Yes, you absolutely can decorate the top of your kitchen cabinets! Decorating the space above kitchen cabinets is a fantastic way to add style, personality, and visual interest to your kitchen, especially if you have cabinets that don’t reach the ceiling.
Why Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets?
Many kitchens feature a gap between the top of the upper cabinets and the ceiling. This area often becomes a dust trap and looks unfinished. Filling this space, or styling it thoughtfully, is key to creating a polished look. Decorating the top of your kitchen cabinets helps tie the room together. It also utilizes often-wasted vertical space. These kitchen cabinet top decor ideas can transform a plain kitchen into a showstopper.
Fixing the Unfinished Look
If your cabinets stop short of the ceiling, that gap looks awkward. It draws the eye upward to an empty, dusty spot. By adding décor, you draw the eye to intentional displays instead. This simple fix makes the kitchen look custom-built. It instantly raises the perceived value of the space.
Utilizing Space Above Kitchen Cabinets
This area is prime real estate for décor. It offers a chance to show off collections or add height to your room. Good decoration here guides the eye up. This makes ceilings appear taller. It’s a great trick for smaller kitchens. Think of it as a high-up shelf begging for styling.
Choosing the Right Decor for Cabinet Tops
What you place above your cabinets depends on a few things. These include the height of the gap, the style of your kitchen, and how often you can clean up there. Display items above kitchen cabinets should match your kitchen’s overall theme.
Assessing Your Space
First, look closely at the space you have.
| Cabinet Top Gap Size | Best Decor Approach | Cleaning Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Very Small (Under 6 inches) | Flat items, small art, or crown molding. | Low |
| Medium (6 to 18 inches) | Medium-sized baskets, tall vases, or plants. | Medium |
| Large (Over 18 inches) | Large statement pieces, collections, or faux greenery. | High (Dust gathers fast!) |
Decorating dusty kitchen tops is a real issue. If you hate cleaning, choose fewer, larger items that are easy to wipe down. Small, detailed items trap dust quickly.
Matching Your Kitchen Style
The décor should flow with your existing design.
- Farmhouse/Rustic: Use woven baskets, antique pitchers, or wooden signs.
- Modern/Minimalist: Stick to clean lines. Use metallic canisters or simple, geometric vases. Avoid clutter.
- Traditional/Classic: Think carved wooden urns, antique china, or elegant glass jars.
Creative Ways to Decorate Kitchen Cabinets
There are many creative ways to decorate kitchen cabinets. Don’t just stick to the basics. Think outside the box to make this area truly special.
1. The Power of Baskets and Containers
Baskets are perfect for this space. They add texture and warmth. They are also great for kitchen cabinet top storage solutions, even if the storage is purely for show.
- Woven Baskets: Use matching sets for a clean look. Place them on their side or upright.
- Metal Bins: Great for industrial or modern kitchens. They look purposeful.
- Oversized Canisters: Large, attractive ceramic or metal canisters can hold utensils (if they fit) or just look nice.
2. Introducing Greenery (Faux or Real)
Plants bring life to any room. Since the tops of cabinets get little light, faux plants are often the best choice.
- Faux Trailing Ivy: This is very popular. Let the greenery cascade down the sides of the cabinets. This softens the hard lines of the cabinetry.
- Tall Succulent Arrangements: If the space is visible from below, use a large, low planter with several faux succulents.
- Dried Botanicals: Tall bunches of dried wheat, pampas grass, or eucalyptus stems look elegant in tall, slender vases.
3. Art and Architectural Elements
If you have a large gap, treat the space like a high shelf for art.
- Leaning Art: Lean framed prints or canvases against the wall. Choose art with colors that pull from your backsplash or curtains.
- Mirrored Trays: Place a decorative mirrored tray up high. Place a few key items on the tray. The mirror reflects light, making the area look brighter.
- Architectural Salvage: Old window frames, corbels, or decorative molding pieces make unique display items above kitchen cabinets.
4. Adding Height to Kitchen Cabinets Decor
To make the room feel grander, focus on adding height to kitchen cabinets decor.
- Use tall items on one side and shorter items on the other. This creates visual movement.
- Tall glass jars filled with colored pasta, beans, or shells work well.
- Tall, slender vases or candlesticks draw the eye upward effectively.
5. Thematic Collections
Show off things you love. Keep the theme consistent.
- Holiday Decor: Change the display seasonally. Use pumpkins in the fall or simple evergreen branches in winter.
- Travel Souvenirs: Display pottery or statues from trips.
- Matching Glassware: Group antique cloches or delicate wine glasses together.
Dealing with Gaps: Cabinet Extensions and Molding
Sometimes, the best way to decorate the top is to eliminate the gap entirely or frame it nicely. This addresses the issue of utilizing space above kitchen cabinets by making it part of the structure.
Should I Install Cabinets All the Way Up?
If you are renovating, installing cabinets that reach the ceiling is the ideal solution. This maximizes storage. If that’s not possible, look at alternatives.
Kitchen Cabinet Crown Molding Alternatives
Crown molding is the traditional way to finish the top edge of cabinets. If you can’t install full molding, here are alternatives:
- Shims and Trim: A carpenter can often add simple wooden shims and flat trim pieces to bridge a small gap for a fraction of the cost of new cabinets.
- Decorative Trim Pieces: Instead of traditional molding, use pre-made decorative panels or beadboard to cover the gap. This is less permanent and easier to install.
- Open Shelving Integration: If the space is large, install shallow, open shelves just above the existing cabinets. This turns the area into functional styling open kitchen shelving space instead of dead air.
Styling Open Kitchen Shelving Above Cabinets
If you opted for open shelving above the main cabinets, treat it like any other display area. Keep it edited. Too many items here will look messy fast.
Balancing Open Shelves
When styling open kitchen shelving above cabinets, remember the rule of three. Group items in odd numbers.
- Vary Heights: Place a tall vase next to a stack of two cookbooks, next to a small bowl.
- Color Flow: Keep the colors consistent across all the shelves. Use white dishes, for example, on every shelf for unity.
- Function Meets Form: If you put dishes up there, make sure they are attractive dishes you actually use sometimes.
Making It Easy to Maintain
The biggest hurdle for decorating above cabinets is dust. Decorating dusty kitchen tops requires constant upkeep. Here’s how to reduce the chore.
The Less Is More Approach
Clutter traps dust. Fewer items mean easier cleaning. Choose 3 to 5 large, solid pieces rather than 20 small knick-knacks. Large, smooth surfaces are easier to dust quickly with a microfiber cloth or a Swiffer duster.
Choosing Dust-Resistant Materials
Some materials resist dust better than others.
- Glass and Metal: These wipe clean easily. They don’t hold static charge like plastic.
- Woven Materials (Baskets): These are tricky. If you use baskets, consider spraying the inside lightly with a clear sealant to reduce dust absorption.
Regular Maintenance Schedule
Make dusting the cabinet tops part of your routine.
- Monthly Wipe-Down: Use a damp microfiber cloth once a month. This prevents thick layers of grime.
- Seasonal Swap: When you change your décor for the seasons (e.g., swapping summer décor for fall items), give the entire area a thorough cleaning.
Achieving Aesthetic Kitchen Cabinet Finishing Touches
The goal is to create aesthetic kitchen cabinet finishing touches. This means the items you choose should look intentional and beautiful.
Scale and Proportion are Key
The items must look right in proportion to the cabinet size and the room height.
- Small Cabinets, Small Decor: Tiny items on huge cabinets look silly.
- Tall Cabinets, Tall Decor: If you have 10-foot ceilings, tiny items will disappear. You need large-scale art or very tall containers to fill that vertical space properly.
Using Light to Your Advantage
If your kitchen has good overhead lighting, position reflective items up high.
- Shiny Metals: Copper, chrome, or gold accents reflect light beautifully.
- Clear Glass: Use substantial, clear glass jugs or bottles. They look light and airy, not heavy.
Color Coordination Checklist
Before you finalize your display, check these color points:
- Do the décor colors complement your countertops?
- Do they match the cabinet color (e.g., dark wood cabinets look great with cream or white décor)?
- Do they tie into the colors used in the rest of the room (like the dining chairs or rug)?
Table: Kitchen Cabinet Top Decor Inspiration Guide
This table offers specific inspiration based on the item type and the desired look.
| Decor Item | Best For Kitchen Style | Placement Tip | Maintenance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Ceramic Vases | Traditional, Transitional | Group in odd numbers (3 or 5) | Low |
| Antique Tins/Boxes | Farmhouse, Rustic | Use for height variation | Medium (Wipe outside only) |
| Faux Potted Herbs | Modern Farmhouse | Place small pots on a long wooden board | Low |
| Vintage Glass Jars | Coastal, Cottage | Fill with shells, beach glass, or dried lemons | Very Low (Easy to clean glass) |
| Framed Botanical Prints | Classic, Elegant | Lean against the wall, slightly overlapping | Low |
| Large Wicker Baskets | Casual, Farmhouse | Turn openings toward the room for texture | High (Woven texture traps dust) |
Addressing Common Decorating Challenges
When utilizing space above kitchen cabinets, you might run into specific problems. Knowing how to fix them keeps your décor looking its best.
Challenge 1: Uneven Cabinet Heights
If your cabinets are different heights, decorating the top becomes tricky. You need to create a visual line.
Solution: Use height manipulation. On top of the lower cabinets, place very tall items (like a large vase). On top of the higher cabinets, use shorter, wider items (like a stack of bowls). This tricks the eye into seeing a consistent top line.
Challenge 2: Appliances Blocking the View
If you have a refrigerator or tall pantry next to the cabinets, the top décor might not be visible.
Solution: Focus only on the visible sections. If the space above the fridge is mostly hidden, save your budget. If you can only see the area above the sink cabinet, put your best, most colorful pieces there.
Challenge 3: Kitchen Cabinet Top Storage Solutions That Look Good
Sometimes you need storage up there, but it can’t look messy.
Solution: Choose uniform, attractive containers. If you need to store holiday platters or infrequently used serving bowls, buy matching, attractive bins (like linen-covered boxes or matching silver tins). Store items inside these uniform boxes. This keeps the look tidy and achieves kitchen cabinet top storage solutions without sacrificing style.
Final Touches: Achieving the Perfect Look
Decorating the cabinet tops is often the last step in a kitchen refresh. These aesthetic kitchen cabinet finishing touches pull the whole room together.
Remember that the area above your cabinets serves as the “cap” to your kitchen design. It should feel deliberate, not accidental.
Step-by-Step Final Styling Plan
- Clear Everything Off: Start with a completely clean slate. Dust thoroughly.
- Choose Your Theme: Decide on the overall feel (e.g., rustic textures, bright colors, minimalist metal).
- Select Your Pieces: Gather 3 to 7 items total. Stick to one material or one color family.
- Place the Anchors: Put the tallest, largest items first, usually near the corners or the center.
- Fill Gaps: Use medium-sized items to bridge the space between the anchors.
- Add Texture/Color Pop: Place the smallest item—perhaps a pop of color or texture—to complete the vignette.
- Step Back and Assess: Do things look balanced? Is there too much visual weight in one area? Adjust as needed.
This careful placement ensures that you are creating true display items above kitchen cabinets that enhance, rather than detract from, your beautiful kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I put real plants on top of kitchen cabinets?
While possible, it is usually not recommended. Most kitchens lack the consistent, strong light real plants need to thrive up high. Furthermore, watering real plants above cabinets risks spills and water damage to the cabinets or the décor below. Faux plants or dried arrangements are safer and require zero maintenance.
How high should the items be placed above the cabinets?
Items should generally be large enough to be seen easily from the floor. If your gap is small (less than 10 inches), choose items that are mostly flat or only slightly taller than the cabinet itself. If the gap is large, items should occupy at least half to two-thirds of the vertical space available to look proportional.
What is the simplest way to decorate the top of cabinets?
The simplest method is using matching baskets or large, attractive pitchers. This requires only two or three items. This look is forgiving, hides dust well inside baskets, and works with many décor styles.
Should I always decorate the top of every cabinet run?
No. If one section of cabinets is directly next to a tall window or a set of tall doors, decorating the top there might look awkward or block necessary light. Focus only on the cabinet runs where the space is clearly visible and can benefit from the added height and style.
How do I stop things from falling off the top of the cabinets?
If you are using tall, narrow items, place a small piece of museum putty (or earthquake putty) on the base of the item where it contacts the cabinet surface. This will anchor them securely, especially if your cabinets are near frequently used doors that cause vibrations.