7 Kitchen Decorating Ideas For the Designer on a Budget

The kitchen often gets left behind during home decorating sprees. For many, the prospect of replacing countertops and cabinets and buying new appliances can be daunting. But there’s more to kitchen decorating than renovation. A few cheap, simple touches can make a huge difference. If you’re stumped on where to start, here are some simple kitchen decorating ideas to get you started. None of these items retial over $40, making them all ideal for the homeowner who doesn’t have much to spare.  Using our Kmart coupons and Kohls promo codes, and you can buy even more for less.

United Curtain Company Rachel Valance 

Curtains are a simple way to add some personality to a room. This is especially true in the kitchen, where curtains can make it seem more homey. Plus, since your kitchen usually doesn’t have many windows, you don’t have to worry about spending a ton on window treatments. So why not spring for these adorable valances? The embroidery and ribbon detail are fun and very vintage, and are guaranteed to put a smile on your face every morning. At $30 apiece, they become a real steal with our Kohls coupon codes 30%.

Core Bamboo 14-Piece Utensil Set 

Don’t settle for your standard black or stainless steel cooking utensils. Add a bit of flair by buying an unconventional set of spoons and spatulas. These bamboo utensils add an element of warmth and natural beauty to your kitchen when you leave them displayed them in their accompanying bamboo crock. They’re eco- and budget-friendly, too! What’s not to love? At $40, this 14-piece set is already a bargain. But our Kohls promo codes knock that price down even more.

Blossoms and Blooms 4-Pack of Placemats 

Using placemats is one of those kitchen decorating ideas we all know. But how many of us actually follow it? Placemats have a bad reputation for being fussy. That may be true of doilies and the like, but modern placemats are designed with the busy, messy modern family in mind. These beautiful floral placemats are machine washable and made out of tough polyester fabric. You’re guaranteed to get a lot of use out of them. And at only $26 – even less with our Kohls promo codes – why not try it out?

Because of their relatively low cost, dish towels are great ways to experiment with different looks in the kitchen. You need to buy some anyway, so why not try out some fun dish towels? These ones by Sandra Lee have a cute vintage look to them. Their material, reminiscent of old-timey flour sacks, holds up to all kinds of washing and drying. Buy just a few to try them out, or stock up for years to come. Either way, keep in mind our Kmart coupons.

 Hanging Memo & Chalk Board 

Never forget these two essential kitchen decorating ideas: Maximize form and function. When you’re operating on a small budget, you don’t want to waste money on useless tchotchkes and other miscellaneous items. You want each item to serve a purpose and be beautifully designed to boot. Such is the case with this dual memo and chalk board. Just think of the possibilities: You can pin up a recipe, write a running grocery list, hang up important phone numbers … the list goes on. Plus, the board itself has a very cool vintage design to it. Kohls has a number of boards like these for sale. Whichever one you choose, remember to use our Kohls promo codes to save.

Zak Designs MeeMe Large Tray 

Never underestimate the power of a good tray! Not only do they corral small trinkets and appliances to save space on your counter top; they also direct the eye and add an element of design. And they’re cheap! They’re the definition of “form and function.” Use a tray for any set of trinkets and appliances that go together: the coffee pot, filters, and coffee or the salt, pepper, and other frequently used spices. Use our Kmart coupons on each tray to save a ton.

Oggi Marilyn Tall & Slim Cocktail Shaker

Bar ware in general is a great way to decorate a kitchen with practical objects. Simply displaying your wine glasses and cocktail tumblers in a glass cabinet is appealing to the eye. You can buy bar ware on the cheap, too: Simple glass pieces retail at around $1 each. If you really want to knock it out of the park, though, invest in a cocktail shaker. Cocktail shakers come in all sorts of fun designs and are great conversation pieces. This one by Oggi is a fun play on the traditional shaker look: Instead of bulging out, it creates an hourglass figure – thus the name “Marilyn.” Save on your brand-new bar with our Kohls promo codes and use your savings to try out new cocktails!

As you can see, it’s not so hard to decorate your kitchen on a budget. All it takes a love of good design and an eye for deals. Start out by buying textiles, glassware, and utensils that fit your taste. If you want to decorate some more, move on to bigger, eye-catching pieces like trays, memo boards, even small appliances. (You’d be amazed how many different toasters, coffee makers, and kettles are on the market today.) All of these kitchen decorating ideas costs much less than your standard renovation, but will still breathe new life into your kitchen. Also, don’t be afraid to collect over time! Even the best designed kitchens weren’t built that way overnight. Whenever you see something that strikes you fancy, snatch it up! It’ll all come together in the end. As you begin your journey to a new kitchen that’s all you, use our  Kohls promo codes and  Kmart coupons to keep your budget flexible.