The kitchen is where the good smells, the conversation and the food are, which makes it an ideal place for some of your favourite pictures. Here is how to display art in a kitchen so that it becomes a focal point without getting in the way, or getting damaged.
Lean pictures on the worktop
If a stretch of worktop ends at a wall, use it. A framed picture or two leaning against the wall makes a kitchen feel cosier. Keep them well away from the hob and the sink, where heat, steam and splashes will harm them.
Use the walls
If worktop space is short, look up. The wall above the cupboards, or any bare wall away from the cooking, will take a picture with real impact. Have kitchen pictures framed behind glass, so that the frame can be wiped clean and the artwork is protected from grease.
Fill the odd spaces
Look for the gaps: the strip of wall between two windows, or the space beneath a wall cupboard. A trio of small paintings fits nicely there. So do three favourite teacups in a row. Almost anything looks better when it is displayed with care.
Small things matter
Scale is always worth thinking about. A small piece can make as much of a statement as a big one. Try a tiny picture or photograph in a generous mount and a larger frame, 8 x 10 inches say, to give it presence. You could even add a picture light.
Use shelves
For pictures you would rather not hang, shelves are an easy answer. They keep the worktop clear, and you can change the display whenever you like.
Mix frames with plates, jugs and cookery books for interest and a little warmth of colour. Arrange them with thought, so the result looks intended and not scattered.
Consider the colour of the shelves too. They can add colour to a plain kitchen, or bring a calm note to a bold one.
Tie the art to the kitchen
Think about how your pictures relate to the room. In a rustic kitchen, art with an old-world feel will suit the style and colours. If your home has a strong colour theme, choose pieces that pick it up.
Take care not to block the light. Kitchens depend on their windows during the day.
Group your favourites
If there is a dining area in your kitchen, hang a group of pictures near it. Hang them high enough that nobody knocks the frames when sitting down.
Before you reach for the hammer, lay the pictures out on the floor and move them about until the arrangement is right. It is much easier than moving hooks.
Grids and rows
Grids and rows work well in kitchens, because they echo the straight lines of cupboards and tiles and bring order to a set of pictures. Try four in a two-by-two block for a tidy look, or a row of three across a longer wall for something more striking.
Let the kitchen do some of the work
Good-looking appliances in strong colours can be decoration in their own right, and break up an all-white kitchen. Magnetic frames and children's drawings will cheer up a large, plain fridge door.
Carefully chosen cabinets and doors can make the whole kitchen a single design. Light walls with dark wood cabinets give a strong contrast. And put the clutter away, so that what you have chosen to display can be seen.
Want a picture framed for the kitchen? Call EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are happy to talk it through even if you do not want to buy.