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35 Ways to Decorate the Window Over Your Kitchen Sink

By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 09/19/24
kitchen windows over sink

Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

When it comes to decorating the window over your kitchen sink, less is often more. From simple window treatments to trim paint options and windowsill styling ideas, there are countless ways to make your kitchen sink window a bit more functional and attractive, no matter your home's size or style.

Check out these simple ideas for beautifying and optimizing the window over your kitchen sink. And if you’re renovating, read on for ideas about how to turn your kitchen sink window into a feature and a focal point, too. 

  • 01 of 35

    Hang a Roman Shade

    kitchen sink window roman shade

    Ashley Montgomery Design

    If you have a large bank of windows over the kitchen sink, give them the royal treatment with a theatrical window shade to create a dramatic focal point. Ashley Montgomery Design chose an oversized plaid shade to add a country manor touch in this spacious kitchen.

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  • 02 of 35

    Try Black Kitchen Blinds

    kitchen wink window blinds

    Design by Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Ricca Studio

    Match kitchen window blinds and frames for a seamless look. Sissy + Marley Interior Design chose adjustable black window blinds to complement the industrial windows in this contemporary black-and-white kitchen.

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  • 03 of 35

    Accent With Color

    kitchen sink window shelf display

    Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

    Use simple decor in a bright color to energize your space. Leanne Ford Interiors filled Campbell's soup cans with white wildflowers and added a smattering of additional tomato red accents throughout this bright white kitchen.

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  • 04 of 35

    Install a Curtain Panel

    lace curtain kitchen sink window

    deVOL Kitchens

    To block an unsightly view or minimize glare from a south-facing window over the sink, hang a single fixed fabric panel that still allows some light to filter through. In this cozy English cottage-style kitchen from deVOL Kitchens, a vintage lace panel is paired with reclaimed wood window frames.

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  • 05 of 35

    Hang Plants in the Window

    kitchen sink window with hanging plants

    @houseofchais / Instagram

    Fill the dead space above the countertop in the corner of an L-shaped kitchen by hanging a pair of boho-style macrame plant holders from the ceiling. Stagger heights for a more organic feel, like this bright modern space from House of Chais.

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  • 06 of 35

    Hang a Kitchen Window Shelf

    kitchen sink window shelf

    Becca Interiors

    Maximize storage and create an opportunity to display decor by fitting the window above the kitchen sink with a hanging shelf. Becca Interiors suspended a rustic wood shelf from the rafters, positioning it midway between the top and bottom of the windows.

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  • 07 of 35

    Hang Cafe Curtains

    kitchen window sink half curtains

    Ashley Montgomery Design

    To block a view of the neighbors and add warmth to the window above the kitchen sink, consider cafe curtains. Ashley Montgomery Design hung a pair of earth-toned cafe curtains by brass rings on the lower half of the kitchen window that can be whisked closed when you need some privacy.

    how to make kitchen windows look nice

    Make your kitchen windows look more appealing with fresh paint, decorative trim, a patterned window shade, half curtains, or wood shutters. Hang a pendant light or a plant in the window, and remember to regularly clean the glass panes to allow natural light to flood in.

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  • 08 of 35

    Frame With Open Shelving

    floating shelf over kitchen sink window

    Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly

    In a small kitchen, add extra storage and display space around the kitchen windows with open shelving. Leanne Ford Interiors installed L-shaped shelves above the windows and on the wall at the same level as the midpoint of the double sash windows for a built-in look.

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  • 09 of 35

    Hang a Woven Shade

    kitchen sink window with woven shade

    Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto

    Add natural warmth and texture to your kitchen window with a woven shade. Calimia Home decorated the windowsills with wooden cutting boards and a simple vase of flowers that complements the neutral patterned tile for a soft modern look.

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  • 10 of 35

    Surround With Tile

    kitchen sink window accent wall

    Design by Kate Marker Interiors / Photo by Margaret Rajic

    Surround naked windows with striking wall tile in an eye-catching pattern or bold color. Kate Marker Interiors outlined the kitchen sink window with patterned tile, and decorated the sills with a pair of rosemary topiaries on either end that are both decorative and edible.

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  • 11 of 35

    Hang a Vintage Lantern

    farmhouse lantern over kitchen sink

    Marie Flanigan Interiors

    Hang a vintage or industrial-style lantern to anchor the kitchen sink. Marie Flanigan Interiors hung a white painted lantern above the farmhouse apron sink in this whitewashed kitchen pantry that complements brick tile floors.

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  • 12 of 35

    Frame With Reclaimed Wood

    kitchen sink window niche framed with wood beams

    Finding Lovely

    Add instant character to a bump-out window nook above the kitchen sink by framing it with antique barnwood beams. Finding Lovely added warmth to this farmhouse-style kitchen by incorporating decorative beams around the sink that complement darker hardwood flooring.

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  • 13 of 35

    Try Kitchen Window Shutters

    kitchen sink window with wooden shutters

    Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

    Give your kitchen a Mediterranean beach house feel with natural wood shutters. Leanne Ford Interiors chose pale wood to complement this black-and-white kitchen, but you could also paint them any color that you like.

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  • 14 of 35

    Hang a Semi-Opaque Shade

    kitchen sink window with roman shade

    Becca Interiors

    Window treatments come in a variety of options, from opaque to semi-transparent. Install a semi-transparent loose weave Roman shade to filter glare over the kitchen sink without blocking out light completely if privacy isn't an issue, as Becca Interiors did here.

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  • 15 of 35

    Fill the Sill With Plants

    plants on kitchen sink windowsill

    Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

    A bump-out window with a deep windowsill can feel a little sparse if left empty, or become an inadvertent magnet for clutter. Emily Henderson Design turns it into a mini greenhouse instead with a selection of potted plants of varying types, sizes, and heights.

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  • 16 of 35

    Try a Kitchen Picture Window

    paneless kitchen sink picture window

    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

    In a minimalist space, feel free to leave the windows bare in favor of a single glass pane. Cathie Hong Interiors prioritized natural light by fitting this kitchen sink with an extra-wide picture window framed with black that looks onto the side yard.

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  • 17 of 35

    Accent With Brass

    kitchen sink window with brass sconces

    Design by Cohesively Curated Interiors / Carina Skrobecki Photography

    Add a trio of bright brass sconce lights over the kitchen window to provide extra light in the evenings and function like jewelry for your kitchen by day. Cohesively Curated Interiors carried the polished brass accents throughout the space on plumbing fixtures and kitchen cabinet hardware.

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  • 18 of 35

    Add a Transom Window

    modern picture window over kitchen sink

    Maite Granda

    A long and narrow transom window installed above the kitchen sink will provide natural light and views. Over the sink, Interior designer Maite Granda installed a black-trimmed window that is carved out of a bank of upper and lower flat-front cabinetry.

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  • 19 of 35

    Decorate With Potted Flowers

    kitchen sink window with fixed panel

    deVOL Kitchens

    Add cottage style to your kitchen by decorating windowsills and countertops with terra-cotta pots filled with geraniums, like this English home from deVOL Kitchens.

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  • 20 of 35

    Decorate the Windowsill

    kitchen sink window ledge

    Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Styling by Hilary Robertson / Photo by Amy Neunsinger

    Style a windowsill with personal items to make it feel yours. This starburst kitchen window from Leanne Ford Interiors doesn't need much embellishment, but a favorite photo and a perch for reading glasses gives it a warm feel.

    what is the best type of window treatment for a kitchen window?


    Choose kitchen window treatments such as blinds, shades, shutters, or curtains that match the style of your home. Select window treatments that suit your situation: providing privacy when wanted, mobility if windows are operable, blocking strong light if necessary, or creating a focal point if desired.

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  • 21 of 35

    Pair Black and White

    kitchen sink window shade

    Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto

    In a primarily black and white kitchen, soften a black trimmed industrial-style window with a simple white window shade, like this Florida kitchen from Calimia Home.

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  • 22 of 35

    Light the Kitchen Window

    minimalist kitchen window decor ideas

    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Christy Q. Photography

    Pose a simple table lamp on a wide windowsill that can add additional ambient light in the evenings. Cathie Hong Interiors chose an all-white lamp that disappears during the day, and added a vase of tall pampas grass on the other end for balance.

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  • 23 of 35

    Hang Sheer Curtains

    kitchen sink window with gauzy curtains

    Ashley Montgomery Design

    Hang sheer curtains to add a nostalgic feel to a modern farmhouse kitchen. Ashley Montgomery Design paired white curtains with a black rod in an inset window with an extra-wide frame that matches the cream-colored shiplap walls.

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  • 24 of 35

    Remodel a Bay Window

    kitchen sink bay window

    Kate Marker Interiors / Emily Kennedy Photography

    If you're remodeling, consider building a bump-out bay window to create a focal point window niche over the kitchen sink. Kate Marker Interiors decorated this white-washed space with white window frames, marble countertops, and a reclaimed wood ceiling featuring exposed beams.

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  • 25 of 35

    Add Patterned Half Curtains

    rustic kitchen sink window curtains

    Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly

    Patterned half curtains with a grain sack stripe will add vintage charm to a bank of windows over the kitchen sink. Leanne Ford Interiors hung a trio of black-and-white-striped curtains that complement a repurposed antique farm table.

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  • 26 of 35

    Layer Lighting

    patterned roman shade over kitchen sink window

    Marie Flanigan Interiors

    Add ambient lighting around the window to create a pleasant glow that will make your kitchen more pleasant to spend time in day or night. Marie Flanigan Interiors mounted sconces on the sides of cabinetry on either side of the window to optimize space.

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  • 27 of 35

    Anchor With Lighting

    sconces above kitchen sink window

    Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

    Black accents will add definition to a neutral kitchen. Jessica Nelson Design hung a pair of black metal gooseneck sconces that add a graphic accent and anchor the double windows above the farmhouse sink.

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  • 28 of 35

    Decorate With Potted Herbs

    kitchen sink window shade

    Marie Flanigan Interiors

    Decorate your kitchen windowsill or the countertop around the window with your favorite potted herbs. Create a mini kitchen herb garden like this space from Marie Flanigan Interiors that can be expanded over time if you wish.

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  • 29 of 35

    Hang an Opaque Sun Shade

    modern kitchen window decor ideas

    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

    In a minimalist kitchen, keep it simple with an opaque sunshade that will block unwanted glare and views. Decorate around the window with open shelving for displaying objects, like this space from Cathie Hong Interiors.

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  • 30 of 35

    Hang Colorful Curtains

    kitchen sink window curtains

    Ashley Montgomery Design

    Add color to your kitchen by hanging patterned curtains. Ashley Montgomery Design chose blue patterned cafe curtains that complement the painted cane fronts of the cabinetry in this vintage-style butler's pantry.

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  • 31 of 35

    Add a Tray for Supplies

    kitchen sink window ledge tray

    deVOL Kitchens

    Keep countertops clear and your hand soap, dishwashing liquid, or other supplies neat and tidy by housing them in a small tray on the windowsill. This space from deVOL Kitchens chose neutral tones to complement the kitchen color scheme.

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  • 32 of 35

    Soften With a Roman Shade

    kitchen sink window treatment

    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

    Soften a modern kitchen with a fabric shade in a creamy neutral that will work with any color scheme, like this midcentury modern kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors.

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  • 33 of 35

    Try an Interior Window

    internal window over kitchen sink

    deVOL Kitchens

    If you want to open up your kitchen without knocking down any walls, consider installing an interior window. In this space from deVOL Kitchens, a faux window above the kitchen sink is lit by natural light from the entryway, and augmented with warm Edison bulb pendants.

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  • 34 of 35

    Add a Cookbook Stand

    kitchen sink window

    Amber Pierce Designs / Leslie Brown Photography

    A cookbook stand perched below the kitchen sink window allows you to keep your favorite recipes on display. Amber Pierce Designs flanked the space beneath the window with a vase of greens and a footed soap dish.

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  • 35 of 35

    Add Wall Texture

    kitchen sink window

    Design by deVOL Kitchens / Photo by Our Food Stories

    If your kitchen has architectural details like arched deep-set windows, highlight their natural beauty by painting the window frames white. Then add a soft or earthy color with a lightly textured finish on the walls, like this space from deVOL Kitchens and Our Food Stories.

What do you call a window over a kitchen sink?

There is no single term for a window over a kitchen sink. Depending on the architecture of your home and the style of your interior, you may have a number of different window styles over the kitchen sink, such as casement windows, sliding windows, single- or double-hung windows, picture windows, and bay windows. 

What is the standard size for a kitchen window over a sink? 

Kitchen windows over sinks come in many shapes and sizes. In the United States, the most common type of windows are double-hung windows, which range from 24 to 48 inches wide and 36 to 72 inches high. Standard window sizes vary according to the type of window.