Grace for the Home You Have: Practical Things in My Kitchen That Double as Decor

When it comes to our homes, it’s easy to focus on what we want to change—the paint color that doesn’t feel quite right, the furniture that doesn’t fit, the room that still feels unfinished. I’ve felt that pull often. But lately, I’ve been asking the Lord to help me see my home differently: not first as a project to improve, but as a gift to receive.

Scripture reminds us that “every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). That includes the very places we live in—the walls that shelter us, the rooms that hold our everyday rhythms, even the ordinary items we use day in and day out. When we begin to see our homes as part of God’s provision, it shifts our hearts from striving for more to fostering contentment with what He has already given.

This doesn’t mean we’ll never decorate or make updates. But it does mean that in the middle of the ordinary, we can pause to delight in what’s already here. Sometimes the most beautiful design choices aren’t the ones we purchase but the ones we notice. (I plan to write more about this since it’s something I’m currently learning myself!)

One of the things I’ve been learning in this season is how much beauty can be found in the ordinary. We don’t always have the time, energy, or budget to redesign entire spaces, but when I look around my kitchen, I see everyday items that are both practical and beautiful. They remind me that God has embedded beauty in the most ordinary corners of our lives—and that noticing it fosters contentment in my heart.

Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:6, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” I’ve been meditating on that verse as I prepare meals, pour drinks, and wipe down counters. These little tools I reach for every day are also little invitations to be content—to thank the Lord for the goodness of His provision and the way He weaves beauty into the mundane.

Here are a few things in my kitchen that are working double duty as both decor and everyday tools:

Olive Cruet

This little vessel is so simple, but I use it every single day and I cannot emphasize enough how much I love it! It sits on my counter and feels more like a piece of pottery than a cooking tool, which makes reaching for it a joy instead of a chore.

Plate Charger on the Island

Instead of tucking away my cookware, I use a dining plate charger as a gathering place for practical kitchen items (the cruet, butter dish, salt and pepper, cooking utensils). It looks intentional in the middle of the island and keeps everything corralled. Practical, but also polished.

Marble iPhone Holder

For following recipes, my marble iPhone holder is both beautiful and endlessly useful. I kind of feel like marble has had it’s day and I’m a little over it for the most part, but this little round adds a little elegance while also keeping me from smudging my phone with floury fingers.

Pumpkin Butter Dish

This one is purely seasonal fun! A little pumpkin-shaped butter dish that’s giving me all the fall vibes. It’s whimsical, practical, and it makes me smile every time I use it.

Woven Basket on the Dining Table

At the center of our table, I use a woven basket as a kind of lazy Susan. It holds salt and pepper, napkins, and little odds and ends. Instead of clutter, it feels curated and cozy.

Cookbooks on the Shelf

Cookbooks lined up on the open kitchen shelf are not just resources—they’re part of the decor. Their spines add warmth, personality, and a sense of story to the space.

Walnut Pepper Grinder & Salt Box

Last but not least, my walnut pepper grinder and salt box. They’re sturdy, useful, and so beautifully made. Every time I reach for them, I’m reminded that everyday tools don’t have to be plain—they can be thoughtfully crafted and deeply enjoyed.

When I put my hands on these things—pouring from the olive cruet, opening the salt box, turning the pepper grinder—I pause to thank the Lord for the way He’s embedded beauty into the practical. These small, ordinary moments become an invitation to contentment and gratitude.

No, my kitchen isn’t “done.” There are plenty of things I could add or change. But when I look around and see beauty in the things I already use every single day, I remember that God’s provision is not just enough—it’s good. And that changes how I live in this space.