Follow these 13 tips below to add beautiful and functional Kitchen Counter decor without adding clutter!
For Kitchen Counter Decor, my preference is to find a happy balance between a collected and styled look, while keeping it functional and clutter-free. I LOVE adding cute decorations to my Kitchen counters to help warm up the space, but I try to stick to a few key areas to keep it simple!
While some people prefer to have very minimal decor on their Kitchen countertops, I tend to lean towards a more collected look. I feel like adding some personal touches to the counters and shelves in a Kitchen help it feel more inviting and cozy. I really love when a Kitchen feels like an extension of the living areas, and not just a sterile, utilitarian space.
But, I think it is key to make sure that the items that are on your Kitchen counters also serve a purpose in some way! Luckily there are so many useful items you can keep out on your Kitchen counters, that also look great!
Below I’m sharing how to decorate your Kitchen counters with items that are not only cute but also functional!
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13 Easy and Functional Kitchen Counter Decor Ideas
1. Decorative Fruit Bowl
A decorative fruit bowl makes the top of my list because we use this multiple times a day! We are constantly snacking on fresh fruits and veggies here, so I love having them accessible and easy to grab! I also love having fresh fruit out on the counters at all times for the kids! I’d so much rather them reach for an apple over a bag of chips, and having the bowl out on the countertops, right within their view and reach, makes them much more likely to eat it!
We actually have 2-3 different fruit bowls out on our counters. I typically have apples or oranges in one (something easy to eat or for the kid’s to bring to school for a snack). Then the bananas and a different type of fruit we have that week, like avocados or tomatoes, goes in another. And then i’ll put anything else that we might have that week in the third one, like artichokes, grapefruits, pears…
I also love to use fruits and vegetables as decorations. A big bowl of artichokes or lemons can easily double as decor in the Kitchen!
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2. Cutting Boards
There are so many ways to use a cutting board in the Kitchen! This also goes hand in hand with the decorative fruit bowl!
Because we eat fruit and veggies so often during the day, I like to have a nice wood cutting block out on the counter, near the sink, at all times to cut up fruits and veggies. I love this Boos Block Cutting Block I found on Wayfair with the small feet! It is so cute but also serves a purpose! If I’m going to have something like this sitting out on my counter all the time it needs to also look good!
You can also lean cutting boards up against your backsplash when you aren’t using them.
Or use a small cutting board like a tray, to hold cooking supplies, or by your sink to hold soap dispensers.
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3. Decorative Trays
Decorative trays can be used similar to cutting boards, to hold items like cooking supplies, or to ground a small grouping on the kitchen island (like the fruit bowl, a vase, and a candle).
I love this small round black marble tray! It is the perfect size to use with my diffuser! It would also work great with soap dispensers, or with a plant on top of it! And of course it is functional and can double as a small charcuterie or cheese tray!
Cake stands also make very cute trays to hold plants, diffusers and candles!
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4. Utensil Holder
I always keep a utensil holder near our cooktop. It is a simple and cute way to store any utensils you use often, like wooden spoons or spatulas. I also store utensils here that I don’t use as often, but they work well for decor purposes, like a rolling pin!
Also here’s a tip when looking for a utensil holder – I always check out planters for options! You can usually find more unique options, and then of course you can also use them as a planter when you want to switch it up!
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5. Salt and Pepper Mills or Shakers
You can find some really pretty salt and pepper mills and shakers! I love how they are a simple, functional item, but can be really beautiful, even sitting on their own. And EVERYONE uses salt and pepper in the Kitchen, right?!
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6. Oil Dispenser
An olive oil dispenser is another item that looks great sitting near your cooktop, and is also functional! There are so many pretty glass options, or solid ceramic options to choose from that would work in any Kitchen.
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7. Table Lamp
This is a newer one for me, but ever since I added a small table lamp to our Kitchen counters, I LOVE it! I keep the lam on all the time! The glow of the table lamp adds a warmth and comfort to the Kitchen. It’s also nice to keep on at night as a sort of night light in the Kitchen!
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8. Statement Vase
This item isn’t quite as “functional” as the others, but a large statement vase is the main decor I have on our Kitchen island. I also keep another large vase on the countertop near the window. I love using vases for decor because they are simple, classic, and make a statement with the right type of stems. They are also so easy to switch up for the seasons, by changing out the greenery and stems you use.
This aged terracotta vase is BEAUTIFUL and I love how well made and durable it is! The charcoal gray color is perfect against our white countertops. You can use it inside or outside too!
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9. Plants & Herbs
We have plants allllll over our house! While it might seem like they are only for decor, they also have functional uses! Plants clean the air and improve indoor air quality, and also make spaces feel more inviting!
Not only do I have plants in the Kitchen, but I also fill a few planters with herbs that I can use while cooking! This vintage bust planter is so cute and I love how it looks with some rosemary poking out of the top.
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10. Cookbooks
I’ve become a pretty big cookbook collector; I just love how they look great on shelves, but I can also find yummy meal ideas when I need some inspiration! Having a cookbook holder makes using them while cooking so much easier, and again it can double as decor on your Kitchen counters!
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11. Canisters
Canisters can be a cute decorative item to keep out on your counters, and also serve a purpose. You can keep anything from tea bags, to coffee, to baking supplies, to cookies in them! We tend to store things we use often in ours, by our coffee station, like coffee beans and coconut sugar.
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12. Soap & Lotion Bottles
Soap dispensers can often be overlooked but it is another item that is necessary in a Kitchen, so you might as well make it cute! Create a station near your sink with soap, lotion, brushes…you can even place it all on top of a small tray or cutting board.
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13. Candles or Essential Oil Diffusers
Who doesn’t love a good smelling Kitchen! Our Kitchen is very central in our house, so I always have an essential oil diffuser running in there! Decorative candles in a cute jar also look great on the kitchen counters, near the sink or on an island!
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Kitchen Counter Decor – Recap!
I hope this post gave you some helpful tips on how to decorate and style your Kitchen counters! I really think there is a fine line between beautifully collected and lived-in Kitchen decor, and a cluttered Kitchen…and focusing on stylish and functional items is key!
Think about what items you use the most in your Kitchen and what you tend to gravitate towards storing on your Kitchen counters, and then go from there by finding aesthetically pleasing options! You really don’t need much to make your Kitchen feel more welcoming and styled. And remember, plants ALWAYS make a room feel more inviting, so if you aren’t sure what to put in that corner or on the island, reach for a plant in a cute planter, or a beautiful vase with some seasonal stems – I promise it helps!
Katie says
This was a great post. I have a small kitchen with far less counter space then you do, and I’ve been struggling with it. I need function- but also want pretty! Going to play around with some of these suggestions this weekend. I really love the idea of adding a lamp, especially to one darker corner I have!
Sprucing Up Mamahood says
Thank you! Yes you can definitely just do a few of these; whatever will fit best for your Kitchen! I love the lamp too!
Marissa says
I love these ideas! Wish I had more counter space to utilize these but will definitely be trying the soap station!
Sprucing Up Mamahood says
Thank you! I love the soap station idea too and you can do that in any size Kitchen!
Emily Chadwick says
Love these! I’m always needing help making my counters look good. These are simple, I’ll definitely be giving them a try.
Sprucing Up Mamahood says
Thanks so much!
Kaylee says
Such great ideas!!
Sprucing Up Mamahood says
Thanks!
Jaime says
Love this! Great ideas!!
Sprucing Up Mamahood says
Thank you!
Kathleen says
Great ideas! My favorite I think if I had to choose is the soap station with the extras by the sink. You made having soap by the sink look so amazing! Your kitchen is so beautiful!
Sprucing Up Mamahood says
Thanks so much! I love the soap station too!