Inside: Ways to incorporate timeless and elegant copper into your kitchen, from decorative accessories to fixtures, and more. Elevate the heart of your home with a touch of warmth and charm!
The one element that I knew would be the cherry on top in my timeless French Country kitchen redesign?
This material would have to live in perfect harmony with the brick floors and backsplash. And with the dramatic black stone counters with their marble veining. It would have to bring all the charm and the rustic elegance required of any French country kitchen worth its salt.
What was it missing? The warm charm of copper.
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Why copper accents work in any kitchen style.
Before you tune out because you’re not into my style, wait—copper adds character and warmth to any style kitchen!
Copper is a natural in darker color palette kitchen like mine. But it’s also a great way to warm up a cold all-white kitchen and sterile contemporary designs.
How to decorate with copper in the kitchen.
I have a love affair with copper, so I include little touches of this gorgeous metal quite often in both my kitchen and family room area. Whether I see a new copper accessory in Homegoods or a nice old piece at a thrift store, there’s a good chance it’s coming home with me.
There are just so many beautiful ways to use it, especially in the kitchen where it brings all the charisma and patina worth of a Nancy Meyers movie.💖
Copper kitchen accessories.
In my copper collection, I have decor large, small, and everywhere in between.
This one large copper urn makes a statement on its own in the alcove above the kitchen cabinets:
And in the living room, the huge round platter on top of the built-ins ties in with all the copper decor in the kitchen.
A few medium-sized copper accents in the ends of the kitchen island show up nicely in the dark area, layered in with white dishes for a more luxurious look.
And the open kitchen shelving above these cabinets is the perfect place to display my copper finds.
Even more copper accessories come out in September to add warm metal to my fall decor, like trays, bowls, and cups.
Let’s dive deeper and look at some specific copper accessory ideas you can incorporate into the kitchen:
Copper pots and pans.
My favorite copper touch in the kitchen hands down has to be the copper pots hanging over the stove.
I collected all of these vintage pots on trips to the Round Top Antiques Fair. Other good places to find vintage copper pans? The flea market, thrift store, FBMP, eBay, and Etsy.
The tin lining is pretty worn on these pots but I only use them to decorate with. I’d be very careful about cooking in vintage copper.
If you buy a shiny new set of copper cookware for everyday use, you won’t have those worries. Investment sets like these Mauviel pots and pans are pricey but will last a lifetime. But there are also more affordable options like this T-Fal cookware.
How to hang copper pots over the stove.
If you love the look of copper cookware hanging over the range or on the wall, you may be wondering how to hang these heavy items.
If you have a good place to drill screws into the area you want to the pots hang from, this is super straightforward—you can just buy a hanging rack rod designed for this purpose.
SH&H TIP
Copper cookware is heavy, so screwing your hooks or mounts in securely is a must. No adhesive hooks or hangers will be strong enough and your pots will come crashing down.
But many of us don’t have the right place or materials to install the brackets for these, or we don’t want to drill into our tile or stone backsplash.
I’ve found the best solution in this case is to hang individual hooks for the pots. In my situation, I only had an inch of space to work with, so we drilled wood screws through wall hooks that would fit onto the board right underneath the vent hood.
Another option if you have wood there, is to use heavy-duty large cup hooks screwed into the surface above the cooktop.
A copper utensil holder.
Upgrade an item that’s always out on the counter—wooden spoons look lovely in copper. I found this pretty vintage French copper piece on Etsy.
Copper utensils.
Or you could add some copper cooking tools like spoons, spatulas, or tongs to that utensil caddy. Or set an inviting table with warm copper-colored eating utensils.
Copper serveware and trays.
Another Round Top find was this large copper bowl. It wasn’t cheap but I knew I would love it in my kitchen for years. I get comments on it every time I include it in a post.
And this copper tray was an inexpensive Homegoods purchase:
A place where copper is sure to be noticed? Prop a copper tray on the counter against the backsplash—it’s right at eye level.
Copper mugs and pitchers.
Moscow mule mugs are an inexpensive and easy way to bring a touch of copper to a kitchen hutch. And copper pitchers can go in any vignette.
Copper molds.
Copper molds bring even more character and charm to the kitchen. Hang them in a collection on the wall or with the pots over the cooktop.
Copper canisters.
Display some pretty canisters for a pop of copper on the countertops.
Copper pot racks.
Another way to display cookware is a dedicated pot rack made of copper in the center of the kitchen over an island. Copper cookware hanging from a brass pot rack is also a beautiful combination.
Copper kitchen fixtures.
Go beyond the accessories, and add a copper feature to your kitchen:
Copper backsplash.
I scoured the internet and stores trying to find copper tiles to use behind the range when we were choosing materials during our kitchen remodel. I did find some, but truthfully I’ve always been disappointed that they don’t come off as copper where they are. But hanging those copper pots gives the range a whole new focal point, and the tiles no longer bother me!
If you’re looking for a copper backsplash, copper-colored glass tiles that catch the light show up much better. They just didn’t fit the style of our kitchen. Copper metal tins are another option.
A copper sink.
I’ve never had a copper kitchen sink, so I don’t know how practical or high maintenance they are. But they’re undeniably beautiful.
Copper faucet.
Elevate the copper sink or any kitchen sink with a gorgeous copper faucet.
Copper hardware.
Make the “jewelry” of the kitchen gleam with copper knobs and drawer pulls. While our kitchen hardware isn’t copper, over time the highly used knobs have developed the nicest little hint.
And when I wanted to update the worn knobs in my laundry room, copper color spray paint was an easy way to give them the look of copper.
Copper pipe bistro shelves.
Hang some open shelving with copper pipe shelf brackets for an industrial/modern/European touch.
Copper range hood.
A copper vent hood would be the piece de resistance in any kitchen!
Copper pendant lights.
Lights over the counter are another place where copper can really shine in the kitchen.
Maintenance and cleaning of kitchen copper.
Many new copper decor accessories have a coating.For these lacquered copper items, simply wash these low maintenance items with dish soap and water.
SH&H TIP
Don’t know if your copper has a lacquer finish? Simply rub a little bit of vinegar or ketchup on a test spot with a cloth or sponge. If the tarnish starts to remove, the piece is unlacquered.
If unlaquered, this natural metal does tarnish quickly.
For unlacquered copper, you’ll need to polish it anywhere from every week to every few months if you like the bright copper look.
Always hand dry unlacquered copper with a microfiber cloth. Air drying will leave water spots that won’t wipe away.
My favorite fast way to clean copper is with Wright’s Copper Cream.
And you probably already have homemade copper cleaner in your kitchen (rinse well and dry after using each of these):
- Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle it with salt, and it use as a cleaning sponge to rub off the tarnish.
- Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Cover the copper with it and buff off with a soft cloth.
- Spread a layer of ketchup over the copper and rub off the tarnish with a soft cloth.
- Make a paste of white vinegar and salt and apply it to the copper, then buff the tarnish away.
Copper blends beautifully with all of the other metals in a kitchen—like stainless appliances and gold hardware. And it can infuse your kitchen with just the right touch of warmth, character, and rustic elegance!
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