Can you decorate the space above kitchen cabinets? Yes, absolutely! Decorating the space above kitchen cabinets is a fantastic way to add personality, style, and even extra storage to your kitchen. This often-ignored area offers a great canvas for your creativity.
The gap between the top of your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling, sometimes called the “soffit area” if it’s a built-in structure, is prime real estate for design. Whether your cabinets stop short, leaving a large void, or you simply want to enhance the look of existing crown molding, there are many ways to make this spot shine. Let’s explore some great kitchen cabinet top decor ideas and styling tips to transform this overlooked zone.
Why Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets?
Many homeowners face the challenge of this empty space. Ignoring it can make a kitchen look unfinished. Decorating this area helps achieve several goals:
- Aesthetic Appeal: It finishes the look of your kitchen. It connects the cabinets to the ceiling visually.
- Personalization: It lets you show off your style. You can display favorite collections.
- Visual Height: Tall displays can draw the eye upward. This can make a room feel taller.
- Practicality: In some cases, it offers hidden kitchen storage solutions above cabinets.
Choosing Your Decoration Style
Before you start piling things up, think about your kitchen’s overall style. A modern, sleek kitchen needs different decor than a rustic farmhouse kitchen.
Matching Kitchen Styles
| Kitchen Style | Recommended Decor Elements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Modern/Minimalist | Clean lines, simple pottery, indirect lighting. | Keep it sparse. Avoid clutter. |
| Farmhouse/Rustic | Baskets, vintage signs, galvanized metal pieces. | Texture is key. Use natural materials. |
| Traditional/Classic | Elegant vases, stacked books (matching colors), subtle greenery. | Opt for symmetry and quality pieces. |
| Eclectic/Bohemian | Colorful ceramics, travel souvenirs, vibrant textiles (if visible). | Mix textures and colors freely. |
Creative Ways to Fill Gap Above Kitchen Cabinets
The gap needs filling, but how you fill it depends on its height and your taste. Here are some excellent creative ways to fill gap above kitchen cabinets.
1. Extending Cabinets with Trim or Molding
If the gap is small, the cleanest solution is often to build it up. This makes the cabinets look custom-made and reach the ceiling.
Kitchen Cabinet Crown Molding Ideas
Crown molding is trim placed at the very top edge of the cabinet. It provides a beautiful, finished transition to the ceiling.
- Tall Molding: Use tall, ornate molding for a grand, traditional look.
- Simple Trim: For modern kitchens, use simple, flat trim pieces.
- Color Match: Ensure the molding matches the cabinet color exactly for a seamless effect. If you want it to stand out, paint it a contrasting color (like white molding over dark cabinets).
This approach effectively creates kitchen cabinet soffit alternatives, offering a built-in look without the structural soffit.
2. Displaying Decorative Items
This is where you can really have fun. Display items for kitchen cabinet tops should generally be light, dust-resistant, and viewed primarily from below.
Using Height for Impact
If the space is high, use tall items. Small trinkets will look lost.
- Vases and Urns: Large, decorative vases work well. Choose materials like ceramic, glass, or metal. Keep the shapes interesting.
- Baskets: Woven baskets offer great texture, especially in farmhouse or coastal designs. They also double as easy-to-access hidden storage if you need a spot for rarely used linens.
- Faux Greenery: High-quality faux plants or garlands can soften the hard lines of the kitchen. Cascading ivy looks natural trailing down slightly.
Creating Vignettes
Arrange items in small groups, usually odd numbers (threes or fives).
- The Rule of Three: Place three objects of varying heights together. A tall vase, a medium-sized stack of plates, and a small candle holder create visual interest.
- Thematic Groupings: Display items related to cooking, like antique whisks, measuring cups, or copper pots.
Styling open space above cabinets requires a light touch. Resist the urge to fill every inch. Negative space is important for letting your chosen items breathe.
3. Incorporating Kitchen Storage Solutions Above Cabinets
For practical homeowners, this space can serve a purpose beyond looks.
- Large Storage Bins: Use uniform, attractive bins (like sturdy canvas or attractive wood boxes). These are perfect for storing seasonal items, holiday platters, or extra paper goods. Label them clearly if you plan to retrieve items often.
- Cookbooks: If you have a lot of cookbooks you love but rarely reference, stacking them neatly can look scholarly and intentional. Wrap them in clear plastic if dust is a major concern.
When using storage, aim for uniformity. Mismatched boxes look messy quickly. Choose one material and stick with it for a cohesive look.
4. Lighting Up the Area
Lighting is key for drawing attention to your curated display and for adding ambiance. Good lighting ideas for above kitchen cabinets can transform the entire room, especially at night.
Accent Lighting Techniques
- LED Strip Lights (Under-Cabinet Lighting Upside Down): Install flexible LED strips directly under the cabinet molding or along the underside lip of the cabinet box, pointing upward. This creates a soft, upward glow (uplighting). It highlights any items placed above and brightens the ceiling area.
- Small Spotlights: Small, battery-operated puck lights or miniature directional spotlights can be placed among the decor items. Aim them slightly downward or toward the most interesting piece.
- Battery-Operated Picture Lights: These small fixtures can be mounted on the top edge of the cabinet, casting light directly onto the display items below. They eliminate the need for messy wiring.
Aesthetic kitchen cabinet toppers look ten times better when illuminated properly. Lighting prevents the area from becoming a dark, dusty shadow zone.
Mastering the Art of Styling Open Space Above Cabinets
Effective styling is about balance, scale, and proportion.
Scale and Proportion: Don’t Go Too Small
The most common mistake is using items that are too small for the height of the gap. If the space is 18 inches high, a 3-inch trinket will disappear.
- Calculate Height: Measure the distance from the cabinet top to the ceiling. Your tallest decorative item should generally take up no more than two-thirds of that height to leave breathing room.
- Visual Weight: Use larger, heavier-looking items (like stoneware or metal) on the ends of the display, and lighter items (like glass or thin ceramics) in the middle.
Symmetry vs. Asymmetry
How you arrange your items dictates the feel of the display.
- Symmetrical Styling: Placing identical items on either side of the center line (e.g., two matching ferns or two matching lanterns) creates a very formal, calm look. This works well in traditional kitchens.
- Asymmetrical Styling: Grouping items in odd numbers and varying heights creates dynamic visual movement. This is more playful and suits eclectic or modern designs.
Dealing with Kitchen Cabinet Soffit Alternatives (If Applicable)
Sometimes, a soffit—a boxed-in section built between the cabinet and the ceiling—is present.
- If the soffit is shallow, you might still be able to place long, shallow items like framed art turned sideways or long, slender decorative boxes on top.
- If the soffit is deep, it might be better to treat the top of the soffit as the new “cabinet top” and decorate that surface, or consider removing the soffit entirely if undertaking renovations, as this creates space for taller cabinets or better display opportunities.
Maintenance and Cleaning Tips
Decorating up high means dealing with dust. Kitchen grease travels, settling on every surface, including these hard-to-reach spots.
Dust Management Strategies
- Choose Smart Materials: Select items that are easy to wipe down. Smooth ceramic, metal, or glass are easier than porous terracotta or fabric-covered items.
- Use Covers Strategically: If you opt for using storage bins, make sure they have tight-fitting lids. This drastically cuts down on cleaning time.
- Infrequent, Deep Cleaning: Instead of dusting weekly, plan for a deep clean every three to six months. Gather all items, move them to a clear counter space, clean the cabinet tops thoroughly, and then dust each item before replacing it.
Protecting Display Items
If you use uplighting, the heat generated might affect certain materials over long periods.
- If using older incandescent bulbs, place them slightly away from plastic or very delicate items.
- LEDs are the preferred choice as they produce very little heat, making them safer for kitchen cabinet top decor ideas.
Integrating Color and Texture
The decor above the cabinets is a perfect place to introduce accent colors that might be too bold to use on the main cabinetry or walls.
Color Coordination
- Repeat Accents: If your kitchen has blue accent tiles or yellow dish towels, incorporate blue or yellow vases above the cabinets. This ties the whole room together.
- Monochromatic Approach: For a calmer feel, stick to shades of white, cream, and natural wood tones. This keeps the focus on texture rather than color.
Textural Elements
Texture adds depth, especially when viewed from a distance.
- Natural Textures: Woven grasses, rough wood, and matte ceramics add warmth.
- Reflective Textures: Polished metals (chrome, brass) or glossy finishes help bounce light around, which is great if the area is dark.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Decorating Above Cabinets
Is it always necessary to decorate the space above kitchen cabinets?
No, it is not necessary. If you have kitchen cabinet crown molding ideas that perfectly meet the ceiling, or if the gap is very small (under 6 inches), leaving it bare might look cleaner and more contemporary. If you choose not to decorate, ensure the existing molding or cabinet finish looks intentional and complete.
What materials should I avoid placing above kitchen cabinets?
Avoid items made of paper, cardboard (unless sealed in an airtight container), very delicate textiles, or anything that degrades quickly with heat or grease exposure. Also, avoid anything extremely heavy that could put stress on the cabinet structure if it shifts.
How high should my cabinets be to avoid this decorating issue?
Ideally, cabinets should reach the ceiling or be topped with crown molding that visually connects them to the ceiling. If you are designing a new kitchen, aiming for 90-inch or taller cabinets is a good goal to minimize the gap. If a gap remains, decorative kitchen cabinet toppers can bridge the remaining space beautifully.
Can I use real plants above kitchen cabinets?
It is generally discouraged. Real plants require sunlight and watering. Watering high-up plants is messy, and dripping water can damage your cabinets or the decor below. If you love the look of greenery, use high-quality silk or preserved plants instead.
What if the space above my cabinets is uneven or sloped?
If the ceiling slopes down toward the cabinets, you need very shallow items or specialized trim work designed for sloped ceilings. For uneven gaps, using flexible elements like woven garlands that drape naturally or selecting decor items that are inherently irregular (like organic-shaped pottery) can hide minor inconsistencies better than rigid, straight-lined items.
Decorating the space above kitchen cabinets offers a rewarding design opportunity. By selecting appropriate items, utilizing good lighting, and paying attention to scale, you can turn that neglected void into a standout feature of your kitchen design. Focus on cohesion, and don’t overcrowd the area; a few well-chosen pieces work better than a crowded collection.