The Kitchen Gets Forgotten. Let's Fix That.
I'll be honest. When people ask me about wall art, they almost always mention the living room, the bedroom, or the hallway. The kitchen rarely comes up. But I reckon the kitchen deserves more credit. You're in there every morning making coffee, every evening cooking dinner. It's one of the most lived-in rooms in the house, and for a lot of us, it's where the day actually starts.
The trick with a coastal kitchen is keeping it feeling light and easy, not cluttered. You don't want to compete with the bench, the splashback, the open shelving. You want something that catches your eye and makes you smile. Here's how I think about it.
Go Smaller Than You Think
Kitchens have less available wall space than any other room. Between the cabinets, the rangehood, the window above the sink, there's usually one or two decent spots, and they're often not huge. This is where an XS (21x29.7cm) or S (29.7x42cm) print can genuinely shine.
A small, well-chosen print tucked beside a window or above a bench can do a lot of work without making the room feel heavy. I see people underestimate small prints all the time. The detail in a 29.7x42cm print, printed properly on 250gsm art paper with giclee archival inks, is remarkable up close. And in a kitchen, you're usually up close.
If you've got a bigger wall, say above a breakfast bar or on an open dining-adjacent wall, a medium (42x59.4cm) or large (59.4x84.1cm) print can absolutely work. Just check out the size guide before you commit.
One Strong Print Beats a Cluster
Gallery walls are brilliant in living rooms and hallways. In a kitchen, they can tip into chaos pretty fast. My suggestion is one print, placed well, rather than five competing for attention. Let it breathe. Give it a clear wall with nothing too busy around it.
A single coastal print that means something to you will do more for the room than a collection of random beach-themed decor. A lot of my customers buy beach prints australia because they want that real connection to a place, not just a generic ocean vibe. That distinction matters in a kitchen too.
If you love the Surf Coast, something like the Torquay Art Print I in a smaller or medium size would feel right at home above a bench. Shot from the beach itself, it's got that proper coastal energy without being loud about it.
Frame Choice Matters More Than You'd Think
Kitchens can get humid and greasy, so I'd lean toward a shadow box frame over a classic glass-front frame. The shadow box sits the glass 20mm off the print, which creates a bit of airflow and gives it a really clean, gallery-style look. The frames are solid FSC certified plantation timber, available in black, white, or oak, and they come with a 10-year warranty.
Oak frames in particular look great in kitchens with warm timber cabinetry or Hamptons-style joinery. Black frames hold their own against white or dark cabinets. There's no wrong answer, it's more about what's already in the room.
If you've got a wall that gets a bit of afternoon glare, the premium shadow box with Tru Vue Museum Glass is worth a look. It cuts out virtually all reflections and offers 99% UV protection. I've written more about it here if you want the detail: Tru Vue Museum Glass: Is the Premium Shadow Box Frame Worth It for Coastal Wall Art?
Pick a Place You Actually Love
The best coastal wall art australia has to offer isn't the stuff that looks vaguely like a beach. It's the stuff that takes you back somewhere specific. I've had customers buy a print of Point Addis or Wye River because those are their beaches. Their family goes there every summer. That's what goes on the kitchen wall and makes the morning coffee feel like something.
The Wye River Art Print I is one I'm particularly proud of. That tiny village tucked into the hillside above the Great Ocean Road, it's a hard place to capture well, and this one does. In a kitchen that looks out over a garden or has natural light coming in, it just works.
If your beach is somewhere else entirely, have a browse through the full collection. There's a good chance your spot is in there.
Bring Your Coast Into the Kitchen
Prints start from $89, shipped free anywhere in Australia. Everything is printed to order here in Victoria and arrives ready to hang. No gallery markup, no fuss.
If you're not sure on size, the size guide will help you work it out before you order. And if you want to see the full range of frame options, the product guide breaks it all down.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size wall art works best in a kitchen?
A small (29.7x42cm) or medium (42x59.4cm) print is usually the right call for a kitchen. Wall space is limited once you account for cabinets and appliances, so a print that fits a clear, uncluttered spot will always look better than one that feels crammed in. Check the size guide to get a feel for real dimensions before you order.
What type of frame should I choose for a kitchen?
A shadow box frame is a great choice for kitchens because the glass sits 20mm off the print, giving it a clean gallery look that works well in smaller spaces. The frames are solid FSC certified timber and come in black, white, or oak to suit most kitchen styles. If your kitchen gets afternoon glare, the premium shadow box with Tru Vue Museum Glass is worth considering for its anti-reflective properties.
Is one large print or several small prints better for a kitchen?
One well-placed print almost always works better in a kitchen than a cluster. Kitchens are busy rooms with a lot going on visually, and a single coastal print in a good spot gives the eye somewhere to rest. Save the gallery wall approach for the living room or hallway where you have more room to spread out.
What coastal prints work well in a kitchen?
Any print that has personal meaning to you will work well in a kitchen. Prints of beaches you've actually been to, a favourite holiday town, or somewhere your family returns to every year, tend to bring more joy than something chosen purely for aesthetics. Customers often tell me that having their favourite beach on the wall lifts the room every single day. Browse by location to find yours.
