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Livingetc
Livingetc
Oonagh Turner

How to Decorate Kitchen Countertops Without the Clutter — Designers Share Their Style Secrets

A minimalist all-white kitchen.

Kitchen countertops are one of those destinations in the home that can quickly evolve into dumping grounds. The kitchen is typically a busy, bustling space, and items inevitably build up, cluttering your beautiful countertops and often bringing a chaotic energy to the space. Recent kitchen trends have seen decor creeping into this part of the home. Artfully placed wooden chopping boards, color-pop appliances, and even well-framed artwork can transform even the most sterile all-white cubes into a room that is bursting with character. But there is a fine line between decor and clutter, so how do you make sure that your kitchen countertops look well-decorated but not overly busy?

For Sammy Kairouz, director of interiors at C. Kairouz Architects, decorating all comes down to understanding visual clutter and where the eye rests in the kitchen. ‘Consider the background and the foreground. When styling, step back and look toward the kitchen,’ advises Sammy. ‘Placing an item on the countertop and then on the back bench in the same position can create too much visual bulk. Consider balance and offsetting pieces to find the right visual harmony between elements.' For some other practical tips, we've spoken to the experts about how to decorate a modern kitchen all the while reducing clutter. Here are their top takeaways.

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