What should you put above kitchen cabinets? You can display decorative items, store seldom-used kitchen tools, add lighting, or cover the gap with trim like kitchen cabinet crown molding. The choice depends on your kitchen’s style, ceiling height, and how much visual clutter you prefer.
Decorating the space above kitchen cabinets offers a fantastic chance to personalize your kitchen. This area, often overlooked, can become a stunning focal point. It helps tie the kitchen design together, bridging the gap between your cabinets and the ceiling. Proper styling can make the room feel taller and more complete.
Why Styling Above Cabinets Matters
The area above your cabinets is prime real estate in your kitchen design. Ignoring it can make the room look unfinished. High ceilings, especially, leave a large, empty void that needs attention. Kitchen cabinet top decor fills this space nicely. It stops the eye from just stopping at the cabinet line.
Creating Visual Height
One main goal of styling this area is to draw the eye upward. Tall items or strategic lighting make the ceiling seem higher. This is great for smaller kitchens that need an airy feel. It tricks the eye into perceiving more vertical space.
Hiding Imperfections
Sometimes, the gap above cabinets is uneven. Installing decorative elements or kitchen cabinet filler trim can hide these gaps neatly. This gives the whole kitchen a custom, built-in look.
Adding Personality
The items you choose reflect your taste. Are you modern, rustic, or farmhouse? Your choices for displaying items above kitchen cabinets set the tone for the whole room.
Assessing Your Space: Ceiling Height and Cabinet Depth
Before buying any decor, look closely at your kitchen setup. The height of the gap dictates what works best.
Standard Ceiling Height (Around 8 Feet)
If you have standard 8-foot ceilings, the space above the cabinets is usually small—perhaps 6 to 18 inches.
- Best Use: This space works well for continuous trim or small, uniform decorative pieces.
- Avoid: Oversized items look cramped and heavy here.
Taller Ceilings (9 Feet or More)
With 9-foot ceilings or higher, you have much more room to play.
- Best Use: This allows for taller decorative items, layered displays, or even integrated lighting solutions.
- Caution: Ensure the items are proportionate. Very small items can look lost high up.
Cabinet Depth Consideration
Do your cabinets go all the way to the wall, or is there a small overhang? Shallow cabinets mean the space above might be narrow. This limits what you can place there safely without items looking like they might fall.
Design Approaches: Functional vs. Decorative
You have two main paths when deciding what to put above kitchen cabinets: making it useful or making it beautiful. Many designs mix both effectively.
Functional Choices: Above Kitchen Cabinet Storage
If storage is tight, this area can help, but it requires careful planning.
When to Choose Storage
- You have very few cabinets.
- You need to store seasonal items (like holiday dishes).
Storage Solutions
- Baskets: Woven baskets are great. They look stylish and hide clutter well. Use them for linens or seldom-used small appliances.
- Uniform Tins or Canisters: For a cohesive look, use matching metal or ceramic containers. These can hold dry goods you don’t use daily.
- Open Shelving (If Space Allows): In some modern designs, this space is used for extra open shelving, though this is less common directly above standard cabinets.
Important Note on Accessibility: Items stored this high must be things you use rarely. Reaching them safely needs a sturdy step stool. Clutter high up can look messy quickly, so keep these storage options tidy.
Decorative Choices: Pure Style
This is the most common and often the most visually pleasing route. It lets you inject major style points into your kitchen.
Achieving Cohesion
Whatever you choose, make sure it matches your kitchen’s overall style. A mix of metal, wood, and glass works well if your kitchen is transitional.
- Rustic Kitchens: Use aged wood signs, copper pots, or vintage enamelware.
- Modern Kitchens: Opt for sleek, monochromatic vases, minimalist sculptures, or simple architectural pieces.
- Farmhouse Kitchens: Think galvanized metal containers, faux greenery, or antique scales.
Top Items for Kitchen Cabinet Top Decor
Here are the best items people use to style the space above their cabinets, broken down by type.
Greenery and Botanicals
Plants add life and color. Because these areas often lack natural light, faux options are often better.
- Faux Garlands: Ivy, eucalyptus, or boxwood garlands draped across the top look lush and soft. They soften the hard lines of the cabinets.
- Potted Herbs (Faux): Small groupings of faux rosemary or lavender add a touch of a country kitchen feel.
- Tall Grasses: Dried pampas grass or tall, thin reeds in tall floor vases placed near the cabinets can draw the eye up beautifully without cluttering the actual top surface.
Artwork and Signage
Signs and small art pieces personalize the space quickly.
- Inspirational Signs: Look for wooden signs with short, punchy sayings related to food or home. Ensure the font size is readable from the floor.
- Framed Prints: If the gap is wide enough, you can lean small, thin frames against the wall. Choose pieces with muted colors that don’t compete with your backsplash.
Architectural and Found Objects
These items add texture and interest.
- Vases and Ceramics: Groupings of three or five vases of varying heights work well. Stick to one color palette (e.g., all white, or all earth tones) for a polished look.
- Vintage Trays or Platters: Leaning large, decorative platters vertically against the wall adds significant visual weight and pattern.
- Baskets: Even if not used for storage, weaving baskets can add great texture.
Collections and Theme Items
Use this space to display a cohesive collection.
- Measuring Cups or Whisks (For Farmhouse/Vintage): Group old, clean metal kitchen tools together.
- Globes or Maps (For Traditional/Travel Themes): A collection of small globes or rolled-up vintage maps adds an intellectual touch.
| Item Category | Best Ceiling Height Match | Style Suitability | Visual Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faux Garlands | All heights | Farmhouse, Traditional | Softens lines, adds color |
| Tall Vases (Grouped) | 9 feet+ | Modern, Transitional | Creates height, structured look |
| Large Woven Baskets | 8 feet (used for storage) | Rustic, Bohemian | Adds texture, hides clutter |
| Vintage Platters (Leaned) | All heights (if deep enough) | Traditional, Eclectic | Adds pattern and scale |
Mastering Integration: Trim and Finish
Sometimes, the best way to decorate the space is not to put things there but to finish the architecture of the cabinets themselves. This is where trim comes in.
The Role of Kitchen Cabinet Crown Molding
Crown molding is a decorative trim piece that runs along the very top edge of your cabinets where they meet the ceiling.
- Purpose: It creates a smooth, finished transition. It makes cabinets look custom-built rather than just placed under the ceiling.
- Choosing the Style: The style of molding (simple, stepped, ornate) should match your cabinet door style. Shaker cabinets look best with simpler profiles, while traditional cabinets can handle more detailed molding.
- Installation Tip: If your ceiling is lower than the cabinet height, you can use taller crown molding to fill the gap, achieving a built-in look without needing decor items on top.
Utilizing Kitchen Cabinet Filler Trim
Filler trim is essential when your cabinets don’t perfectly meet a wall or another cabinet run.
- Function: It fills the small, awkward gaps that appear during installation.
- Aesthetics: Always match the filler trim to your cabinet color and material for a seamless look. It prevents dust traps and gives a clean line.
Enhancing the Look with Lighting Above Kitchen Cabinets
Adding illumination to the space above your cabinets is a game-changer. It highlights whatever displaying items above kitchen cabinets you have chosen, or it can be stunning on its own.
Types of Lighting Above Kitchen Cabinets
- LED Strip Lighting: This is the most popular choice. Small, thin LED strips adhere easily to the top or back edge of the cabinet. They cast a soft, upward glow onto the ceiling.
- Benefit: Creates ambient light, makes the ceiling appear higher, and eliminates harsh shadows.
- Puck Lights: These small, circular lights can be mounted directly onto the cabinet top, pointing upward.
- Benefit: They offer focused spotlights on specific decorative items.
- Rope Lighting (Older Method): While effective, rope lights are bulkier than modern LED strips and can look dated.
Integrating Lighting into Decor
If you use tall vases or baskets, position puck lights directly behind them. The light will shine around the object, creating a dramatic silhouette. This is a fantastic way of utilizing space above kitchen cabinets for atmosphere.
Addressing the Gaps: When to Leave it Empty or Cover It Up
Not every kitchen needs décor piled high above the cabinets. Sometimes, less is more.
When to Keep it Bare (or Trimmed Only)
- Very Low Ceilings: If the space is minimal (under 6 inches), adding items can make the space feel heavy and cluttered. Install simple kitchen cabinet crown molding and stop there.
- Minimalist Style: Ultra-modern or minimalist kitchens prioritize clean lines. A smooth transition using high-quality trim is the only decoration needed.
- Dust Concerns: If you rarely use a step stool, accumulating dust up there is a real issue. A clean, trimmed top is easier to maintain.
Unique Ideas for Above Cabinets
If you want something different from the standard vase groupings, try these concepts:
- Wallpaper Feature: If the gap is substantial, consider applying a bold, removable wallpaper just to the section of the wall visible above the cabinets. This adds huge visual impact without adding physical clutter.
- Faux Ventilation or Grilles: For a professional or industrial look, install decorative metal grilles (like those used in old HVAC systems) above the cabinets. This works well if you have dark cabinets.
- Floating Shelves (If Applicable): If the cabinet run ends short of the wall, you can install narrow floating shelves in the remaining space, creating a deliberate display nook.
Styling Strategies: Proportion and Balance
The key to successful styling above cabinets is proper proportion. An object that looks right on a counter might look tiny or monstrous high up.
The Rule of Odds
When grouping items (like vases or canisters), odd numbers (three or five) are naturally more appealing to the eye than even numbers. Grouping items creates a single, larger visual unit.
Varying Heights
If you use three vases, they should not be the same height. Aim for a staggered effect (e.g., Short, Tall, Medium). This guides the eye smoothly across the display.
Scale is Everything
Consider the scale relative to the cabinet size.
- Small Kitchen Cabinets: Use medium-sized pieces. A single, large item can overwhelm the cabinet run.
- Large Kitchen Cabinets: You need bigger, bolder items or dense groupings to fill the visual void created by the large cabinets below.
Color Palette Consistency
Keep the colors above the cabinets limited to two or three main tones that complement your backsplash and countertops. If your kitchen is primarily white and gray, avoid introducing bright primary colors up high unless you are making a very specific, intentional accent statement.
Solutions for Specific Cabinet Styles
The style of your existing cabinetry heavily influences the best choices for decorating space above cabinets.
Shaker Style Cabinets
Shaker cabinets are simple and clean. They pair well with:
- Simple, geometric pottery.
- Uniformly colored, simple signage.
- Subtle lighting above kitchen cabinets to highlight the clean lines.
Traditional Raised-Panel Cabinets
These look best with richer, more textured items:
- Antique silver pieces or pewter items.
- Heavier, dark wood elements.
- Ornate kitchen cabinet crown molding.
Open Shelving and Display Cabinets
If you have glass-front cabinets, you might have less need to decorate the space above, as the visual interest is already inside the glass. If you do decorate above, keep the items streamlined so they don’t compete with the contents of the shelves.
Maintenance and Safety
Utilizing space above kitchen cabinets requires thinking about safety and cleaning.
Cleaning Challenges
This area collects dust, grease, and grime quickly, especially if you cook often.
- Easy-to-Clean Items: Choose items that can be easily wiped down or taken down for washing (like smooth ceramic vases).
- Garlands: Faux greenery is notorious for trapping dust. Plan to take garlands down and shake or vacuum them at least twice a year.
Safety First
Never place heavy or fragile items on top of cabinets unless you are absolutely certain you can reach them safely.
- Weight Limits: Cabinet tops are not always structurally reinforced to hold extreme weight.
- Accessibility: If an item needs to be moved often, keep it low enough to reach with a small, stable step stool. Do not balance tall, heavy items precariously on the edge.
Considering Alternatives: The Upper Edge Finish
Sometimes, instead of focusing on the top, you focus on the edge where the cabinet meets the ceiling gap. This brings us to kitchen cabinet valance ideas. A valance is a decorative panel or trim that covers the underside edge of the cabinets, often concealing hardware or lighting wires.
What is a Kitchen Cabinet Valance?
A valance provides a soft, finished look along the bottom edge of the upper cabinets.
- Curtains: Small, tailored fabric valances can add a cozy, cottage feel.
- Wood Panels: Custom wood panels can be cut to match the cabinet finish, sometimes featuring cutouts for small accent lights pointed down onto the counter.
While valances cover the bottom edge, they contribute heavily to the overall finished look that reduces the need for heavy décor above.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I paint the space above my cabinets?
A: Yes, you can paint the exposed wall area above your cabinets. Painting this section a slightly different color than the main kitchen walls can create an interesting visual frame for the cabinetry. If you have a large gap, painting the ceiling a lighter color than the wall above the cabinets can also draw the eye up, creating visual height.
Q: Should I match the trim above the cabinets to the cabinets themselves?
A: Generally, yes. For a custom, built-in look, the kitchen cabinet crown molding and any kitchen cabinet filler trim should match the cabinet material, color, and finish. If you are using the space for distinct decoration, a contrasting trim can act as a subtle border, but matching is usually safer and more elegant.
Q: How high is too high for decorative items?
A: If you cannot comfortably reach the item with a two-step stool without stretching awkwardly, it is too high for anything other than permanent, purely aesthetic additions that rarely need cleaning or moving. Safety is paramount when utilizing space above kitchen cabinets.
Q: Is it okay to mix artificial plants with real plants above cabinets?
A: It is best to maintain consistency. If you use faux garlands, use faux items for any smaller potted plants as well. Mixing real and fake items in a confined, hard-to-reach area can look disjointed when viewed from below.
Q: What if I have bulkier items I want to store up there?
A: If you need above kitchen cabinet storage for bulkier items, use uniform, matching containers (like wicker baskets or metal trunks). This turns the functional storage into a deliberate design element. Do not simply stack mismatched boxes, as this turns into visual clutter quickly.