Jeremiah Brent's Creative Approach To Kitchen Design Will Help You Style Your Space

You can completely change how your kitchen looks by just adding accessories to it. Sometimes a full renovation isn't in the cards, whether because you live in an apartment or it's out of budget, and that's where clever styling comes in. Even if you have a new kitchen, displaying carefully curated knick-knacks can help you elevate it to new heights. That's because filling your kitchen with small accessories in your favored aesthetic helps flesh out a theme. Sprigs of eucalyptus in a black vase make the space instantly feel like a farmhouse kitchen, whereas a marble lazy Susan tray and artisan-made oil dispenser give it a contemporary edge. But how, exactly do you style those items? Designer Jeremiah Brent has a few tips. 

Specifically, he recommends treating your countertops like you would a bookcase, creating interesting vignettes. "I approach the kitchen like I would a bookcase. In our home, we display beautiful things on the kitchen counters, partially because the kids can't reach them there," Brent told Elle Decor. We know this goes against every tip on how to say goodbye to cluttered kitchen counters, but if you like curated vignettes, this might be up your alley. Here is a closer look at the designer's tip.

Treating your countertop like a bookcase might seem like odd advice, but essentially Brent is encouraging people to look outside of their typical counter decor. Most people decorate the surface with kitchen-related items like aesthetic cutting boards, designer salt pots, or elegant tea towels. But there are so many more options. When discussing his own kitchen with Elle Decor, Brent explained, "There are pictures of the kids, vases that we've collected and use to hold wooden spoons, and little jars that we've picked up from our travels and use for things like salt. There's an old kilim runner that we've previously used in our bathroom and hallway. We also have this funny alabaster triangle lamp from the '70s on our countertop, which I'm obsessed with."

While it's not typical to find family photos or vintage rugs in a kitchen, the HGTV designer doesn't see why we can't veer into more playful designs. After all, people started adding table lamps to their kitchens in 2023 for a similar reason — they wanted to create more ambiance and try something new.

If you're something of a minimalist, try layering vignettes slowly to see what you're comfortable with and what works. For instance, swap out your utensil holder for a handmade pot or add two candlesticks to the counter to add some mood lighting when you cook. From there, you can add more layers, or if you're a maximalist at heart, go all out with accents. 

For instance, add a painting to the wall if you have more of a traditional style or a funky print if you're more eclectic. If you don't have much open wall space, you can instead invest in a small painting and hang it somewhere unexpected, like above the spice rack. Some other unexpected items that can instantly update your kitchen include chandeliers instead of pendant lights, a small mirror on an empty wall, or a furry throw on a kitchen island stool.