Kitchen walls often get overlooked when it comes to decor. With so much attention focused on cabinetry, countertops, and appliances, it’s easy to forget about beautifying blank walls. But the right metal art can take those blah spaces from boring to bold. Metal signs, prints, plaques, and sculptures infuse personality into your cooking space while adding striking style. Read on to explore the many possibilities of metal wall art and how to incorporate it into your kitchen design.
Types of Metal Wall Art to Liven Up Your Kitchen
From small accents to statement pieces, metal wall art comes in all shapes and sizes. Consider these popular options to inject your kitchen walls with more visual appeal and dimension.
Vintage and Fun: Metal Signs for Your Kitchen
Metal signs printed or engraved with funny food phrases, inspirational quotes, or retro images make great kitchen accents. You can find signs in all different sizes to fit any wall space. Opt for smaller pieces to tuck into nooks near appetizer prep areas or larger statement signs to anchor your kitchen’s design. Metal is durable enough to withstand splatters and spills while adding a touch of nostalgic charm.
Display metal signs near cooking areas or over kitchen islands to encourage your inner chef. Choose messages and art that reflect your tastes and personality – vintage biscuit advertisements for southern charm, coffee slogans for the caffeine addicts, colorful fruit images for the healthy eaters. Whatever your style, a custom metal sign personalized with your family name or a meaningful phrase adds a special personal touch.
Vibrant Photos and Artwork as Metal Prints
For a contemporary twist, turn your favorite photos and artwork into metal prints. Companies can take image files and print them directly onto thin aluminum sheets up to the size of an entire wall. This allows you to create brilliant, vivid murals showcasing scrumptious foods, cookware arrangements, or any kitchen scenes you love.
Beyond photos, reproduce paintings, drawings, and other media onto metal backdrops for an extra pop of color on your kitchen walls. Abstract modern art prints make great focal points behind kitchen islands and stoves. For a spacious, airy aesthetic, print a cluster of smaller images and arrange them in an asymmetrical grid.
Textured Interest with Metal Wall Plaques
Introduce more visual texture in your kitchen with metal wall plaques embossed or engraved with designs. Choose from geometric patterns, nature motifs, or cultural symbols etched into sturdy aluminum or iron sheets. Then mount these metal plates like artwork to infuse your walls with subtle dimension and depth.
Position plaques with ornate filigree or crimped edges near dining nooks for artistic ambiance. Horizontal plaques embossed with vine or ivy designs make smart additions behind kitchen sinks. For a bold accent wall, arrange matching embossed tiles in a textured checkerboard or herringbone pattern.
Sculptural Style with 3D Metal Wall Art
If you want your metal art to take center stage, opt for dimensional, freestanding wall sculptures. These pieces add intrigue with their 3D shapes and forms mounted or hovering over the wall itself. Metal is the perfect medium for these innovative constructions – malleable enough to sculpt yet rigid for maintained structure.
Direct attention to your kitchen’s focal point by hanging an abstract forged metal sculpture over the range or behind the sink. The light will catch the edges and planes of the sculpture, creating shadow art on the wall. Or mount a nature-inspired piece like branching metal vines or a flock of flying birds to enliven a blank wall. Their elevated dimension makes these sculptures true statement accents.
Design Tips for Hanging Kitchen Metal Wall Art
To help your new metal art make maximum visual impact, keep these design tips in mind:
- Measure both your wall space and the art piece size. Scale is important for proper proportion.
- Play with shape, color, and arrangement. Cluster square metal prints in a grid, scatter circles in an uneven formation, or align signs in a row.
- Consider sight lines and walking paths. Position art to catch the eye without impeding movement.
- Use mounting hardware suitable for the art’s thickness and weight. Some pieces can get very heavy.
- Group matching or themed pieces for clustered gallery arrangements.
- Mix metal finishes like raw steel, rusted iron, polished chrome, oiled bronze, or painted colors.
- Incorporate lighting like puck lights to spotlight and accentuate dimensional sculptures.
Creative Ways to Show Off Your Metal Kitchen Art
Once you’ve selected the perfect metal art pieces, showcase them for maximum impact. Here are unique display ideas:
- Salvage old baking sheets to frame prints and plaques with industrial edge.
- Back art with wood panels painted to match your kitchen color scheme.
- Use hanging wires, adhesive hooks, or magnets for adjustable arrangements.
- Attach floating ledges or wall cleats to mount dimensional sculptures.
- Show off collections in grouped gallery arrangements over counters.
- Shine spotlights behind wall sculptures to cast intriguing shadows.
Affordable DIY Metal Wall Art Ideas
Looking for budget-friendly ways to add metal flair? With simple DIY projects, you can easily craft custom art right in your own kitchen. Here are innovative ideas to try:
Print Photos on Metal Sheets
For an instant metal print, order blank aluminum sheets online or visit your local hardware store. Have your favorite food photos printed onto printable metal sheets using an inkjet printer. Cut sheets down to size to display single images or collages. This photo transfer method costs just a fraction of ordering commercial metal prints.
Cut Custom Metal Silhouettes
Metal sheets also make great backgrounds for cutout silhouettes. Scan meaningful shapes or designs. Print enlarged templates onto paper to trace onto metal. Use an electric jigsaw with metal cutting blade to cut smooth edges. Sand any rough spots before hanging your custom silhouette art.
Layer Paint and Patterns
Make basic metal squares and rectangles more interesting with painted designs. First, clean and prime each metal piece. Use stencils and painters tape to block out patterns. Then apply spray paint or acrylics in your accent colors. Try stripes, geometrics, stenciled motifs or abstract paint drips. The metal background peeks through your painted pattern for visual depth.
Hammer Textured Metal
For all-over texture, use metal embossing techniques. Place sheet metal on a concrete surface covered with scrap wood. Hammer the metal using a ball-peen hammer. Move the metal around to hit new areas and create an uneven hammered finish. Use this textured metal as-is or stencil on accents.
With a little creativity and the right materials, you can easily make metal art masterpieces without the higher price tags. Not only will your kitchen walls thank you, but you’ll also feel a sense of pride in your handcrafted pieces.
Complement Your Style with Custom Metal Art
When selecting metal art for your kitchen, consider your existing decor. The finishes, colors, and styles should enhance, not compete with, your overall design. Here are some tips for choosing metal art that complements your kitchen aesthetic:
- Match cool-toned grays and silvers with contemporary styles.
- Incorporate warmer copper and bronze into traditionaldecor.
- Pair patinated, rusted metals with farmhouse or industrial interiors.
- Choose polished chrome or nickel for sleek, modern spaces.
- Introduce whimsical colors like red, turquoise, or yellow as fun pops of accent color.
- Consider repetitive geometrics or minimalist silhouettes for clean-lined areas.
- Add floral cutouts and organic shapes to soften hard edges and surfaces.
The beauty of metal art is the vast range of options to suit any kitchen design vision. Define your goal for the space – a rustic focal point, an eye-catching accent, a personalized anchor – then seek pieces that bring your unique style to life.
Strategic Placement of Metal Wall Art
Where and how you hang your metal art impacts its visual effect. Analyze your kitchen layout to determine strategic placement. Here are smart tips for showing off metal art:
- Draw the eye upward with a tall, narrow piece on an otherwise blank wall.
- Fill awkward empty spaces around windows or corners.
- Extend color themes with art containing accent hues.
- Align collections in a rectangular formation over long counters or islands.
- Use art to lead the eye – place a bold piece at the end of a passageway.
- Add lightweight sculptures high on walls with height and space.
- Highlight focal points like hood vents or shelving units.
Stand back periodically as you arrange artwork to ensure the placements maximize each piece’s impact. The right strategic placement transforms your kitchen metal art from random decor to thoughtfully curated design elements.
Tips for Hanging and Caring for Metal Wall Art
To properly install metal art and keep it looking its best:
- Use anchors and screws specifically made for mounting metal art on drywall or other wall types.
- Check hanging wire or hardware for the appropriate weight capacity and adjust for heavy pieces.
- Use gloves during installation to avoid transfer of dirt and oils onto the art’s surface.
- Level pieces and measure evenly between groupings for visual balance.
- Dust gently with a microfiber cloth to keep metal art clean.
- Never use harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbers to avoid scratching.
- Apply wax paste to Patinated and rusted finishes to prevent further oxidization.
With proper installation and care, your metal art will maintain its integrity and eye-catching appeal.
Tired of staring at dull, nondescript walls above your stove or behind your sink? Metal art offers an easy upgrade that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. The unique visual qualities of metal enliven sterile kitchen surfaces with more depth, texture, shape, and color. With so many options from subtle to standout, you can find metal art that matches your personal tastes.
Revitalize your cooking space with metal’s striking style and versatility. Bring imaginative designs from picturesque prints to dimensional sculptures. Introduce a touch of urban edge with painted signs and plaques. Accomplish your kitchen goals, whether a polished modern look, vintage character, or an artistic focal point. Then stand back and enjoy as your once blank walls become the life of the party.
