What to put above kitchen cabinets can range from decorative items to practical storage, depending on your kitchen style and the height of your cabinets. This space, often left empty or dusty, is a prime area for adding personality or making your kitchen feel complete.
Decorating the area above your kitchen cabinets is a fantastic way to elevate your kitchen design. This often-overlooked space offers a chance to add visual interest, color, and texture to your room. It bridges the gap between your cabinets and the ceiling, making the whole kitchen feel finished and intentional. Whether you have tall cabinets that nearly touch the ceiling or shorter ones that leave a large gap, there are many great kitchen cabinet top decor ideas waiting for you.
Why Decorating Above Cabinets Matters
The space above cabinets is more than just empty air. It plays a big role in how your kitchen looks overall.
Creating Visual Height
When cabinets don’t reach the ceiling, the empty space can make the kitchen feel unfinished. Adding items up high draws the eye upward. This tricks the brain into thinking the ceiling is higher. This simple trick makes a small kitchen feel much larger and airier.
Hiding Imperfections
Sometimes, the ceiling line isn’t perfectly straight, or the wall above the cabinets is uneven. Carefully placed decor helps hide these small flaws. It shifts focus to your intentional design choices instead of minor construction quirks.
Reflecting Your Style
This is your chance to show off your taste! Styling above kitchen cabinets allows you to integrate your kitchen with the rest of your home’s look. Are you drawn to farmhouse charm or sleek modern lines? The items you choose send a clear message about your personal style.
Deciphering Your Space: Measuring the Gap
Before you buy a single item, you must know exactly how much space you have. The height of the gap dictates what items will fit and look balanced.
Measuring Accurately
- Measure the distance: Use a tape measure. Check the height from the top of the cabinet to the ceiling in a few different spots. Gaps can sometimes be uneven.
- Consider visual weight: A very tall gap needs taller items to look balanced. A short gap needs slimmer, flatter things. Trying to fit a tall vase in a four-inch gap will look cramped.
Tall Cabinets vs. Short Gaps
If your cabinets almost touch the ceiling (a short gap), your options lean toward flatter items or specialized trim. If you have a very high ceiling (a tall gap), you need taller, substantial pieces.
Top Kitchen Cabinet Top Decor Ideas
There are countless ways to fill this space. The best choice depends on your aesthetic and how much maintenance you want to do. Cleaning high-up items can be tricky!
1. Architectural Interest with Crown Molding
For a very polished, built-in look, consider adding trim or molding. This is one of the best kitchen cabinet cornice ideas.
- Traditional Molding: Adds a classic, formal look. It makes the cabinets look like they were custom-built to the ceiling.
- Modern Alternatives: If traditional cabinet crown molding alternatives appeal to you, look into simple, straight trim pieces. These fit well with modern kitchen cabinet styling where lines are clean and uncluttered.
2. Displaying Collection Pieces
This is a popular way to introduce personality. These items become an extension of your kitchen’s theme. This falls under kitchen cabinet display ideas.
- Vintage Dishes and Platters: Stack decorative plates vertically. Use wire stands to lean them against the wall. This works well for a classic or traditional kitchen.
- Cookbooks: If you have a library feel, stack a few beautiful, colorful cookbooks. Choose ones with interesting spines.
- Themed Baskets: Woven baskets add great texture. They are perfect for achieving a rustic decor above cabinets look. Use sturdy baskets that won’t easily collect dust inside.
3. Greenery and Life
Plants bring freshness to any room. However, living plants need light and watering, which can be hard up high.
- Faux Plants: High-quality faux plants look amazing now. They require zero care. Ivy garlands look wonderful draped slightly over the cabinet edge.
- Dried Florals: Bundles of dried lavender, wheat, or eucalyptus last for years. They offer natural texture without the upkeep of fresh flowers.
4. Artistic Touches
Art draws the eye and adds sophisticated color.
- Framed Art: Use lightweight, framed prints. Choose images related to food, nature, or abstract patterns that match your kitchen colors.
- Mirrors: Small, decorative mirrors can bounce light around, making the area look brighter. Ensure they are firmly placed and won’t fall.
5. Practical Storage Solutions
If you need storage, this space is perfect for housing items you don’t use every day. This is key for utilizing space above kitchen cabinets.
- Seasonal Items: Store holiday serving ware, extra linens, or infrequently used specialty appliances here. Keep them in attractive, labeled bins.
- Extra Glassware: If you have an overflow of wine glasses or mugs, store them carefully in specialized racks that hang just below the ceiling line, or stack them neatly in attractive boxes.
Style Guides: Matching Decor to Your Kitchen Look
The best decorations fit your existing kitchen design. Mix and match textures and materials for interest, but keep the overall theme consistent.
Achieving Rustic Decor Above Cabinets
For a cozy, lived-in feel, focus on natural, aged materials.
| Item Idea | Material Focus | Placement Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Galvanized Tins | Aged metal, distressed paint | Group three different-sized tins together. |
| Wooden Crates | Reclaimed wood, light stain | Turn small crates on their side to look like cubbies. |
| Faux Antlers/Branches | Natural wood, dark tones | Use sparingly to avoid clutter. |
| Mason Jars | Clear or slightly tinted glass | Fill with dried beans or pasta for texture. |
Tips for Modern Kitchen Cabinet Styling
Modern kitchens rely on clean lines, simple shapes, and neutral palettes. Clutter is the enemy here.
- Minimalism is Key: Choose one or two impactful items rather than many small ones.
- Geometric Shapes: Use simple, repeating geometric vases or spheres.
- Color Pops: If your kitchen is mostly white or gray, use one bold color (like navy blue or emerald green) in your chosen decor pieces.
- Metallic Accents: A sleek chrome or matte black sculpture works well.
Traditional Kitchen Decorating
Traditional spaces welcome warmth, detail, and symmetry.
- Symmetry: Place identical items on either end of the cabinet run (e.g., two matching lamps or two identical urns).
- Warm Colors: Reds, golds, and deep blues look great.
- Copper and Brass: Use vintage pots or decorative copper items that complement the warm feel.
Practical Considerations for High Placement
Decorating up high means you trade easy access for good looks. Keep these points in mind.
Dust Management
This is the biggest hurdle. Items placed high up gather dust quickly and are hard to reach for cleaning.
- Choose Closed Items: Solid objects like baskets or framed art collect less dust than open items like intricate glasswork.
- Go Big or Go Home: Fewer large items are easier to wipe down than dozens of tiny knick-knacks.
- Use a Duster: Invest in an extendable microfiber duster or an electrostatic duster specifically for high cleaning.
Safety First
Never place anything heavy or fragile where it could easily fall. Kitchens are high-traffic areas.
- Weight Limits: If you are using shelving or molding, ensure it can support the weight.
- Stability: Items must sit flat or be securely anchored. Avoid stacking very tall towers of objects.
Lighting Solutions
To really make your styling above kitchen cabinets pop, add light.
- LED Strips: Install thin LED light strips underneath the cabinets, angled upward toward the ceiling. This softly illuminates the objects above.
- Small Spotlights: Battery-operated puck lights work well. They can be placed behind a large vase or piece of art to create a dramatic glow without needing electrical wiring.
Avoiding Common Mistakes When Decorating High Cabinets
Many people try to fill the space but end up making the kitchen look heavy or cluttered. Knowing what to put above kitchen cabinets means knowing what to leave out.
Mistake 1: Overstuffing
Too many items create visual chaos. The goal is to complement the cabinets, not compete with them. If you have a long run of cabinets, pick one section to highlight rather than trying to decorate every single foot.
Mistake 2: Using Items That Are Too Small
Small items get lost in the large volume of space above the cabinets. If the gap is four feet high, a three-inch figurine will look tiny and out of place. Choose items that have significant height or width to balance the large empty space.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Function
If you have open shelving up there meant for storage, don’t fill it with purely decorative items that block access to the things you actually need. Always balance form and function, especially in the kitchen.
Mistake 4: Mismatched Finishes
If your kitchen is all stainless steel and white quartz, placing tarnished, brightly colored ceramic items might clash. Keep the material finishes consistent with your overall design theme. This is crucial for successful modern kitchen cabinet styling or any other defined look.
When Cabinets Are Very Tall: Decorating High Cabinets
When your cabinets nearly touch the ceiling, you have less vertical space to work with, but the visual impact of the top edge is huge.
Focusing on the Top Edge
Since you can’t stack much, focus on the line the cabinet top creates.
- Continuous Trim: Adding cabinet crown molding here is highly recommended. It provides a clean, professional finish where the cabinet meets the ceiling.
- Integrated Lighting: Use upward-facing strip lighting to wash the ceiling with light, drawing attention to the height itself, rather than trying to fill it with objects.
- Subtle Repetition: If you have cabinet hardware in a specific finish (like oil-rubbed bronze), place a few matching small items (like a small bronze bowl) on the very top surface for cohesion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Kitchen Cabinet Decorating
Can I put open shelving above kitchen cabinets?
Yes, you can, but it is often challenging. If you opt for this, it’s essential to ensure the shelving is structurally sound and securely fastened to the wall studs, not just the cabinet tops. Open shelves here are best used for displaying attractive, often-used items or sturdy decorative pieces.
Should I match the decor above the cabinets to the backsplash?
It is usually better to connect the decor to the main kitchen aesthetic (cabinets, hardware, wall color) rather than the backsplash specifically. The backsplash is a mid-level element. The area above the cabinets interacts more with the ceiling height and wall color. Aim for harmony, not direct matching.
How often should I change the decor above kitchen cabinets?
This depends on your preference and how quickly the space gathers dust. For seasonal changes, you might swap out textiles or small accent pieces twice a year. For deep cleaning and refreshing the main display, aim for once or twice a year, as it involves getting out a ladder.
Are there budget-friendly kitchen cabinet top decor ideas?
Absolutely! Look for budget-friendly options like grouping dollar-store glass jars (filled with colored rice or beans), using attractive, sturdy cardboard storage boxes covered in decorative paper, or creating simple gallery walls with lightweight printable art hung just above the cabinet line.
Is it okay if my cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling?
Yes, it is completely normal! Many older homes and standard cabinet installations leave a gap. Using smart decor techniques, like those discussed here, turns that gap from an oversight into a design feature. This helps in utilizing space above kitchen cabinets beautifully.