Tips for How to Decorate Above Your Kitchen Cabinets

Is that pesky space above your kitchen cabinets giving you design nightmares?

Naturally at one time or another, we’ve all simply wished for tall kitchen cabinets to ceiling height. Who couldn’t use the extra built-in storage, after all?

But for many of us, a remodel simply won’t do. Instead, we’re left pondering our own approach to this frustrating kitchen challenge.

Not to worry, however. Below are 5 simple ideas to make your upper kitchen cabinet area more useful and attractive. But first:

When Is It a Good Idea to Invest in Above Kitchen Cabinet Decor?

We recommend decorating above your kitchen countertops and cabinets if you have any of the following:

• High ceilings
• An especially large gap between the top of your cabinets and the ceiling
• A kitchen that is cluttered and busy and could use some extra space

5 Decorating Ideas for Above Kitchen Cabinets

1. Consider adding toppers to kitchen cabinets.

Toppers are simply stylish baskets, boxes, or other containers that can store all sorts of objects and keep them neatly hidden.

This is our number one option because it looks good, and it allows you to use the space for whatever overflow objects you’re dealing with. After all, while some people may have an abundance of appliances to store, others may have more of a challenge with an extensive collection of kitchen utensils. Of course, you can also store objects that don’t necessarily belong in the kitchen but need a designated home.

When it comes to choosing toppers, we urge you to go with well-designed options with opaque sides. That is, don’t use just any old box or clear plastic bins. The toppers will be hidden near the ceiling but still plainly visible.

2. Make it home to your culinary book collection.

Do you, like many of us, have a large collection of cookbooks, recipe boxes, and culinary magazines that you have no idea what to do with?

Put them above your cabinets! It’s the perfect place for a library.

3. Try adding greenery above kitchen cabinets.

This is an especially good tip if your kitchen has plenty of light. Greenery above kitchen cabinets can brighten your space and add life and color.

Keep in mind that you’ll of course need to water your green friends, so be sure to have a short ladder or step stool on-hand. Likewise, don’t choose plants that require frequent watering or constant attention. A few good suggestions for forgiving houseplants include jade, spider plants, shamrocks, and devil’s ivy.

4. Create a mini art gallery or museum.

By this, we mean that you can display a selection of fine China plates, family photographs, handmade artwork, or other unique artifacts above your cabinets for an eye-catching accent to your kitchen’s design. If you have a unique collection of something, such as pottery, vintage glass, or books, these would look equally charming set high atop your cabinets.

One important suggestion to make here is to use large items versus small items, especially when the area you’re trying to fill is big. A lot of small items that aren’t contained in a display or propped up in some way will be difficult to see otherwise.

5. Decorate the space with patterned wallpaper or an accent color.

If storage is not an issue and you’re uninterested in displaying treasured objects, consider simply making the area into an accent space. A huge selection of vibrant and interesting wallpaper exists for your perusal, or you can just paint the space with a tasteful color that matches your kitchen design.

If you’d like to know how to decorate above cabinets modern friends, these are your best bets! We invite you to start with these and try your own hand at a creative and useful solution for this challenging space.

Talk to a Kitchen Design Expert

If you’re looking to remodel or redesign your kitchen cabinets in the Phoenix area, contact the design experts at Diamond Kitchen & Bath. For over 33 years, we’ve been proud to bring the community of Phoenix and the surrounding areas gorgeous kitchens and bathrooms at incredible prices. Visit one of our 4 Valley showrooms to get started today!