Inspiration

Get inspired by these 7 kitchen decor styles

15 January 2024· Lick
Kitchen sink with wooden worktops and Lick Green 06 cabinets

Image courtesy of @flocoeinteriors

The proverbial ‘heart of the home’, nowadays kitchens are used for more than just rustling up a plate of something tasty. They’re for entertaining, for play, and more recently, Zoom calls. In short, it’s a room you spend a lot of time in. That’s why finding the right kitchen decor for your home is so important. Whether you’re wallpaperingpainting or attempting to nail a kitchen makeover on a budget, we hope you’ll be inspired by these 7 kitchen decor styles and find the one for you.

Kitchen decor style: Scandi

A Scandi style kitchen is all about functional, often open-plan living. It’s cosy yet practical, calming yet welcoming. It emphasises the importance of texture rather than colour, so opt for whites and neutrals in favour of bolder paint colours. Use untreated woods and rustic metal finishes to contrast the light and airy colour scheme. Kitchen open shelving is a typically Scandi way of displaying your indoor plants, ceramics, and kitchenware. Just try and avoid it becoming too cluttered! Try these 5 ways to recreate a Scandi kitchen for the complete look.

Scandi kitchen with white walls and beige pendant lighting by @LITTLERENOVATIONSTORIES

Scandi kitchen decorated in Lick Pink 01 paint shade

Kitchen decor trend: minimalist

For those of you that want to keep your kitchen clutter-free, a minimalist kitchen might be the decor trend to go for. Modern in style, a minimalist kitchen uses a neutral palette or monochromatic colour scheme as well as high-tech appliances for an ultra-sleek look.

Good storage is essential to hide away your utensils, so if you decide to go for open shelving, use it to display kitchenware that adds to the aesthetic. Think ceramics or glasses, rather than cereal boxes or sundries. Be discerning about your design choices, with a few thoughtful ornaments like an oversized fruit bowl or large indoor plant. Try these 6 tips to create a minimalist kitchen to get the complete look.

Minimalist kitchen with white walls and cabinets via Unsplash

Minimalist kitchen decorated in Lick Green 04 by @ROO_ROOBELL

Kitchen decor style: industrial

More than any other room in the home, kitchens lend themselves to industrial styling. You can go full utilitarian with an oversized stainless steel hob or stainless steel countertops. Pair them with exposed brick or a dark and moody colour palette—something darker like Grey 15 for a warmer feel.

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Industrial kitchen with steel countertops and walls decorated in Lick Teal 02 paint shade by @WESTANDREID

Sleek industrial kitchen decorated in Lick Teal 02 paint shade

Kitchen decor style: retro

Like them or loathe them, there’s no denying there’s something seriously cool about a retro kitchen. Whether it’s the air of nostalgia or a feeling of fun, if you decide to go retro you’ll need the right colour palette. Opt for rich reds, oranges and a pop of blue for a true retro style home.

Or what about daring to wallpaper? Our high-quality rolls can withstand almost anything. We think Mars Meadow 02 or Electric Poppies 01 are the answer to turning your kitchen totally retro.

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Retro kitchen decorated in Lick Pink 04 paint shade by @LINDSEY_ISLA

Retro kitchen decorated in Lick White 05 paint shade by @TINYWEEHOOSE

Maximalist decor is all about throwing out the rulebook, so feel free to fill your kitchen with artwork, ornaments, or even the odd neon sign. For more maximalist inspiration, take a look at our complete guide on the maximalist decor style, or get inspired by Tom from @themellowmaximalist, who shows us how it’s done.

Maximalist kitchen with brightly coloured walls and kitchen cupboards painted in Lick Green 05 by @THEMELLOWMAXIMALIST

Maximalist kitchen decorated in bright pink with teal flooring

Kitchen decor style: Japandi

Create a sense of calm in the heart of the home with a Japandi interior style kitchen. Celebrating nature and all her imperfections, Japandi interiors take their inspiration from the clean lines of Japanese design and the philosophy of wabi-sabi. This, combined with a cosiness borrowed from Scandi decor and elements of biophilic design, means it is a perfect blend of some of our favourite decor styles.

Focusing on soft neutral colours and tonal hues, to incorporate this look in your kitchen, think about playful contrasting of light and dark shades. Add visual interest by using plenty of natural materials, like wood and stone, including some indoor plants, and ensuring you keep your countertops clutter-free. Take a look at these 6 neutral kitchen ideas for further inspiration.

Neutral Japandi style kitchen decorated in Lick Beige 02 paint shade

Japandi Kitchen decorated in Lick Green 04 paint shade by @ROO_ROOBELL

Kitchen decor style: country

Whether you live in the sticks or the city, a country kitchen is perennially popular and a great family kitchen option. Ideal for effortless hosting and casual dining (or even the odd bit of homework), these traditional-style kitchens are homely and cosy, year-round. Think timeless designs like butler's sinks, wooden or marble countertops, traditional kitchen wallpaper, large kitchen islands, and stone flooring.

A neutral palette is certain to stand the test of time, or if you want a little colour go for greensteals, or blues on your kitchen cabinets. Country kitchens can withstand a little clutter, even the odd muddy paw print, so you don't have to be too precious with them. Open shelving or hanging racks can display anything from copper pots and pans to French flea market finds. There's one thing that's for sure, country kitchens have been around forever, and they're very much here to stay.

Cottagecore kitchen with wildflowers decorated in Lick Grey 08 paint shade

Traditional kitchen painted in Lick Green 06 paint and Greige 02 paint via Topology Interiors

So, if you’re feeling inspired by these 7 kitchen decor styles take a look at these 5 kitchen makeovers for some real transformations or for some practical advice, our guide on how to nail a kitchen makeover.