Decorating Your Kitchen Walls: Ideas to Enhance Your Kitchen Cabinet Reface

by Melissa Bullard
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

It's the little things that make a big difference. Think about how the right coordinating color hand towel in your bathroom or even cleaning the light switches brighten up a room. If you're refacing your kitchen cabinets, it's more than a little change, but once you've updated your cabinets, you may need to consider a less-noticed area of your kitchen--its walls. One of the things you can do to spruce up your kitchen after you've finished refacing your cabinets is to decorate your kitchen walls.

Ideas for Decorating Your Kitchen Walls

Decorating your kitchen walls can be as simple or complex as you make it. If you're looking for something fresh and new to go along with your refaced kitchen cabinets, consider these ideas:

• Tile the walls: Sometimes just adding a little bit of color and texture can bring unremarkable kitchen walls to life. A wide variety of colors and patterns are available in tile, and you can arrange a backsplash so that it stands out in striking contrast or blends in to tie the whole kitchen together.
• Add art: Maybe all you need for your kitchen walls is an intriguing photograph or painting. If you have a blank wall constantly staring back at you, adding an appealing piece of art could create a conversation piece.
• Use beadboard: Beadboard, with its classic look, can add a touch of country softness to your kitchen. You can use it as a backsplash behind your sink or stove, or even add some to the rest of your kitchen walls for continuity.
• Consider wallpaper: Pieces of wallpaper over small areas of exposed wall can add just the right touch of pattern and color. You can cover all of your kitchen walls, or you can choose a wallpaper border and place it on the walls just above the cabinets.
• Install open shelving: If you've got some blank wall space without cupboards and have some unique, interesting, or pretty kitchenware, consider installing a shelf for these items. If their colors harmonize with the rest of your kitchen, it could be a great way to decorate, display interesting utensils, and keep kitchenware handy all at the same time.

If your kitchen cabinet refacing job has shown you that you need other changes in your kitchen, consider taking steps to update and decorate the rest of your kitchen walls.

About the Author
Melissa Bullard earned a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, then a Master's Degree in Spanish Language and Literatures from the University of Nevada, Reno. She has taught writing, literature, and Spanish classes, and is currently working as a fre