What should you put on top of kitchen cabinets? You can place decorative items, useful storage baskets, or sometimes nothing at all if the space is very tight or if you prefer a clean look. The best choice depends on your ceiling height, cabinet style, and how much clutter you want.
The space above your kitchen cabinets is often overlooked real estate. It can be a dumping ground for dust and forgotten items, or it can become a stunning focal point in your kitchen design. Deciding what to put on top of kitchen cabinets involves balancing aesthetics with practicality. This area offers a unique chance to elevate your kitchen’s style, utilize extra space, or simply finish the look of your cabinetry.
Why Styling Above Kitchen Cabinets Matters
The area stretching from the top of your cabinets to the ceiling holds visual weight. Leaving it bare can sometimes make the kitchen feel unfinished, especially if the cabinets do not reach the ceiling. Filling this space correctly helps tie the room together. Good kitchen cabinet decor draws the eye upward, making the entire room feel taller and more grand.
Filling the Gap: Cabinets to Ceiling vs. Empty Space
If your cabinets stop short of the ceiling, you have a gap. How you address this gap dramatically impacts the room’s final look.
- Cabinets that meet the ceiling: If you have this setup, you skip the worry of what to put on top of kitchen cabinets. You might only need minimal decoration right at the top edge, or nothing at all.
- Cabinets with a gap: This gap requires a decision. You can use it for display, or you can close it off entirely using crown molding for cabinets.
Deciding Between Decoration and Storage
Before selecting items, think about your kitchen’s function and style. Are you looking for pure looks, or do you need extra help with organization?
Practical Options: Above Cabinet Storage Ideas
For many homes, extra space is precious. The area above cabinets can offer surprisingly good above cabinet storage ideas, provided you can safely reach the items stored there.
Baskets and Bins for Concealed Storage
Using attractive baskets is a popular choice. They hide clutter while adding texture.
- Woven Baskets: These add warmth and a rustic or farmhouse feel. Use them to store rarely used items like holiday serving trays or extra paper towels.
- Metal Bins: These suit industrial or modern kitchens. They can hold cookbooks or larger kitchen gadgets.
- Lidded Containers: Opt for containers that match your cabinet color or offer a nice contrast. They keep dust out and look neat.
When planning cabinet top organization, remember visibility is high. Only store attractive, seldom-used items in these visible containers.
Utilizing Vertical Space Safely
If the space is high, safety is key. Heavy items are best left lower down.
- Use lightweight decorative boxes if the space is hard to reach.
- Keep frequently needed items near the edge if you have a step stool handy.
Aesthetic Choices: Display Items for Top of Cabinets
If storage is not your main concern, focus on making a statement. Display items for top of cabinets should complement your existing kitchen design.
Incorporating Greenery (Faux or Real)
Plants bring life to the kitchen. Since the area above cabinets often gets little light, high-quality faux plants are usually the best bet.
- Trailing Vines: These look fantastic as they spill slightly over the cabinet edge, softening the hard lines.
- Small Potted Herbs (Faux): These look realistic and fit the kitchen theme.
- Ferns or Succulents (Faux): Choose plants that look natural and not overly plastic.
Artwork and Sculptures
Use this area to showcase pieces that might not fit elsewhere.
- Framed Art: Select pieces that use colors found in your backsplash or countertops. Keep frames relatively thin to save space.
- Ceramic Pieces: Unique pottery, interesting vases, or colorful Italian ceramics make excellent decorative items for kitchen cabinets.
- Architectural Salvage: Old window frames, antique signs, or decorative metalwork can add character.
Culinary Themed Displays
Since this is the kitchen, leaning into a food theme works well.
- Vintage Kitchen Tools: Old wooden rolling pins, copper pots (if shiny), or antique scales can be beautiful kitchen cabinet toppers.
- Collected Glassware: Display antique canning jars, colorful vintage bottles, or unique decanters.
The Role of Crown Molding in Kitchen Cabinet Toppers
If the gap between your cabinets and ceiling is significant, simply placing items on top might not look polished. This is where crown molding for cabinets becomes essential. Molding closes the visual gap beautifully.
What is Crown Molding?
Crown molding is a decorative trim installed at the top edge of your cabinets where they meet the wall or ceiling. It provides a finished, custom look.
Benefits of Using Molding
- Finishes the Look: It makes standard cabinets look like built-ins.
- Hides Imperfections: It covers uneven ceiling lines or crooked cabinet tops.
- Creates a Height Illusion: It smoothly transitions the eye upward, enhancing the perceived height of the kitchen.
When installing molding, you have a few choices:
- Standard Molding: A simple profile that works with most traditional or shaker cabinets.
- Stacked Molding: Using two or more layers of molding creates a more formal, grand appearance, often used in high-end custom kitchens.
If you install molding, the space above the cabinet is eliminated. You can then still place very light, large items on top of the molding itself, but the main focus shifts to the molding’s design.
Size and Scale: Key Factors for Cabinet Top Styling
Getting the scale wrong is the most common mistake when styling above kitchen cabinets. Items that are too small look lost. Items that are too large look overwhelming.
H4: Assessing Your Space Dimensions
First, measure the depth and length of the area above your cabinets.
- Shallow Depth: If the space above your cabinets is narrow (e.g., less than 10 inches), avoid large, bulky items. Focus on height and slim profiles.
- Deep Depth: If you have a deep soffit or a large gap, you can use wider objects, like substantial baskets or taller stacks of decorative plates.
H5: The Rule of Odd Numbers and Varying Heights
For the best visual appeal, follow these simple design guidelines:
| Guideline | Application Above Cabinets | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Odd Numbers | Group items in threes or fives. | Odd numbers are more dynamic and pleasing to the eye. |
| Varying Heights | Mix tall vases with medium-height baskets and low stacks. | Creates visual interest and keeps the display from looking flat. |
| Color Harmony | Use 2-3 main colors that repeat throughout the display. | Ensures the kitchen cabinet decor feels cohesive, not random. |
| Visual Weight | Place the heaviest/darkest items in the center or toward the tallest points. | Grounds the display and draws the viewer’s attention first. |
Different Styles and What to Put On Top
Your overall kitchen style should dictate your choices for what to put on top of kitchen cabinets.
Traditional Kitchens
Traditional kitchens thrive on warmth, texture, and collected items.
- Best Items: Aged copper pots, stacks of antique china, oil paintings in ornate frames, dried flower arrangements, or dark woven baskets.
- Look to Achieve: A cozy, layered, and curated feel.
Modern/Minimalist Kitchens
Modern spaces favor clean lines and uncluttered looks. Over-decorating here is a major pitfall.
- Best Items: A few architecturally interesting white or black vases, sleek metallic sculptures, or simple, large, monochromatic baskets.
- Consider: Sometimes, the best choice here is leaving the space empty if you have good crown molding for cabinets. The sleekness of the molding speaks for itself.
Farmhouse/Rustic Kitchens
This style welcomes texture, history, and a bit of whimsy.
- Best Items: Vintage enamelware, large wooden dough bowls, galvanized buckets, or faux boxwood topiaries.
- Tip: Using white-washed wood elements helps tie these items into the kitchen palette.
Contemporary/Transitional Kitchens
These kitchens blend modern and traditional elements. The decor should follow suit.
- Best Items: Textured ceramic pieces, simple glass jars filled with colored sand or shells, or modern abstract sculptures.
- Focus: Balance texture (like woven mats) with smooth finishes (like glossy ceramics).
Addressing Specific Challenges Above Cabinets
The height of the space presents unique challenges that need practical solutions.
H4: Dealing with Low Ceilings
If your ceiling is low (8 feet or less), placing tall objects above cabinets can make the ceiling feel even lower.
- Strategy: Keep items low-profile. Opt for shallow, wide decorative boxes or very low, wide planters.
- Alternative: Use this space for simple, matte white or light-colored baskets to keep the visual weight down. Avoid dark, heavy items that sit directly under the ceiling line.
H4: Maximizing High Ceilings
When ceilings are 9 feet or higher, you have a lot of vertical space to fill to prevent the cabinets from looking stubby.
- Strategy: Go tall! Use tall, slender decorative items. Consider tall, narrow vases or repeating elements vertically along the length of the cabinets.
- Tip: If you use tall items, ensure the tallest one is slightly off-center to avoid a formal, perfectly mirrored look. This adds movement.
H4: Handling Awkward Corners or Bulkheads
Sometimes, bulkheads (dropped sections of ceiling for pipes or vents) interrupt the space above the cabinets.
- Strategy: Treat each section as a separate display area. Use molding to visually tie the different cabinet heights together. Place the most substantial display items for top of cabinets in the longest, most visible stretch.
Creative Kitchen Cabinet Shelf Ideas (If You Add Shelving)
Some homeowners choose to install permanent shelves between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling, creating accessible display areas. These are excellent for kitchen cabinet shelf ideas that blend function and form.
Incorporating Open Shelving Above Cabinets
If you opt for permanent shelving, treat it like any other open shelving unit in your kitchen.
- Material Choice: The shelves should match your existing wood tone or be painted to match your trim or cabinets for a built-in look.
- Styling Shelves:
- Bottom Shelf: Place items you might occasionally reach for, like attractive cookbooks or frequently used spice jars in matching containers.
- Top Shelf: Reserve this for true display items—vases, pottery, or artwork.
Table: Shelf Styling Comparison
| Styling Goal | Ideal Items for Shelves | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Function First | Matching canisters, everyday mugs, prep bowls. | Uniformity and accessibility. |
| Decoration Focus | Small framed photos, succulents, cookbooks used as props. | Visual layering and color pops. |
| Collections | Glassware, antique tins, seasonal décor changes. | Rotation and storytelling. |
This approach turns the area into a dedicated showcase rather than just a dusty ledge. It requires more careful curation to maintain neat cabinet top organization.
Maintenance: Keeping Your Cabinet Toppers Clean
One major deterrent for what to put on top of kitchen cabinets is dust. The higher the items, the harder they are to clean.
Dust Management Strategies
- Choose Wisely: Avoid items with intricate crevices (like complex wire baskets or lacy décor). Smooth, solid objects are easier to wipe down.
- The “Every Six Months” Rule: Plan a deep clean twice a year. You will likely need a sturdy step ladder or even a small step stool with a reach extender.
- Use Trays: Place your decorative items on a large, attractive tray. When cleaning day comes, you only have to lift one tray instead of moving ten small items individually. This makes managing decorative items for kitchen cabinets much simpler.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Cabinet Tops
Can I store food items above my kitchen cabinets?
Yes, you can store food items, but only if the space is fully enclosed (like inside lidded baskets or containers) and sealed against pests. Avoid storing perishables or items that attract insects, as the area is hard to monitor closely. Lightweight, non-perishable dry goods (like extra bags of flour stored in a sturdy, sealed bin) are manageable.
Should I match the items on top of the cabinets to my backsplash?
It is highly recommended to use colors found in your backsplash, countertops, or wall paint for your kitchen cabinet decor. This repetition creates visual harmony throughout the room, making the display feel intentional rather than an afterthought.
Is it okay to leave the space above my kitchen cabinets completely empty?
Absolutely. If your cabinets are modern, have very crisp lines, or if you have professional-looking crown molding for cabinets that meets the ceiling perfectly, leaving the space empty is the cleanest, most minimalist look. An empty space allows the eye to rest and emphasizes the height of the room.
What is the safest thing to put up high on top of cabinets?
The safest items are lightweight, shatterproof items like high-quality faux plants or decorative fabric-covered boxes. Heavy ceramic or glass items should only be placed high if they are very sturdy and you have a secure ladder for placement and retrieval.
Can I use string lights above kitchen cabinets?
Yes, battery-operated LED string lights are a wonderful way to add ambiance. They look great tucked behind trailing greenery or lining the top edge of the molding. Ensure the battery pack is easily accessible for changing batteries. This adds a soft glow when entertaining.