Yes, you absolutely can decorate the top of your kitchen cabinets! Decorating above kitchen cabinets is a fantastic way to add personality, style, and visual interest to your cooking space, especially if you have a gap between your cabinets and the ceiling.
Why Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets?
Many kitchens have a gap above the upper cabinets. This space can look bare or gather dust quickly. Decorating this area, often called filling gap above kitchen cabinets, helps finish the look of your kitchen. It draws the eye upward, making the whole room feel taller and more polished. Good kitchen cabinet top decor ideas can hide imperfections or simply showcase your favorite items.
Deciding What to Put on Top of Kitchen Cabinets
Before you start placing things up high, think about your kitchen style. Do you like modern, farmhouse, traditional, or eclectic looks? The items you choose should match your overall design. Think about what to put on top of kitchen cabinets that serves a purpose or adds beauty.
Considerations Before Displaying Items on Kitchen Cabinets
It is important to check a few things first:
- Height of Cabinets: How much space is truly available? Measure this area carefully.
- Dust Factor: Things placed up high get dusty fast. Choose items that are easy to clean or that you do not mind cleaning often.
- Safety: Ensure anything you place is stable. You do not want items falling down later.
- Visual Weight: Do not overcrowd the space. Less is often more when styling kitchen cabinets tops.
Great Kitchen Cabinet Topper Ideas
There are many ways to approach kitchen cabinet topper ideas. Some people want decoration. Others want useful storage. Here are some top suggestions for decorating above kitchen cabinets.
1. Greenery and Natural Elements
Plants bring life and color into the kitchen. They are a top choice for creative kitchen cabinet display.
- Faux or Real Plants: If you have good light, real plants like Pothos or Snake Plants work well. If the area is dark, high-quality faux plants are a great option. Use trailing plants to spill over the edge for a soft look.
- Baskets with Greenery: Woven baskets holding silk ferns or olive branches offer texture. This works well for farmhouse or coastal styles.
- Dried Herbs or Florals: Bundles of dried lavender, wheat, or eucalyptus look charming and often add a nice scent.
2. Displaying Collectibles and Sentimental Items
This is your chance to show off things you love. It is about utilizing space above kitchen cabinets for personal flair.
- Matching Collections: If you collect blue and white pottery, antique tins, or clear glass bottles, group them together. Uniformity looks neat and tidy.
- Vintage Servingware: Display beautiful platters, large bowls, or cake stands that you do not use daily.
- Travel Souvenirs: Small, lightweight mementos from trips can add a global touch.
3. Lighting Solutions
Adding light above the cabinets changes the whole feel of the room, especially at night.
- LED Strip Lights: These are easy to install under the cabinet lip pointing upwards, or sometimes tucked just out of sight on top. They cast a lovely, warm glow upward.
- Small Battery-Operated Lamps: If you cannot run wires, small battery-powered accent lamps can provide soft lighting.
4. Baskets and Containers for Texture
Baskets add warmth and texture, helping to soften the hard lines of the cabinets. This is a popular choice for kitchen cabinet top decor ideas.
- Woven Baskets: Use different sizes of natural fiber baskets. They can hide less attractive items if you need to store extra linens or seldom-used small appliances up there.
- Metal Tins or Canisters: Vintage metal canisters add a rustic or industrial touch, depending on their finish.
5. Artwork and Mirrors
If the space above the cabinets is deep enough, you can lean pieces of art.
- Leaned Artwork: Use lightweight, framed prints that match your kitchen colors. Lean them against the wall.
- Small Mirrors: A decorative, small mirror can reflect light, making the space feel brighter. Be cautious with placement so it doesn’t just reflect the ceiling.
Addressing the Cabinet Height Gap: Alternatives to Crown Molding
For many homeowners, the problem isn’t just decorating; it’s the gap itself. If you do not have kitchen cabinet crown molding alternatives, you might want to close that space entirely.
Closing the Gap: Permanent Solutions
If you want a seamless, built-in look, closing the gap is the best route.
- Adding a Bulkhead or Frame: A carpenter can build a simple box frame or bulkhead that matches your cabinet color. This extends the cabinets all the way to the ceiling.
- Using Plywood or Trim: For a DIY approach, measure the gap. Cut plywood to fit and paint it the same color as your cabinets. Then, finish the front edge with decorative trim pieces to mimic crown molding.
Kitchen Cabinet Crown Molding Alternatives (If Closing Isn’t an Option)
If you cannot or do not want to close the gap, you need creative ways to decorate around it.
| Solution Type | Description | Best For Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Layered Trays | Stacking flat, decorative trays one on top of the other. | Traditional, French Country |
| Vertical Elements | Tall, narrow items like slender vases or architectural salvage pieces. | Modern, Eclectic |
| Varying Heights | Using objects of different heights to create visual interest, avoiding a flat line. | All Styles |
Tips for Styling Kitchen Cabinets Tops Successfully
Successful decorating above kitchen cabinets relies on good design principles. Follow these tips for a polished result.
Tip 1: Work with Odd Numbers
The human eye likes groups of three or five. When arranging items, try to group them in odd numbers. For example, display three vases or five small framed photos. This looks more natural than placing items in even pairs.
Tip 2: Maintain Visual Balance
If you have a long stretch of cabinets, you need to distribute the visual “weight.”
- Place larger or darker items near the ends of the cabinet run.
- Use lighter or airier items (like glass or thin greenery) in the middle.
- Avoid clustering everything in one spot. Spread the decor out evenly.
Tip 3: Stick to a Color Palette
Choose 2-3 main colors from your existing kitchen decor (e.g., white, wood tone, and a pop of blue). Only use items in these colors on top of the cabinets. This makes the display look intentional, not cluttered.
Tip 4: Don’t Forget the Clearance
Ensure there is enough room between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling. If the gap is very small (under 6 inches), you might only be able to use very shallow items or consider closing the gap entirely, as most kitchen cabinet topper ideas need a bit of vertical space to shine.
Tip 5: Think About Scale
The items placed up high need to be large enough to be seen from the floor. Tiny knick-knacks will get lost. If your cabinets are very tall, you need taller items—think tall pitchers or substantial baskets. This is key when displaying items on kitchen cabinets.
Specific Ideas for Different Kitchen Styles
How you decorate depends heavily on the vibe of your kitchen.
Modern/Minimalist Kitchens
Modern kitchens need clean lines. Avoid clutter.
- Focus: Texture over quantity.
- Ideas: A single, sculptural piece (like a tall, geometric vase), a row of identical, matte-black canisters, or simple, tall green plants with clean pots. Utilizing space above kitchen cabinets here means making a single strong statement.
Farmhouse/Rustic Kitchens
Farmhouse style loves texture, warmth, and vintage finds.
- Focus: Natural materials and aged finishes.
- Ideas: Woven market baskets, vintage wooden crates, galvanized metal containers, or white ceramic pitchers. These are perfect kitchen cabinet top decor ideas for a cozy feel.
Traditional/Classic Kitchens
Traditional kitchens thrive on symmetry and formal elements.
- Focus: Symmetry and elegance.
- Ideas: Matching antique lamps (if safe), balanced pairs of urns, or fine china displayed symmetrically on either end of the cabinet run.
Eclectic/Bohemian Kitchens
Here, you mix and match! This is great for creative kitchen cabinet display.
- Focus: Personality and layered textures.
- Ideas: Mix colored glass bottles, small woven rugs (rolled up and displayed vertically), travel finds, and vibrant faux botanicals.
Practical Tips for Easy Maintenance
One of the biggest challenges of decorating above kitchen cabinets is keeping things clean.
Cleaning Strategies
- Use a Duster on an Extension Pole: A microfiber duster that attaches to a long pole is your best friend for routine dusting.
- Rotate Items: Twice a year, take everything down, wipe the cabinet tops clean, and swap out a few items. This keeps the display fresh and makes deep cleaning easier.
- Choose Low-Maintenance Decor: Opt for glass, ceramic, or plastic items that can be easily washed, rather than porous materials like unfinished wood or fabric items that trap grease and dust.
Stabilization and Security
For taller spaces, stability matters.
- Use Museum Putty: If you live in an earthquake-prone area or have heavy vibrations (like from large trucks passing by), use a small amount of removable mounting putty (museum putty) under heavy decorative items.
- Avoid Overhangs: Do not place items so high that they overhang the edge of the cabinet significantly. This makes them look unstable and puts them at risk of being knocked off.
Comparing Different Approaches to Filling the Space
To help you decide, here is a quick comparison of the main ways to deal with the space above your kitchen cabinets.
| Approach | Pros | Cons | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decoration/Display | Adds personality; low cost to change; great for displaying items on kitchen cabinets. | Collects dust easily; can look cluttered if overdone. | When cabinets are already near the ceiling but you want added style. |
| Closing the Gap (Bulkhead) | Provides a clean, custom, high-end look; eliminates the dust trap. | Most expensive; permanent change; requires professional work. | New kitchen construction or full renovation. |
| Storage | Provides hidden space for seldom-used items. | Items must be visually appealing or hidden inside baskets; can still gather dust. | When storage is highly needed and you have heavy-duty baskets. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Decorating Above Cabinets
Is it okay if my items above the cabinets do not match my kitchen perfectly?
It is generally best if the colors match your kitchen scheme (2-3 colors). However, if you are displaying items on kitchen cabinets that are very personal (like travel souvenirs), a slight variation is okay, as long as the style (e.g., modern vs. rustic) remains somewhat consistent.
How high is too high to place things?
If you need a step stool that is taller than a standard kitchen step stool to reach the items, it is likely too high for practical decorating or easy cleaning. Aim for items that can be reached safely with a standard two-step stool.
Can I use real food items like large jars of pasta above the cabinets?
Yes, using clear jars filled with colorful dry goods (pasta, dried beans, rice) works well for kitchen cabinet topper ideas, especially in farmhouse styles. However, remember that sunlight can fade these items over time, and they still require periodic checking for pests or freshness.
What are good kitchen cabinet crown molding alternatives for DIYers?
Simple foam crown molding strips are lightweight and easy to cut and adhere (often with construction adhesive). They mimic the look of traditional molding without the heavy cost or complex installation of real wood molding, effectively filling gap above kitchen cabinets for a budget-friendly fix.
Should I cover the entire length of the cabinets?
No. For the best visual effect, leave 1-2 feet of empty space between groupings of items. This breathing room prevents the area from looking heavy or stuffed, which is crucial when styling kitchen cabinets tops.