TL;DR
Get kitchen gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Ina Garten’s decorating advice, highlighted in a Good Housekeeping report, is to choose a small color palette for kitchen items on display, such as white china and silver. The approach can work with pieces homeowners already own; Garten also suggests mixing shapes, heights and old and new items for a more collected display.
Ina Garten’s decorating tip for a timeless-looking kitchen is to choose a small color palette for items on display, such as white china and silver, according to a Good Housekeeping report on advice from her Substack. The suggestion offers homeowners a way to make shelves and counters feel more cohesive without replacing cabinets or buying a complete new set of dishes.
Garten’s advice is to make a deliberate choice about the colors of visible kitchenware and then stick with that limited palette. Good Housekeeping quotes her Substack post: “Choose a small color palette and stick to it, such as white china and silver.” The report presents the pairing as an example, not a requirement; readers can choose other complementary colors that suit their kitchens and existing belongings.
The report says the approach can be tried with pieces already on hand, rather than through a renovation or a wholesale replacement of serveware. Repeating a few colors across displayed dishes, trays and other accessories can help items with different shapes or materials appear more coordinated. The report also notes that white and silver can be added to gradually if a piece breaks or needs replacing.
Garten’s other display suggestions focus on variation within that simple framework. She recommends arranging old and new pieces together and mixing round and flat shapes and different heights, rather than lining a shelf with only one kind of bowl or plate. A platter leaned against a wall, a stack of cookbooks or a wireless table lamp can add height to a display, according to the report.
A Cohesive Look Without a Renovation
The appeal of the tip is its low cost and flexibility: it focuses on how kitchen accessories are arranged, not on changing the room’s fixtures or finishes. For people who keep dishes and serving pieces for years, a limited palette can also make it easier to incorporate replacements without making a display feel disconnected.
That does not mean every item must match. Garten’s advice, as relayed by Good Housekeeping, pairs a consistent color direction with differences in shape, height and age. The combination gives readers a practical styling framework while leaving room for personal taste. The report does not establish that the method raises a home’s value or produces a particular design outcome; it describes a decorating approach intended to make visible items feel more considered.
Products Worth Considering
Ninja Sizzle Indoor Grill and Griddle, 14-Inch, Grey/Silver (GR101)
Ninja Foodi DZ201 8-Quart DualZone 6-in-1 Air Fryer
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Garten’s Display Advice
The Good Housekeeping report points to Garten’s Substack as the source of the color-palette suggestion. It also says her public-facing kitchen imagery has featured a similar mix, including a creamy Dutch oven and muted bowls near silver cake stands and pitchers. Those examples illustrate the palette, but the report does not say that the objects shown are part of a formal design scheme or that readers need to copy them exactly.
Garten’s additional advice addresses how to display items once a palette is chosen. She favors using dishes and trays that are both loved and used, and arranging varied forms together. The report quotes her description of a pleasing arrangement as one with different shapes and heights. Open shelving or glass-front cabinets can make such collections visible, though the tip can also be adapted to a counter or another display area.
Details the Report Does Not Specify
The source material does not give the date of Garten’s original Substack post, provide a direct link to that post beyond the Good Housekeeping report, or explain whether she was responding to a particular kitchen trend. The report also offers no survey or testing to show how the palette affects perceptions of a kitchen; its guidance is design advice, not a measured result.
There is no single prescribed palette for every home. White and silver are Garten’s example, while the report says readers can adapt the idea to their own style. How well any arrangement works will depend on the kitchen, the items available and how much of them are put on display.
How Readers Can Apply the Tip
The report describes no forthcoming project or event from Garten tied to this advice. For readers, the next step is to look at the dishes and accessories already visible in the kitchen, identify a few complementary colors and arrange the pieces with some variation in shape and height. A platter or cookbooks can add height without requiring new cabinetry or a full set of matching items.
Anyone following the idea can make adjustments gradually as existing pieces are replaced. The underlying recommendation remains a small, consistent palette paired with a display that reflects what the household actually uses and likes. Good Housekeeping’s report does not specify a required budget, number of colors or exact arrangement.
Key Questions
What is Ina Garten’s kitchen styling tip?
Garten recommends choosing a small color palette for kitchen items on display. Her example is white china and silver, according to the Good Housekeeping report.
Do I need to buy new dishes to try it?
No. The report says the approach can start with pieces you already own. The idea is to group visible items around a few complementary colors, rather than replace the kitchen’s dishes or cabinets.
How does Garten suggest arranging the pieces?
She recommends mixing different shapes and heights, and combining older and newer items. The report gives examples such as leaning a platter against a wall or adding a stack of cookbooks.
Does the palette have to be white and silver?
No. White and silver are Garten’s example, but Good Housekeeping says the suggestion can be adapted to another simple color combination that fits a reader’s style and existing kitchen items.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
![Bread 🍞 [Bonnymama7]](https://thesmartsous.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/bread-bonnymama7-featured-560x300.jpg)
