What to put on top of kitchen cabinets? You can put decorative items like baskets, faux greenery, unique pottery, framed art, or themed collections on top of your kitchen cabinets. Deciding what belongs there depends on your kitchen style, ceiling height, and the look you want to achieve.
Decorating the space above kitchen cabinets often seems like a puzzle. Many people leave this area bare because it feels too high or too awkward. However, this space is prime real estate for adding style and personality to your kitchen. Whether you have standard cabinets or very high ones, there are many brilliant kitchen cabinet top decorating ideas waiting to be discovered on platforms like Pinterest.
This guide will explore simple and creative ways to transform that often-ignored area into a focal point. We will look at practical tips and aesthetic choices for styling above kitchen cabinets successfully.
Why Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets?
The area above your cabinets can be more than just dusty storage space. It offers several benefits when properly styled.
Filling Awkward Gaps
If your cabinets do not reach the ceiling, there is usually a gap. This gap can look unfinished or dated. Decorating this area fills that empty space. It makes the kitchen feel more cohesive and custom-built. This is a key element in successful styling high kitchen cabinets.
Adding Height and Drama
Tall items placed above cabinets draw the eye upward. This tricks the brain into thinking the room is taller than it actually is. This sense of verticality adds drama and elegance to the kitchen design.
Showcasing Personality
This is a low-commitment area for decor. You can display items that reflect your hobbies or travels without cluttering your main counter space. It’s a great spot for seasonal displays too. It offers excellent kitchen decor ideas on top of cabinets.
Balancing Visual Weight
In kitchens with dark or heavy cabinetry, light-colored decorative items on top can balance the look. They add necessary contrast and visual interest.
Planning Your Top Cabinet Decor Scheme
Before grabbing every knick-knack you own, take a moment to plan. Good decoration needs a strategy.
Assess Your Ceiling Height
Ceiling height is the biggest factor in choosing what to put on top of kitchen cabinets.
- Standard Ceilings (8 Feet): You have less vertical space. Choose shorter items or shallow baskets. Taller items might look too crowded.
- High Ceilings (9 Feet and Above): You have more room to play. Taller vases, stacked crates, or tall plants work well. This area truly shines when styling high kitchen cabinets.
Consider Your Kitchen Style
The decor must match the existing kitchen vibe.
| Kitchen Style | Recommended Decor Elements |
|---|---|
| Rustic Kitchen Cabinet Decor Ideas | Woven baskets, aged metal signs, wooden crates, simple pottery. |
| Modern Kitchen Cabinet Styling | Sleek, monochromatic vases, minimalist sculptures, geometric shapes, clean lines. |
| Farmhouse | White pitchers, galvanized buckets, greenery, simple wooden signs. |
| Traditional | Ornate ginger jars, classic china, dark wood accents. |
Declutter First
Remember, this area is meant to be decorative, not storage. If you put too much up there, it looks messy, not styled. This is especially important when weighing the pros and cons of open shelving vs closed cabinets decor. While open shelves invite display, the top of closed cabinets needs a curated touch.
Creative Decorating Ideas for Space Above Cabinets
Let’s dive into specific, popular ideas seen frequently on Pinterest for kitchen cabinet top decorating ideas.
Utilizing Baskets and Woven Goods
Baskets are a favorite for a reason. They add texture and warmth. They are perfect for creating rustic kitchen cabinet decor ideas.
Types of Baskets to Use:
- Wicker or Rattan Baskets: Great for a farmhouse or coastal look. Use them empty or fill them with faux fruit or textiles.
- Wire Baskets: Excellent for a more industrial or modern farmhouse feel.
- Shallow Baskets: If space is tight, use shallow trays or shallow-woven mats to add texture without adding too much bulk.
Tip: Vary the size and orientation of the baskets. Group three baskets of different sizes together for a dynamic display.
Incorporating Faux Greenery and Florals
Nothing softens hard cabinetry like greenery. Since the area is hard to water, faux plants are the best solution for decorating ideas for space above cabinets.
Faux Greenery Selections:
- Trailing Vines: Ivy or eucalyptus draped slightly over the edge adds a soft, romantic touch.
- Small Potted Plants: Faux succulents or small boxwood topiaries in simple terracotta pots look great.
- Tall Grasses: If you have high ceilings, tall, feathery faux grasses in narrow vases add height without bulk.
Displaying Unique Pottery and Ceramics
Pottery adds an artistic element. This works well for both modern and traditional kitchens.
- For Modern Styles: Choose simple, matte white, black, or gray ceramic pieces. Look for interesting shapes or angular designs for modern kitchen cabinet styling.
- For Traditional Styles: Display heirloom china, blue-and-white ginger jars, or colorful ceramic canisters.
When placing pottery, ensure pieces are varied in height. A grouping of three items (one tall, one medium, one short) is visually pleasing.
Artistic Elements: Art and Mirrors
You can treat the space above the cabinets like a narrow gallery wall.
- Framed Artwork: Use slim frames. Lean them against the wall rather than hanging them, as hanging items high up can be difficult. Choose pieces that reflect your kitchen’s color palette.
- Mirrored Trays: A mirrored tray helps bounce light around the room. Place a few small decorative objects on top of the tray.
Themed Collections and Memorabilia
This is where you personalize your space. Consider collections you already own.
- Travel Souvenirs: A collection of small, unique items from different places.
- Vintage Finds: Old tins, colorful glass bottles, or antique measuring cups fit well, especially for rustic kitchen cabinet decor ideas.
- Seasonal Decor: Swap out items based on the season. Pumpkins in fall, white lights in winter, or bright florals in spring.
Technical Aspects: Decorating High Kitchen Cabinets Successfully
Decorating high spaces requires thinking about sightlines and safety.
Rule of Three and Visual Grouping
The human eye finds groups of odd numbers more appealing than even numbers. Always try to group decor items in threes or fives.
- Example Grouping (Medium Height): Tall vase, medium-sized pitcher, small stack of books.
When choosing what to put on top of kitchen cabinets, ensure the items relate to each other in color, texture, or style. This keeps the display cohesive, not random.
Managing Scale and Proportion
Scale is crucial when styling high kitchen cabinets. If the items are too small, they will disappear or look like dust bunnies from a distance.
- Too Small: Tiny figurines or small, delicate glassware will be lost.
- Just Right: Objects should be large enough to be noticeable from the floor but not so large that they look heavy or precarious. Look for items that are at least 10 inches tall if your cabinets are standard height.
Lighting Considerations
If your kitchen has under-cabinet lighting, you might consider adding small spotlights pointed upward to highlight the display. Battery-operated puck lights are an easy, wire-free solution for illuminating your kitchen cabinet topper decor.
Open Shelving vs. Closed Cabinets Decor
Many people wonder if they should have open shelving or traditional closed cabinets. The choice heavily impacts how you decorate the space above.
Open Shelving: Requires constant styling because everything is visible. You must keep the shelves themselves tidy, which might limit what you put on top of the cabinets, as the transition needs to be smooth.
Closed Cabinets: Allows for more freedom on top. Since the items on top are viewed from below or a distance, they can be slightly less perfect. This is often the easier route for quick, stylish decorating ideas for space above cabinets.
Table comparison of decoration strategies:
| Feature | Open Shelving Decoration | Top of Closed Cabinets Decoration |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Extremely high; requires daily tidiness. | Lower visibility; allows for dust collection (use dust-resistant items). |
| Item Choice | Must be functional or beautiful up close. | Can focus more on silhouette and height. |
| Maintenance | High frequency of dusting. | Lower frequency, but harder to reach for dusting. |
| Focus | Integrated into the kitchen’s working display. | A separate, curated vignette or capstone. |
Specific Styling Scenarios
Different kitchen layouts demand different approaches to kitchen cabinet top decorating ideas.
Styling Above Cabinets with Trim or Molding
If your cabinets have crown molding that extends to the ceiling, you have very little space between the cabinet top and the ceiling.
- Option 1: Use the Molding: Decorate the surface of the cabinet top right against the molding. Use shallow items like stacked vintage plates or small boxes.
- Option 2: Integrate Decor: Choose decorative elements that mimic the molding itself, like faux greenery that subtly drapes over the edge, blending the cabinet into the ceiling line.
Styling Cabinets That Meet the Ceiling
If your cabinets go all the way up, you don’t have this area to decorate. Instead, focus your efforts on the cabinet doors themselves. This is where you might use decorative hardware or unique paint finishes for your kitchen decor ideas on top of cabinets alternative.
The “Cabinet Topper” Look
For styling high kitchen cabinets, designers often use a dedicated cabinet topper—a decorative piece that sits on the cabinet, not floating above it. This is often seen in custom kitchens.
- This topper might be a short, built-in shelf area.
- It is finished in a contrasting material, like reclaimed wood, to draw attention to the vertical break.
Material Focus: Choosing the Right Textures
Texture prevents a display from looking flat. When choosing what to put on top of kitchen cabinets, mix materials.
Natural Materials for Warmth
- Wood: Light oak or dark walnut cutting boards leaning against the wall, or wooden bowls. Perfect for rustic kitchen cabinet decor ideas.
- Stone/Marble: A small marble riser or a piece of smooth river stone adds a cool, grounding element.
- Ceramics: Matte vs. glossy finishes provide contrast.
Metallic Accents for Shine
Metallics catch the light, which is useful for high-up displays.
- Copper or Brass: Adds warmth, great for traditional or transitional looks.
- Matte Black or Oil-Rubbed Bronze: Excellent for modern kitchen cabinet styling or industrial spaces. Use these sparingly as accents, perhaps on the base of a vase or a small tray.
Maintaining Your High Decor
One major drawback to decorating high spaces is the cleaning. Dust settles quickly where it is hard to reach.
Dust Reduction Strategies
- Choose Non-Porous Items: Glass, glazed ceramics, and smooth metals collect less dust than porous items like wicker or unglazed terracotta.
- Use Trays: Placing smaller items on a large tray makes cleaning easy. You lift the tray, wipe the cabinet top, and place the tray back down.
- Seasonal Swaps: When you swap out holiday decor, give everything a thorough wipe down. This forces you to maintain the space twice a year.
Safety First
If your items are very tall or heavy, make sure they are stable. If you have small children or pets, consider lighter, less breakable items. Heavy glass or ceramic should be placed toward the back edge, away from the front where you might accidentally bump them while reaching for something else. This is vital when implementing kitchen cabinet topper decor.
Deciphering the “Too Much” Line
How do you know when you have gone too far with decorating ideas for space above cabinets?
The display becomes too much when:
- It Obscures the Cabinet Line: If the decor hangs down or is so bulky that it hides the top edge of your cabinets, it looks messy.
- It Clashes with the Ceiling: If the decor competes visually with ceiling light fixtures or crown molding, it creates visual chaos.
- It Introduces Too Many Colors: Limit the color palette on top to two or three main colors that complement the room.
A successful display always leaves some negative space—empty areas around the objects—to let the items breathe. This deliberate emptiness is a key aspect of sophisticated modern kitchen cabinet styling.
FAQ About Decorating the Top of Kitchen Cabinets
Can I use real plants on top of kitchen cabinets?
While possible, it is generally not recommended unless you have a very accessible watering system or very low ceilings where the plant stays small. Real plants need regular attention, and watering a high area can lead to spills damaging the cabinet finish. Faux plants offer the beauty without the maintenance hassle for kitchen decor ideas on top of cabinets.
Should my cabinet topper decor match my countertop decor?
Not exactly. The decor on top of the cabinets should complement the overall kitchen style, but it does not need to be an exact match to the items on your counters. Think of it as a supporting act. If your counters feature colorful mixing bowls, the cabinet tops might feature monochromatic neutral pottery to add depth without creating visual overload.
What if I have mismatched cabinet heights?
If some cabinets reach the ceiling and others have a gap, this is tricky. The best approach is to make the area above the shorter cabinets look intentional. Use taller, lighter items above the short cabinets to visually lift them closer to the ceiling height of the taller ones. This creates a more uniform sightline when viewing styling high kitchen cabinets.
Is it okay to use food items like dried pasta or grains for decor?
Yes, if sealed properly. Large glass jars filled with colorful dried beans, pasta, or grains make excellent kitchen cabinet topper decor. They offer texture and color. Ensure the lids are airtight to prevent pests and spoilage. This works especially well for rustic kitchen cabinet decor ideas.
How can I create a cohesive look if I mix styles, like rustic and modern?
To bridge styles, rely on a neutral color palette. If you mix a rustic woven basket with a sleek modern vase, make sure both items are the same color (e.g., both are white or both are black). This shared color links disparate textures, achieving a balanced look for your decorating ideas for space above cabinets.