that may come in handy:

Radiant Geometry Kitchen Rug: Add a cheerful element with a radiant geometric rug that enhances your kitchen’s countryside appeal.
American Southwest Pattern Rug: Amplify coziness with a rug featuring southwest-inspired patterns, incorporating rich hues and detailed designs into your setup.
Vintage Style Nomad Runner Rug: Imbue your kitchen with bohemian beauty using a vintage runner, delivering vibrant grace.

Suspend Plants for an Organic Touch

Hanging plants bring a fresh touch to your kitchen.

Incorporating hanging plants brings life and nature into your kitchen. I’ve found that herbs or small potted plants are both useful and attractive.

A few helpful options:

Woven Plant Supports: Elevate your kitchen’s aesthetic with stylish woven plant supports. Hang any small potted plant with ease.
Suspended Herb Pots: Grow fresh herbs in your kitchen with convenient suspended pots for effortless access and care.
Overhead Hooks for Flora: Safely display your plants with durable overhead hooks, enhancing your kitchen decor.