The kitchen is where the home gathers, yet it's often all hard surfaces — tile, stone, steel. Kitchen wall art is the easiest way to add warmth and a little personality back into the room. This guide covers how to choose it: the right colours, the right scale, and where to hang it so it stays looking its best.
Choose warmth and energy
A bedroom asks for calm. A kitchen can take the opposite — colour, warmth, a bit of energy. This is one of the few rooms where a brighter, livelier piece earns its place rather than overwhelming.
Warm, earthy tones suit the room especially well. Our Terracotta collection brings a natural, grounded warmth, while Splash of Color and Colorful Paintings add life to a wall of neutral cabinetry. If your kitchen leans pared-back and Scandinavian, Subdued Tones and Crème keep things soft and cohesive instead.
Think smaller — and in groups
Kitchen walls are rarely one clean expanse. Cabinets, shelves, windows and appliances break up the space, so smaller pieces — or a small pairing — usually work better than one large statement.
A pair of square canvases above a breakfast nook, or a single piece on the free wall at the dining end, tends to sit more naturally than an oversized work squeezed between units. Browse the Square format for formats that fit kitchen walls comfortably. For help getting the proportions right, see our complete wall art size guide.
Where to hang art in a kitchen
Keep art clear of the splatter and heat zone. Hang pieces at least 50–60 cm to the side of or above the hob, and away from the sink — grease, steam and direct heat are the things to avoid. The best spots are a breakfast nook, the wall above open shelving, or a free wall at the dining end of the room.
Can you put canvas art in a kitchen?
Yes. Canvas handles a kitchen's everyday warmth and humidity well, as long as it isn't hung directly above the hob where grease and heat collect. On a free wall away from direct splatter, a canvas print will keep its colour and finish for years.
Pulling it together
The easiest way to make kitchen art feel intentional is to echo a colour already in the room — a tile, the cabinetry, even a favourite piece of crockery. For a warm, characterful kitchen, pair Terracotta with a touch of Splash of Color. For a calm, minimal one, keep to Crème and Subdued Tones.
Choose colour with confidence, keep the scale to the wall, and hang clear of the hob. A kitchen doesn't need much art — just the right piece in the right spot to warm the whole room.
Frequently asked questions
Where should you hang art in a kitchen?
On a free wall away from heat and water — a breakfast nook, above open shelving, or the dining end of the room. Keep art at least 50–60 cm clear of the hob and sink.
Can you put canvas art in a kitchen?
Yes, provided it isn't directly above the hob. Away from direct grease, steam and heat, canvas holds up well to a kitchen's everyday humidity.
What size art is best for a kitchen?
Smaller pieces usually work best because kitchen walls are broken up by cabinets and appliances. Square formats around 50x50 cm, alone or in a pair, are a reliable choice.
What kind of art suits a kitchen?
Warm, energetic pieces — earthy terracotta tones or a pop of colour — bring life to hard surfaces. For a Scandinavian kitchen, soft neutrals keep the look calm and cohesive.
Looking for a place to start? Explore warm, kitchen-ready pieces in Terracotta and Splash of Color, or browse smaller Square formats.
