Italian Kitchen Decorations

A decanter of olive oil adds a jewel-like touch to your kitchen.

An Italian-themed kitchen, which is also referred to as Tuscan style, is based on warm colors and has a welcoming, rustic look. Decorations should reflect this style. An easy way to do this is to incorporate natural materials in your decor selection. Ceramics, wood, glass, stone, tile, warm metals and even food can contribute to an Italian ambiance.

Food as Decoration

Food can serve as decoration in an Italian kitchen. Hang ropes of garlic. Display decorative tins or decanters of olive oil. Group colored glass jars of other oils and vinegars together for a jewel-like effect. Leave your vegetables in a basket on the table, ready to be used. Use large clear jars to store different types of pasta and rice. You can also grow Italian herbs on the windowsill in clay pots.

Warm Colors

Use a warm color palette as the basis for an Italian kitchen. Warm neutrals for the walls could include cream, golden honey, dark brown, sand, burnt umber or burnt sienna. Use richer colors in the trim to give the room some weight, such as rust or brick red, yellow ocher, pale warm yellow or apricot. Add accent colors with accessories in green, hot red or a vivid blue.

Material Choices

Consider the materials that you use in an Italian kitchen. Remove all sleek, shiny silver metals, as they have a harsher, more modern look; wrought iron, copper or pewter fixtures are more in keeping with an Italian-style farmhouse look. Incorporate natural wood and stone. Supplement your counter space with a heavy wooden butcher's block and choose warm, honey-toned woods for your cabinets. Use slate, stone, terra-cotta or granite for the flooring or the counter tops.

Accessories

Install a hanging rack to display your cook wear. Choose cutting boards with a simple wood grain and hang them up and keep your wooden spoons, whisks and ladles in decorative jars near the stove. Majolica jars and other pottery pieces will add to the Italian ambiance. Accent with grapevine motifs on a back splash or inlaid tiles.

References

• Kitchen Decorating Ideas 4 U.com; Italian Kitchen Decor
• House Beautiful; A Texas Home Straight out of Italy; Thompson, Helen