Copper Kitchen Decor Ideas: 7 Beautiful Ways to Add Warmth

A way to add character and warmth to your white kitchen is with copper kitchen decor. These ideas are simple and beautiful, whether your copper is new or antique.

I'll show you seven places where I've added copper accents in my own kitchen, plus a few more ideas I'm loving right now. Use these to bring copper into your home, whatever your style.

The color and patina of copper add so much character to kitchen decor, especially in a white kitchen. If you love vintage or antique style, you'll love adding this warm metal to your space.

Why Copper Kitchen Decor Works in Any Style

Before we dive into ideas, let's talk pros and cons. If you love the look of aged copper once it turns a deep amber color, you can skip ahead. But if you love that rosy, bright copper shine, plan to clean it weekly or monthly to keep it that way.

Keeping copper clean is easy once you know a few tricks. I share all of mine in how to keep your copper shiny the easy way.

Copper is also just plain useful. I love decor I can actually use every day, and copper cookware fits right into that. If your kitchen is white, copper is one of the easiest ways to add warmth without a full remodel.

So is copper still in style? Copper is a timeless metal you'll find in both modern and traditional kitchens. Because it's beautiful cookware first and decor second, it never really goes out of style.

Copper also plays well with other finishes. Pair it with brass or bronze hardware for a collected, layered look, or let it stand out against sage green, olive, or soft light blue for a fresh, updated palette. A little copper goes a long way, so balance it with plenty of white, cream, or neutral surfaces so it doesn't feel busy.

Now that we've covered the basics, let's get into my favorite copper accent ideas.

Is copper in style for kitchen?

Copper is a timeless metal that can easily be used in modern kitchen designs and traditional home decor. Because copper is fabulous cookware to prepare food with it will never go out of style. So if you are considering copper for decoration or cooking, go ahead and use it for your decor.

Now that we know a little about copper and that it is timeless, let's start looking at copper accent ideas.

7 Copper Kitchen Decor Ideas

In my kitchen, copper shows up in seven places. Some are bold and anchor the whole room. Others are small details that go a long way. Here's the full list:

• Copper pots, pans, and mugs over the stove
• Copper on shelves and hooks
• Copper hardware on appliances
• Copper wall decor
• Copper canisters and countertop accessories
• Copper backsplash accents
• Copper sink and faucet details

Copper Cookware Over the Stove

If there's one place to make a real statement with copper, it's cookware hanging over your stove or on a pot rack. The best part is that it's decor and storage in one.

I found this copper at an antique and thrift store a few months back. It was an inexpensive buy, which was perfect since I wasn't sure I'd love copper over my stove. It gave me a low-risk way to test the look before committing.

I found two frying pans, and we already had these antique mugs that belonged to my husband's parents. To test the look, I used command hooks as a temporary setup. After a week, I knew I loved it, so I made it permanent.

Hanging the Copper Cookware

When I shared testing the copper idea on Instagram, I was surprised how many people loved it. Readers liked using command hooks so they didn't have to drill into ceramic tile, and copper accents turned out to be a popular choice across the board.

Next, I shopped for a pot rack and found a silver one at Ikea. Since I wanted copper, I spray painted it with Behr antique copper spray paint.

I love this paint. One can has done several projects in my house now.

We hung the pot rack and set the copper pans on the hooks. If you're not sure you'll love something hanging on your tile wall, try the command hook trick first. I lived with my temporary version for weeks before committing, and now it's one of my favorite parts of the kitchen.

A hanging pot rack is one way to bring in copper cookware, but here's a simpler, more nostalgic option.

Copper on Shelves, Hooks, and Dish Racks

Another easy spot for copper is on open shelves, hooks, or a dish rack. My dish rack is actually a DIY project I made with my brother-in-law, so I love that it has a story. I designed it, and he built most of it. I helped. Mostly.

Consider hanging or setting copper on shelves or a rack. Maybe you have a statement piece like a copper bowl, copper canisters, or Moscow mule mugs. On white cabinets or open shelving, copper shows up beautifully.

Good design often repeats a color throughout a room. I repeated the copper tone here with one of my favorite finds, an antique copper ladle.

One thing to know: copper shows up best against white or light backgrounds. If I'd hung it on an open shelf with a busy background, it would have blended in and disappeared. Against a white wall, though, it shines. Copper also looks lovely against a white marble countertop.

For more on the paint colors in my kitchen, check out Life on Summerhill paint colors, and take the full tour in my small French country kitchen post.

You could stop with just these two spots and still have a beautifully balanced kitchen. But if you want more, here are a few additional ideas.

Copper Hardware on Appliances

Look for appliances with copper handles or details. My stove, a GE Cafe range and refrigerator, has a copper ring detail on the gold handles. It's small, but great design often comes down to the details.

I love how shiny copper hardware finishes off a look. Gold and copper pair beautifully together, especially when the gold has a warm undertone.

Plenty of appliances now come with copper knobs and pulls, some with more copper detail than mine. If you're going for a vintage feel in your kitchen, appliance hardware is worth a closer look.

You might also consider a full copper range hood. I wanted copper to stay an accent in my kitchen, so I skipped it on my hood, but if you love copper, a hood is a gorgeous way to go bigger.

Copper Wall Decor

Here's a fun, inexpensive way to bring copper into your kitchen: decorate your walls with it. Outside of my cookware and ladle, I don't usually keep copper wall decor up year-round. But this past fall, I added a few pieces just for the season.

I found a copper plate and a copper flue plate at my favorite vintage shops. At home, I tied them with jute cord and hung them on hooks in my kitchen sitting area for an easy seasonal update.

For a longer-term look, shop for copper molds or copper wall art. Hang them on a gallery wall, or mix a few pieces in with other art and accessories.

I recently spotted the cutest copper bunny mold, and I'm seriously considering it for my kitchen wall, or maybe even over the stove.

Here is a photo of my whole kitchen so you can see how it came together.

Copper Canisters and Countertop Accessories

Small copper accessories are one of the easiest ways to try this trend without changing a single fixture. Think copper canisters for flour and sugar, a copper utensil crock, a copper cookbook stand, or a stack of mixing bowls.

Because these pieces live right on your countertop, they do a lot of visual work in a small space. Group two or three together near your stove or coffee station so the eye reads them as an intentional collection, not clutter.

This is also the lowest-commitment way to test whether you love copper before adding it anywhere permanent, like a backsplash or hardware.

Copper Backsplash Accents

If you're ready for something bolder, a hammered copper backsplash panel adds gorgeous texture and catches the light beautifully. You don't have to redo your whole backsplash to get the look. A single copper panel behind the stove, or copper tile mixed into a subway tile pattern, gives you the warmth without the full commitment.

Copper backsplash accents pair especially well with white subway tile, marble, or butcher block counters, all finishes that let the copper stay the star.

Copper Sink and Faucet Details

Copper hardware isn't limited to cabinet pulls. A copper or copper-toned faucet is a simple upgrade that adds warmth right at the sink, one of the most-used spots in the kitchen. Some homeowners go a step further with a full copper farmhouse sink for a real vintage statement piece.

If a full copper sink feels like too much of a commitment, start with just the faucet. It's a smaller investment with a big visual payoff.

That wraps up my favorite copper kitchen decor ideas. White kitchens especially benefit from copper, since the white lets the copper stand out and shine.

Here's a look at my whole kitchen so you can see how it all came together.

How to Keep Copper Looking Beautiful

Copper is a living finish, so it will change over time depending on how you care for it. If you love the bright, rosy shine, plan on a quick cleaning every week or two. If you love the deep, aged patina, you can simply let it be.

Either way is right; there's no wrong way to enjoy copper. I walk through my exact method, including what to use and what to avoid, in how to keep your copper shiny the easy way.

Copper Kitchen Decor FAQ

Is copper still in style for kitchens? Yes. Copper is a classic, timeless metal that works in both modern and traditional kitchens, and since it's also functional cookware, it never really falls out of favor.

Does copper match with stainless steel appliances? Yes. Copper and stainless steel pair well together. Use copper in smaller doses, like cookware, hardware, or accessories, so it reads as an intentional accent next to your stainless appliances.

Does copper work with gold kitchen hardware? Yes, especially when your gold has a warm undertone. Copper and warm gold play beautifully together, which is exactly what I did with my range hardware.

Conclusion

So, what do you think? Are you ready to add copper accents to your kitchen, or did you inherit some copper and aren't sure what to do with it yet? There are so many beautiful copper pieces available, new or antique.

Etsy is a great place to shop for new and antique copper cookware and copper molds. If you want new copper cookware, shop at Williams Sonoma. Their pieces are as functional as they are beautiful, and safe to cook on for family and friends.

If you love vintage and thrift finds like the ones in this post, you'll enjoy my book Vintage Nest, full of more ideas for decorating with what you already love.

Now I'd love to know: do you already have copper accents in your kitchen? Share how you use yours in the comments. I hope this post helped, and I hope you're having a wonderful day.

Happy Decorating!