How to Decorate a Kitchen in Italian Bistro Style

Bistros feature casual dining in an informal setting. Italian bistro style decor combines earth tones with bright splashes of color. Changing your kitchen's look can be done on a budget with a minor investment in fabrics, paint and accessories or it can be a full-fledged renovation that includes new floors and cabinetry. Your artistic talents can be put to good use decorating a kitchen in Italian bistro style. Hand-painted murals or borders add a personal touch.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paint
• Wrought iron
• Curtains
• Stone tiles
• Photos or posters

1. Paint the walls warm yellow and use reds, oranges or browns for accents in curtains, table linens and decorative accessories. Consider painting a border of intertwined grape leaves around the top of the walls.

2. Choose wrought iron furniture for the informal dining area and breakfast bar. Tie brightly colored cushions on the seats of the chairs.

3. Hang café-style curtains on the windows. Use the same fabric that is used on the chair cushions or a use a complementary pattern. Hang interior shutters or frame the windows with non-functioning shutters.

4. Cover the floor with large natural stone tiles set in a diagonal pattern. A good tile size to consider is 16-inch-square.

5. Paint a mural with an Italian theme on one wall. Tuscany is famous for its hills and rustic farms. Venice has canals and gondoliers, Rome the Coliseum and Pompeii has ruins.

6. Enlarge and frame photos of your trip to Italy or purchase framed posters featuring Italian artists.

7. Display colorful pottery, canisters and dishware on open shelves. Add a wrought iron wine rack.

References

• Italian Interior Design
• Modern Italian Style

Resources

• Facts About Tuscany
• Rustic Kitchen Cabinets
• Source for Bistro Posters