Space above kitchen cabinet decorating ideas

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Sienna Livermore Senior Editor Sienna is a senior editor at Hearst.

19 Ideas for Decorating the Top of Kitchen Cabinets

M. Wilcox Design

Decorating the top of kitchen cabinets is an easy way to add some flair to your kitchen while filling in the empty gap between the top of your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling, an often neglected area that can look a little awkward or simply lacking when left bare.

These days many kitchen designers solve this problem by custom building cabinetry all the way up to the ceiling. But if you don't have the luxury of building a custom kitchen from scratch, prefer a less tailored look, are working with existing built-in cabinetry from a rental, or don't have the budget to renovate, there are plenty of ways to fill that dust-collecting kitchen neverland while adding visual interest or extra storage.

Depending on your space, you might choose to line the top of your kitchen cabinets with objects, or to decorate the wall above. Keep in mind that not all kitchen cabinetry comes in a flat pack, and that you can use these tips to style the top of freestanding secondhand, vintage, or antique cabinetry like china cabinets and hutches as well.

Check out these ideas in a range of styles that will help you to maximize every last inch of vertical space in your kitchen.

• 01 of 19

  Add Decorative Baskets

  Design by Studio Peake

  This London kitchen from Studio Peake has tall, seamless built-in cabinetry painted in a serene shade of pale gray that ends a few feet short of the glass roof. A row of decorative woven baskets defines the empty space while adding a touch of warmth that complements the organic wood bar stools.

• 02 of 19

  Add Open Shelving

  Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Max Kim-bee

  In this light-flooded kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, open shelving is installed above and around a built-in vintage-style china cabinet perched on top of a row of lower cabinetry. The mix of old and new furniture and fittings and natural wood shelving and painted cabinetry gives the kitchen a lived-in, homey DIY feel that isn't trying too hard, making it cozy and welcoming.
  

• 03 of 19

  Hang Some Wallpaper

  Design by deVOL Kitchens

  To fill the dead space above the cabinetry, deVOL Kitchens hung some nature-themed illustrated kitchen wallpaper that complements the dark green tile backsplash and adds a layer or visual interest without cluttering up the narrow space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling.

• 04 of 19

  Add Bar Storage

  A Beautiful Mess

  While it's perfectly acceptable to decorate the top of your kitchen cabinets just for show, there's valuable real estate up there that can be used for storing infrequently used items, or things that you don't want the kids to get their hands on. A Beautiful Mess child-proofed the liquor cabinet by storing it on top of the kitchen cabinets, with bottles neatly organized in a row of wire baskets.

• 05 of 19

  Add Trailing Vines

  Design by deVOL Kitchens

  This elegant British kitchen from the U.K.'s deVOL Kitchens is decorated with illustrated wallpaper, shades of green and cream, copper accents, and plants with delicate trailing vines perched atop the closed and glass-front cabinetry that add a natural touch.

• 06 of 19

  Balance High Ceilings

  Mindy Gayer Design Co.

  Mindy Gayer Design Co. layered art and objects on top of the kitchen cabinets in this high-ceilinged lower level Lake Arrowhead kitchen that focuses the eye and makes the space feel cozier. The top of similar cabinets in the corner is left bare to keep the space from feeling cluttered.

• 07 of 19

  Layer It Up

  Lobster and Swan

  The top of this olive green painted china cabinet in a rustic English DIY kitchen from Lobster and Swan is layered with objects and a tall vase of branches that fills in the empty space above the relatively short cabinet and draws the eye upward.

• 08 of 19

  Keep It Casual

  Design by deVOL Kitchens

  In this timeless English country space from deVOL Kitchens, the top of a free-standing cabinet is styled with a basket and spillover earthenware that is displayed inside and on the open shelving above the sink, creating a casual but coordinated look.

• 09 of 19

  Add Baskets

  Thistlewood Farms

  Thistlewood Farms added a row of matching storage baskets to the top of an open china hutch in her modern farmhouse-style kitchen.

• 10 of 19

  Add Plants

  Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar

  Kitchen cabinets come in various shapes and sizes. In this spacious kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, a large curvy antique wooden hutch that stores dishware and cookbooks is topped with a row of bushy Boston ferns that create a lush look and introduces some vibrant greenery into the kitchen.

• 11 of 19

  Add More Cabinets

  Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar

  Instead of leaving blank space above the kitchen cabinets, Leanne Ford Interiors added a row of glass-front built-in cabinetry that seamlessly fits the space and can be used to stow non-essential items. The glass fronts add contrast with the larger closed cabinetry below and preserve an airy feel. A sliding library-style ladder attached to the wall allows for easy access.
  

• 12 of 19

  Define Space

  Dazey Den

  Dazey Den added plants and glassware to the tops of opposite rows of cabinetry in this colorful and kitschy midcentury modern space that help define zones in the semi-open-plan kitchen and dining room.

• 13 of 19

  Mix Materials

  Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar

  A pair of rustic vintage painted wood cabinets with a charmingly worn patina stacked on a side wall of this kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors provide extra storage and give the room a sense of history. The top of the cabinet is styled with rustic objects in a mix of materials to give it an effortless feel.

• 14 of 19

  Install Open Storage Nooks

  Design by Alvin Wayne

  Interior designer Alvin Wayne added open stained wood niches above the white kitchen cabinets that serve as display space and storage for those cookbooks that only get trotted out during the holidays.

• 15 of 19

  Keep It Practical

  Arbor & Co.

  In this garage-turned-guest-house from Arbor & Co., an L-shaped kitchen has a mix of upper cabinetry and open shelving to accommodate the small space. The cabinetry top is treated as an extension of the open shelving, housing a pair of simple bowls that makes the corner space look cohesive and keeps everything visible and accessible.

• 16 of 19

  Add a Book Nook

  Whittney Parkinson Design

  Whittney Parkinson Design added a cookbook storage nook in the dead space between a built-in refrigerator and matching kitchen cabinetry that's built up to the ceiling in this neutral-toned 1920s Tudor kitchen renovation.

• 17 of 19

  Extend the Backsplash

  Design by Laura Brophy Interiors / Photo by Tim Hirschmann

  One way to eliminate the problem of filling the empty space above your kitchen cabinetry is to install an eye-catching kitchen backsplash that extends all the way up to the ceiling, like this contemporary kitchen from Laura Brophy Interiors. A blackened wood drop ceiling also helps to fill in the space while providing additional lighting.

• 18 of 19

  Bring In Faux Greenery

  M. Wilcox Design

  Decorating the top of your kitchen cabinets can be challenging from a maintenance standpoint when it comes time to watering and pruning, especially if you don't enjoy climbing up on kitchen stools and ladders to get the job done. These days you can find beautiful, realistic looking faux plants that will take care of themselves and look good doing it.

• 19 of 19

  Go Custom

  Design by Louis Duncan-He Designs / Photo by Eymeric Wildling

  If you're designing a kitchen from scratch, you might want to remove the need to decorate the space above your kitchen cabinets by custom building cabinets that kiss the ceiling instead, like this spacious kitchen from Louis Duncan-He Designs that maximizes every last inch of vertical space.

7 creative ways to use space above kitchen cabinets

1 Arrange storage containers

Instagram arcadianimprovements

In a small kitchen, you should use as much space as possible for storage. So if there is space between the cabinets and the ceiling, you can place baskets, boxes, containers and other containers with things that you use infrequently there.

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Rarely used household appliances or bulky pots can also be removed upstairs.

2 Arrange the dishes nicely

Instagram mariakillam

A beautiful set of dishes can be a great option for decorating a kitchen. You can place it just above the lockers. nine0005

We advise you to look for interesting dishes in handmade ceramics stores.

3 Decorate with vintage items

Instagram ayakitchens

Another type of decor that will look great on cabinets is various vintage items. They will add coziness and will look harmonious in kitchens in many styles: Provence, eclecticism, country and even modern style will make great friends with old boxes, vases or a decorative cage. nine0005

4 Add plants

Instagram designtropic

Instagram backcountryco

Instagram ourjenericlife

Another element of the interior that immediately adds coziness is indoor plants. If there is no space on the windowsill or other surfaces, it is quite possible to place them on cabinets. The main thing is not to forget to take care of the flowers or choose those that do not require too much attention.

5 Set up a mini library

Instagram hanak_kitchen

Why not place cookbooks on the cabinets? Of these, you can make an interesting composition, supplementing it with decor items.

6 Make a decorative inscription

Instagram fineline_inc

An inspirational or atmospheric phrase can also be placed above cabinets. This technique will add individuality to the interior.

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7 Post pictures or posters

Instagram homeallure. ae

If there is enough space both in the kitchen itself and above the cabinets, you can use the space above them as a small art gallery. So you will definitely get compliments from guests for originality! nine0005

Posters for the kitchen

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How do you use the space above the cabinets in your kitchen? Share your answers in the comments.

10 useful ideas for space above kitchen cabinets

Drawers or baskets

In cramped kitchens, top cabinets can be used to store small items needed in the household, as well as rarely used appliances. So that the interior does not resemble a warehouse, we do not recommend buying plastic or transparent containers. nine0005

Wooden crates, wicker baskets, and boxes with lids to keep things dust-free will do. It is desirable that the containers look the same.

The top tier is a great place to store items that need to be hidden from children.

Crockery

Beautiful crockery looks great on the upper kitchen cabinets: it is especially useful if there is not enough space inside. It is worth sending up deep ceramic bowls, jugs and trays that are rarely used: then, in order to set the table, you do not have to stand on a stool every day. Collections of plates without drawings, candy bowls, clay pots look stylish. nine0005

Refrain from "mixed" colors, otherwise the dishes will make the space on the cabinets cluttered.

Mirror

A decorative technique that allows you to create an interesting optical illusion. A mirrored canvas will add air to the atmosphere and create the impression that there is another room behind the kitchen set.

When ordering a mirror, keep in mind that it will reflect not only the ceiling, but also the things placed on the cabinets.

Houseplants

See also

A selection of must-have home plants

For many green spaces, top cabinet space is the perfect place to grow. They visually soften the interior, add decorativeness and purify the air. Suitable:

• chlorophytum, which does not require frequent watering and top dressing;
• climbing cissus, the vines of which will fall beautifully from the upper tier;
• sansevieria ("mother-in-law's tongue") - a fast-growing ornamental and deciduous plant; nine0116
• unpretentious ivy-shaped philodendron.

If you don't want to care for indoor plantings, get fake ones - many botanical copies look just as good as live plants.

Glass bottles and jars

Another way to add lightness to the interior and use the usable space at the same time is to place glass utensils on top: beautiful jars, bottles and vases. Transparent glass creates an interesting effect by reflecting and refracting light. Also, empty glassware made of colored glass is suitable for decoration. nine0005

If the bottles are full and there is no place to store them, arrange the containers in identical metal baskets. This solution looks much more aesthetic than the bottles arranged in a row.

Second row of cabinets

Suitable for flats with low ceilings: the cabinets that make up another upper tier make the kitchen more solid and complete. There is much more storage space, the ceiling looks visually higher, and the dishes remain protected from dust by closed facades. nine0005

Books

Residential kitchen owners will appreciate this decoration method: elements such as books, flowers and baskets make the cooking space more comfortable and bring it closer to the room design. Upstairs, you can store publications with recipes, as well as rarely re-read works.

If you cook often, high temperatures and humidity can affect the appearance of your books.

Picture frames

A high-ceilinged kitchen can easily be turned into a gallery by arranging frames with photographs, posters or drawings on the upper cabinets. Such decor will definitely attract the attention of guests, as well as dilute the boring atmosphere. nine0005

In order not to overload the suspended structures, choose large frames with lightweight plexiglass.

Lighting

Additional kitchen lighting is a functional part of kitchen decor. It can be turned on during romantic dinners or evening gatherings. Suitable light sources:

• diode tape that fits optimally into high-tech;
• electric garland - for country, Provence, Scandinavian style; nine0116
• spot and track lights, ideal for loft and contemporary.

Leave empty

We do not recommend filling the space above the cabinets in two cases:

1. If the active backsplash continues above the set and reaches the ceiling, then the wall looks solid.

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