Fresh herbs not only enhance the flavor of your meals but also bring a refreshing, vibrant touch to your kitchen. Whether you have a small apartment or a spacious farmhouse kitchen, styling with herbs is an easy and functional way to blend practicality with aesthetics. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best ways to incorporate fresh herbs into your kitchen design while keeping them fresh and accessible for cooking. This post is all about how to grow herbs in the kitchen – combining decor and function.
Table of Contents
Why Decorate Your Kitchen with Fresh Herbs
Using fresh herbs as decor is a simple way to elevate your kitchen while adding natural beauty and health benefits. With groceries being so expensive, as we’ve examined across several blog posts at this point, growing anything you can is a sure way to save. Having a little herb garden in your kitchen is such a great way to do that. It doesn’t take a lot of space. You don’t need a plot of land. Hello apartment dwellers! I’ll show you all the different ways you can incorporate this later in the post.
In the meantime though, that are lots of benefits besides saving money. Here’s why it’s a great idea:
- Improves Air Quality – Herbs like basil and mint help purify the air. Plus, they smell amazing! The smell of fresh herbs is intoxicating.
- Saves Money – Growing your own herbs means fewer grocery store purchases. Herbs from the store are expensive. Dried herbs aren’t always a good substitute either if a recipe calls for fresh. You’re getting more out of the herbs nutritionally when you eat them fresh.
- Adds a Natural Touch – Greenery makes any space feel more inviting and cozy. Plus live plants in the home help to reduce stress, anxiety, and overall help to improve mental health.
- Enhances Cooking Convenience – Fresh herbs at arm’s reach make meal prep easier.
There are so many benefits to having them in your home besides adding wonderful flavors to the dishes you create in the kitchen.
Best Herbs for Kitchen Decor & Cooking
Although I’ll be sharing some examples of herbs to grow, think about what kinds of herbs you regularly use. Whenever you start growing, always try to grow what you’d eat. If you’re trying to incorporate more fresh herbs in your diet, then start with the basic ones below. They’re a great starting point. Most herbs are really easy to grow, so if you’re not sure about how difficult it’d be, rest assured you’ll be ok with these ones.
On thing to keep in mind though is that not all herbs thrive indoors, so choosing the right ones is key. I also have a bunch of care tips for herbs as we round up this blog post.
Here are some low-maintenance, visually appealing herbs perfect for kitchen decor:
- Basil – A kitchen staple that thrives in warm indoor spaces.
- Mint – Freshens up the kitchen with its refreshing scent.
- Rosemary – A fragrant herb that adds a rustic touch.
- Thyme – Compact and great for small spaces.
- Parsley – A versatile garnish that grows well indoors.
- Chives – Easy to maintain and ideal for garnishing dishes.
These all would be a great starting point and they’re pretty prolific.
Stylish Ways to Display Fresh Herbs in Your Kitchen
Now that we’ve picked out the herbs we want to grow, how do we incorporate them into our decor? There are plenty of ways to do that. There isn’t only one way to start displaying your little garden.
Hanging Herb Garden for Small Spaces
If counter space is limited, create a vertical herb garden by hanging small pots on a wall-mounted rack or pegboard. This not only saves space but also adds a chic, farmhouse-style aesthetic.
Window Sill Herb Planters
A sunny kitchen window is the perfect spot for fresh herbs. Use matching ceramic pots or glass jars for a clean, modern look.
Floating Shelves with Herb Pots
Floating shelves offer a minimalist way to showcase herbs while keeping them within easy reach. Opt for neutral-colored pots for a sleek, contemporary feel or wooden planters for a rustic touch.
Mason Jar Herb Planters
Mason jars are a budget-friendly, trendy way to display fresh herbs. Attach them to a wooden board for a DIY herb wall or simply line them up on your countertop.
Tiered Herb Stands
A three-tiered stand or spice rack can be repurposed to hold small herb pots, adding depth and greenery to your kitchen decor.
Growing Herbs Indoors
Growing herbs indoors is totally possible. But, styling your kitchen with fresh herbs is only effective if they stay healthy. They’ll still need the same care they would have if they were outside. Here are some quick care tips to growing herbs indoors.
- Provide Adequate Sunlight – Most herbs need 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. A sunny window or grow lights work best. If you don’t have any light, check out some grow light containers.
- Use Well-Draining Pots – Choose pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot. I can’t stress this enough with having drainage. Without any holes in the bottom, your soil will eventually become super soggy, rot the roots, and even cause mold to grow.
- Water Correctly – Keep the soil moist but not soggy; water when the top inch feels dry. Monitor the soil well to avoid overwatering. Plants will need less water during cooler and colder months.
- Prune Regularly – Trimming herbs encourages new growth and keeps them from getting leggy. Plants like basil like to be pruned. Basil becomes big and bushy when you prune it correctly and often.
- Rotate Plants – If only one side gets light, rotate pots weekly for even growth. You’ll notice that it’s time to rotate them when they are leaning to one side in the pot.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating fresh herbs into your kitchen decor is an easy, stylish, and practical way to enhance your space. Whether you opt for a hanging herb garden, mason jar planters, or floating shelves, fresh herbs add natural beauty and flavor to your home.
Do you already decorate with herbs in your kitchen? Share your favorite styling ideas in the comments!
This post was all about how to grow herbs in the kitchen.
