Creating a gallery wall in your kitchen can be tempting since kitchens are often overlooked when it comes to showcasing art. However, consider the potential drawbacks before adorning your walls with cherished pieces where they could be admired during meal prep or dishwashing. Kitchens can be hazardous for art preservation, often leading to irreversible damage.
Artwork positioned near heat sources like radiators or heating vents is exposed to high temperatures, causing thermal tension and moisture loss, which can result in cracked paint and warped frames. Over time, paint may blister, bubble, and fade. Art near the stove, one of the toughest areas to clean, risks exposure to grease and cooking splatters.
Walls near the sink offer appealing gallery spaces but are high-risk areas for water splashes and spills. Even steam from a kettle can harm a painting, as wooden frames absorb moisture and expand, similar to wooden doors in heavy rain. Simultaneously, moisture can cause the canvas to shrink. The tension between an expanding frame and a shrinking canvas may warp your painting. Even for prints, constant humidity exposure can warp the medium on which the image is printed. Continuous dampness can lead to mold and mildew growth on most surfaces, causing both aesthetic and structural damage.
Is an artless kitchen the only answer?
While it might seem challenging to hang art in a kitchen, there are ways to mitigate the downsides. If you possess valuable pieces or artwork with sentimental value, consider displaying them in another room. In the kitchen, choose less valuable pieces you wouldn’t mind risking some damage to. This way, replacing them won’t be as painful if needed. Opt for prints of your favorite pieces instead of hanging the originals, especially if they complement the kitchen’s vibe.
Selecting the right frames is also crucial. Framing your artwork under glass provides a protective layer that helps shield it from kitchen-related wear and tear. Although not offering complete protection, it significantly contributes to preserving your images. Consider sealing your art with a clear protective sealant like GRAS Aleene’s Acrylic Sealer Spray, a non-yellowing waterproof sealant.
A worry-free option is investing in outdoor canvas art printed on waterproof canvas. These pieces are made to withstand outdoor conditions, ensuring they don’t run or fade from high temperatures, moisture, or rain. Artwork with this durability is ideal for an in-kitchen gallery wall, allowing you to enjoy art without fearing damage.
Where to add an art gallery in your kitchen
Larger kitchens benefit from more space, and open walls away from sinks, ovens, and radiators are perfect for your gallery wall. Ensure the wall doesn’t receive direct sunlight, as that can also harm artwork. Not all homes feature kitchens with walls ideal for art display, but there are ways to make kitchen galleries feasible.
Open kitchen shelving provides a safe spot to display art collections. The shelf offers some protection from radiated heat while showcasing your stylish pieces. For an open shelf display, pair your artwork with other essential decor items for kitchen shelf styling. Artwork can also be placed free-standing on a countertop, though we recommend glass-covered pieces near work areas rather than block-mounted canvases.
Those with induction ovens can utilize the oven backsplash for hanging art. Since induction stovetops don’t radiate heat, the backsplash is safer for displaying art than with a regular oven. However, remember that your art will still face steam and smoke from cooking. Alternatively, create a gallery wall of beautiful dishware, such as the decorative leaves and soft patterns of Bico Botanical Valley Salad Plates or the whimsical flowers and bold colors of Rockgoldbug Ceramic Plates. When they become dirty, smoke-soiled, or greasy, simply wash them, hang them back up, and your gallery wall is as good as new.
