Inspiring Art in the Kitchen

Maybe it's all the appliances or all the life that occurs, but even in highly decorated kitchens there's sometimes a lack of art. It's a shame, really, because just like in any other room, art can really bring in a lot of interest, excitement and "pop" to a kitchen.

For almost a year I had a piece of art framed and ready, leaning up against my bedroom wall, because I could not for the life of me think of an open spot in my apartment to put it. It took about ten months for it to dawn on me: the wall above my stove! Now with it hanging comfortably in a formerly blank spot in the kitchen, I can hardly imagine the space without it. I wonder how many other people have had similar experiences?

The occupants of these ten Apartment Therapy house tours no doubt realize the importance of art in their kitchen — no matter how big or small that piece of art is. We gathered ten kitchens with art that we thought did a good job of incorporating color and personality simply — pieces that complement the room and really create a cohesive space.

Top Row:
1) & 2) Ami and Sean's Colorful, Welcoming & Art-Filled Home
3) Anna and AJ’s Modern T-Loft
4) Danielle & Derek's Somerville Sanctuary
5) Alyssa's Artsy Girl Next Door Apartment

Bottom Row:
6) Robert's Roomy Retrospective
7) David & Marcelle's Nashville Beach House
8) Amy & David Butler's Creative Textile Lab of a Home
9) Misty's Bright and Colorful Cottage
10) House Tour: Karen's Cozy and Cheery Cherrywood Home

Images — 1,2, 9 & 10: Adrienne Breaux; 3: Bethany Nauert; 4: Kyle Freeman; 5: Alyssa Remington; 6: Kristen Lubbe; 7: Brannon Segroves; 8: David Butler

Comments (15)

Art in the kitchen is nice. Just make sure it isn't too valuable of delicate. The kitchen can have a lot of humidity and temperature changes. In some houses it can also have grease in the air on occasion. And if you hang something directly above the stove, assume that it could be ruined, even if it has glass in front.

I agree!! I have found that pops of colour make my kitchen a wonderfully cheerful place! My green kettle from Value Village, bright yellow porcelain containers on the counter for flour, sugar, etc., bright teatowels and oven mitts hanging, and for art, I hang up colourful clippings and photos on clipboards on the wall (idea from AT).

agree you have to be careful with real art, stick to colorful pottery/plates and prints anywhere near the stove or sink. I do have a painting by my dad in mine but far from anything damaging.

Have you met Harold the RooSTer?
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61945630/harold-the-rooster-watercolor-print

To go along with snowellechan's suggestion, most glazed ceramic pieces would do well as they can withstand humidity and be wiped clean of flying tomato sauce, cake batter, etc.

Laura - I hadn't had the pleasure but Harold the RooSTer is wonderful! Perfect for a kitchen. Well done!

Harold the Rooster is handsome, Laura.

More options: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightorchard/sets/72157616083519287/

This is only slightly related, but I am moving in a few weeks. My new rental kitchen has no backsplash and I was thinking about hanging some decorative paper up. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to do this? Cheepo frames lined up next to each other? Glued on to masonite board and sealed with a couple coats of poly? Any other ideas that are cheap to execute? Thanks. Also, pottery in the kitchen in an excellent idea.

LOVE the stools in picture 8.

As a renter who cannot paint or redo our aging cabinets, putting art in the kitchen really helped to transform it. I have real art in there, but luckily the wall is on the other side of the room from the stove and the sink.

@snowellechan Try IKEA wall panels. I've been thinking of getting them myself. They are designed for the kitchen with smooth, wipeable surface http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/kitchen/19121/

I registered just to comment on this post :) For a cheap backsplash I got two reproduction candy advertisement tins and nailed them up behind the stove. A PEZ and bubble gum one. Everyone that comes over notices the splash of color and I just LOVE it!

Thanks marzapane and royal princess. I also just discovered colored chalkboard paints: http://www.hudsonpaint.com/chalkboard-paint-colors/ that might be fun directly on the wall.

Oh my goodness, I just love Harold the Rooster!

I, too, love Laura's "Harold the Rooster!" My own kitchen-related artwork includes "Onion," "Garlic," and "Shallots": http://www.etsy.com/listing/43090559/onion http://www.etsy.com/listing/43089480/garlic http://www.etsy.com/listing/43089797/shallots

Re: backsplash- I bought a set of 4 black and white rectangular cork-backed placemats at Homegoods for $7 and they are my backsplash. Stuck on with double sided sticky mounting tape.
Colorful trays, melamine plates, and trivets are another budget idea. :)