Can I decorate above kitchen cabinets? Yes, you absolutely can decorate above kitchen cabinets! This often-unused space offers a fantastic opportunity to enhance your kitchen’s style and add valuable visual interest, moving beyond simple storage. Decorating above kitchen cabinets has evolved significantly, moving away from dusty collectibles to sophisticated displays that complement your overall contemporary kitchen decor ideas.
Decorating the space above your cabinets, sometimes called the soffit area or the top of the cabinetry, is a key element in achieving a polished, finished look for your kitchen. For those with taller cabinets, this area becomes prime real estate for design statements. This guide will explore fresh, modern ways to approach modern kitchen cabinet decor, ensuring your design is both stylish and practical.
Why Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets?
Many older kitchens have a gap between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling. This space can look awkward or unfinished if left bare. Decorating this area serves several important functions:
- Visual Height: It draws the eye upward, making the ceiling appear higher. This tricks the eye into seeing a larger room.
- Style Integration: It allows you to bring in elements that tie your modern kitchen together. It’s another layer of design.
- Breaking Up Monotony: If you have large blocks of cabinetry, adding decor breaks up the visual weight.
- Personal Expression: It gives you a chance to display cherished items without cluttering your counters.
Moving Beyond Traditional Dust Traps: Modern Approaches
The old standard was often displaying heavy ceramic plates or knick-knacks that rarely saw the light of day—and collected a lot of dust. Modern kitchen cabinet decor focuses on intentionality, quality over quantity, and cohesive design.
The Case for Going Full Height
The most impactful modern trend is eliminating the gap entirely. If you are renovating or installing new cabinets, consider modern kitchen storage solutions that run all the way to the ceiling.
Kitchen Cabinet Crown Molding Alternatives
Traditional crown molding can sometimes feel heavy or dated in a very modern setting.
- Slab Door Style: Pair cabinets that meet the ceiling with sleek, flat-panel (slab) doors for a seamless, architectural look.
- Integrated Trim: Use very simple, rectilinear trim pieces that blend almost invisibly with the cabinet face. This keeps the lines clean, a hallmark of modern design.
- Paint Matching: If you must have a gap, paint the wall space above the cabinets the exact same color as the cabinet boxes. This visually merges the two, making the cabinets appear taller than they are.
Styling Above Kitchen Cabinets: Intentional Display
When a gap exists, you need thoughtful kitchen cabinet top display ideas. The goal is curated minimalism, not clutter.
1. Architectural Elements and Artwork
Use the space to display items that mimic the scale and texture found in the rest of your contemporary home.
- Large Format Art: If the space is deep enough, lean one or two large, modern pieces of framed canvas art against the wall. Choose abstract or minimalist prints that use your kitchen’s color palette.
- Sculptural Objects: Display tall, interesting sculptures or vases. Think clean lines, matte finishes (like matte black or white ceramic), or natural materials like polished wood or stone. These act like indoor architectural accents.
- Mirrored Trays: Use a long, narrow mirrored tray to reflect light from under-cabinet lighting. Place a few tall, simple objects on the tray. This adds depth and brightness.
2. Strategic Use of Greenery
Plants add life and softness to hard kitchen lines. However, location is key here.
- Low-Light Tolerant Faux Plants: Since lighting might be poor up high, high-quality faux olive trees, tall snake plants, or trailing ivy work well. Ensure they look realistic.
- Air Plants (Tillandsia): If you can manage to lightly mist them, air plants are fantastic because they don’t require soil, keeping the area looking very clean.
3. Thoughtful Vessel Groupings
Group items in odd numbers (threes or fives). This is much more visually appealing than lining up single items sporadically.
- Vary Heights: When decorating high kitchen cabinets, vary the height of the vessels you choose. Place the tallest object in the center or off to one side for balance.
- Material Consistency: Stick to one or two material types. For example, all matte white pottery, or a mix of dark wood and brass accents. This creates a cohesive look for your kitchen cabinet top display.
Incorporating Modern Kitchen Storage Solutions
Sometimes, the best decoration is functional storage that looks beautiful. This is especially true in smaller homes where every square inch must earn its keep.
Open Shelving Above Cabinets
While traditional cabinets stop at the ceiling, a highly popular contemporary kitchen decor idea involves adding open shelving above cabinets in the empty space. This transforms dead space into accessible, display-worthy storage.
- Floating Shelves: Install thick, simple floating shelves (often reclaimed wood or metal-edged) above standard-height cabinets.
- What to Display Here: Use these shelves for attractive everyday items:
- Matching sets of clear glass canisters filled with dry goods (pasta, beans).
- Everyday white or neutral dishware stacked neatly.
- Cookbooks displayed with their spines facing out, interspersed with small plants.
This strategy solves the dust problem because the items stored here are used regularly.
| Shelf Content Style | Aesthetic Goal | Practicality Level |
|---|---|---|
| Matching Canisters | Minimalist, uniform | High (Frequent access) |
| Recipe Binders/Books | Cozy, intellectual | Medium |
| Display Pottery/Art | Purely decorative | Low (Dust collection risk) |
| Attractive Baskets | Texture, hidden storage | High (Good for odds/ends) |
Applying Minimalism to High Spaces
Minimalist kitchen cabinet styling dictates that if you use the space above the cabinets, less is truly more. Avoid filling the entire gap wall-to-wall.
- Use Negative Space: Let the wall color show through. This “negative space” lets the few items you do display breathe and look important.
- Color Palette Control: Stick to items that match your trim or your dominant cabinet color (white, black, or wood tone). If your kitchen is all white, place matte white or light wood objects up top. If you have dark cabinets, use black, charcoal, or metallic items.
Design Strategies for Decorating High Kitchen Cabinets
When decorating high kitchen cabinets, scale and light are your best friends. The items need to be large enough to register from the floor.
H4: Dealing with Awkward Heights and Depths
Not all gaps are the same. Some are narrow (just a few inches deep), while others might be a foot deep.
Narrow Gaps (2 to 6 Inches Deep)
These are the hardest. Forget bulky items. Focus on flat or very slim objects.
- Slim Artwork: As mentioned, lean tall, thin pieces of art.
- Architectural Trim Pieces: Find long, thin pieces of interesting wood or metal to lean vertically. Think of them as decorative planks.
- Tapered Vases: Use very tall, narrow trumpet vases. Their height uses the vertical space without taking up much depth.
Wide Gaps (8 Inches or More Deep)
This depth allows for layering, which adds richness to your chic kitchen cabinet accents.
- Layered Vignettes: Place a few larger items (like tall pitchers or baskets) toward the back wall. Place smaller, lower items (like small bowls or succulents) in front of them.
- Basket Storage: Use attractive woven baskets to hide necessary but unattractive items (like extra paper towels or less-used serving platters). The texture of the basket adds warmth.
H4: Integrating Lighting for Impact
Lighting transforms modern kitchen cabinet decor from day to night.
- LED Strip Lighting: If you have open shelving above or a slight ledge, install thin LED strips pointing downward toward the cabinet doors. This highlights the cabinet faces and makes the display items glow subtly.
- Battery-Operated Spotlights: For areas without wiring, use small, remote-controlled battery-operated puck lights placed behind the tallest objects, aimed at the ceiling or the back wall. This creates a dramatic up-light effect.
Specific Item Ideas for Contemporary Kitchen Decor
When selecting pieces for your kitchen cabinet top display, focus on texture, scale, and modern materiality.
H5: Materiality Matters in Modern Design
Modern style favors natural or refined materials over plastic or overly ornate finishes.
- Ceramics: Look for matte finishes, interesting asymmetry, or simple geometric shapes. White, cream, terracotta, and deep indigo are great choices.
- Metals: Use aged brass, matte black iron, or polished chrome sparingly. A single, tall metal object can act as a strong focal point.
- Wood: Natural, light woods (like maple or ash) or dark, richly grained woods (like walnut) add necessary warmth to sleek kitchens. Think wooden bowls or stacked wooden boxes.
H5: Utilizing Non-Traditional Objects
Think outside the “kitchen decor” box for truly chic kitchen cabinet accents.
- Architectural Salvage: Small sections of interesting reclaimed wood trim or old corbels (if your style leans transitional-modern) can look very cool when painted a solid, modern color like charcoal grey.
- Vintage Scientific Glassware: Tall, thin glass beakers or laboratory flasks offer beautiful, clean lines that fit perfectly with a minimalist aesthetic.
- Stacking Books: Instead of just placing books, try stacking them horizontally and placing a single small item on top of the stack. This is an easy way to add controlled height.
Addressing the Practicalities: Dust and Maintenance
One main reason people avoid decorating high kitchen cabinets is maintenance. However, modern solutions minimize this issue.
Minimizing Dust Collection
- Choose Solid Pieces: Avoid items with many small crevices, openwork, or glass that shows every fingerprint. Smooth, matte surfaces are easier to wipe down.
- Group Smartly: If you group items, leave space between them. This allows you to easily wipe down the wall or the surface behind each item without moving the entire display.
- Use the “Taller is Better” Rule: Items that reach near the ceiling often look better and seem less like “dust collectors” than small, squat items sitting directly on the cabinet top.
When to Consider Covering the Space Completely
For the ultimate minimalist look, sometimes covering the gap is the best choice for modern kitchen storage solutions.
Installing False Bulkheads or Bulkheads
A bulkhead is a constructed dropped ceiling section used to conceal ductwork or pipes, but it can also be built purely for aesthetic purposes.
- Seamless Transition: A custom-built soffit that matches the cabinetry paint color creates a clean line where the cabinets meet the ceiling. This is highly effective for modern designs where continuous lines are prized.
- Integrated Lighting: This construction allows you to recess LED lighting directly into the bulkhead, casting beautiful ambient light down the cabinet faces.
This removes the problem of decorating high kitchen cabinets entirely, favoring architectural sleekness. This is often the preferred path when styling above kitchen cabinets in a true, high-end modern setting.
Case Studies in Modern Cabinet Top Styling
Let’s examine a few scenarios based on common kitchen setups.
Scenario 1: The Small, Shallow Gap (4 inches)
This kitchen has standard 30-inch cabinets with an 8-foot ceiling, leaving a small visual gap.
- Solution: Focus on verticality. Use three tall, very slender vases or bottles made of slightly colored glass (like smoky grey or amber). Place them in a tight cluster slightly off-center. This provides height without invading the limited depth.
Scenario 2: The Large, Deep Gap (12+ inches)
This modern kitchen features 42-inch cabinets, leaving a substantial area above.
- Solution: Create a balanced vignette using substantial objects. On one end, place a tall, narrow olive tree in a simple, modern pot. In the middle, use a grouping of three varied-height white ceramic vessels. On the other end, lean a large, minimalist abstract painting. Ensure all colors pull from the kitchen’s main scheme. This turns the area into an intentional gallery wall above the storage.
Scenario 3: Integrating Open Shelving
The kitchen uses standard 36-inch cabinets and the homeowner needs more display space.
- Solution: Install two floating shelves spanning the length of the main cabinet run. The bottom shelf holds frequently used cookbooks and attractive spice jars. The top shelf displays decorative items only, such as minimalist brass objects or a collection of identical small, dark pots. This combines utility and display perfectly, fitting the definition of modern kitchen storage solutions.
Fathoming Scale and Balance in Decorating
When decorating high kitchen cabinets, scale is the most common mistake people make. If items are too small, they disappear or look like clutter from below.
Key Principles for High Placement:
- Height Dominates: The items must be tall enough to be visible from eye level on the ground floor. A 10-inch item in a 20-inch gap will look lost. Aim for items that occupy at least half the vertical space available.
- Symmetry vs. Asymmetry: Pure modern design often favors asymmetry. Instead of placing three identical items equidistant apart, try placing one large item, two medium items clustered together, and leaving the rest of the space empty. This looks more curated.
- Textural Contrast: If your cabinets are smooth and glossy, use textured items above (woven baskets, rough pottery). If your cabinets are wood grain, use smooth glass or metal accents above.
FAQs Regarding Decorating Above Kitchen Cabinets
What is the safest way to decorate above kitchen cabinets?
The safest way, aesthetically and practically, is to use items that complement the existing architecture. Lean tall, simple artwork against the wall or use large, matte ceramic vases. If you are worried about dust, opt for high-quality faux plants or items that are very easy to wipe down, like sealed metal sculptures.
Can I use open shelving above cabinets if I have low ceilings?
It is generally not recommended if your ceilings are low (under 8 feet). Open shelving above cabinets in a low-ceiling room can make the room feel heavy and closed in. In this case, it is better to opt for cabinets that run all the way up or use very subtle, continuous crown molding/trim.
How do I achieve minimalist kitchen cabinet styling above the cabinets?
Minimalist styling above cabinets requires extreme editing. Choose only one or two focal points. These items should be sculptural and high-quality. Ensure they share a cohesive color palette (e.g., all black or all light wood tones) and use the surrounding empty space as a design element itself. Do not fill the entire length of the cabinets.
Is it okay to store functional items up there?
Yes, especially if you employ modern kitchen storage solutions like attractive baskets or matching glass containers. If the items are purely functional but look nice, they work well, especially on open shelving. If you are just leaning things against the wall, try to keep the items decorative rather than purely functional to maintain the aesthetic flow.
What should I avoid when decorating high kitchen cabinets?
Avoid small, cluttered collections of mismatched items. Do not use items that are dusty or difficult to clean (like faux flower arrangements with many fine details). Also, avoid using items that visually clash with your modern aesthetic, such as overly ornate, colorful, or heavily patterned traditional décor.