The space above your kitchen cabinets is often forgotten. It can become a dusty, empty void or a cluttered mess. However, this high-up area offers a unique opportunity to express your style and add character to your kitchen.
By using a few strategic decor ideas, you can transform this awkward space into a beautiful and purposeful focal point.
How You Can Decor Kitchen Cabinets?
Bring in Lush Greenery
A simple way to add life to your kitchen is with plants. Use trailing plants like pothos or ivy that can cascade over the cabinet edge. For a great low-maintenance option, high-quality artificial plants work just as well and require no care.
Use Woven Baskets for Texture
Baskets are a great way to add warmth and texture to your kitchen. They can be purely decorative or used for storage. Fill them with items you don’t use often, like holiday napkins or seasonal dishware, to combine form and function.
Create a Vignette with Vases
Group a collection of vases of varying heights, shapes, and materials. You can choose a monochromatic palette for a clean look or mix and match colors for a pop of personality. This adds an artistic and sophisticated touch that draws the eye upward.
Add Ambient Lighting
Consider adding a strip of LED lights on top of your cabinets. This provides a beautiful, indirect glow that highlights your decor and creates a warm atmosphere in the evening. It’s an easy way to elevate the space.
Display Favorite Cookbooks
If you have a collection of beautiful cookbooks, this is the perfect place to show them off. Stack them neatly in a pile or use a decorative bookend. It adds a personal touch and a sense of coziness to your kitchen, showing off your culinary passions.
Incorporate Framed Art
For a truly personal touch, lean framed art against the wall. Use a variety of sizes to create a layered effect. You can use anything from abstract art to vintage prints to match your kitchen’s aesthetic and add a curated feel.
Create a Symmetrical Display
For a classic and balanced look, place identical items on either side of the space. A pair of matching planters or vases creates a sense of order and harmony. This is a simple but effective strategy for a clean and cohesive look.
Showcase a Cherished Collection
Use the space to display a collection of items you love. This could be antique teapots, colorful glassware, or vintage tins. It adds character and tells a story about your personal style and interests, much like you would find in other home interior decor ideas.
Add Vintage and Found Objects
Mix in unique, one-of-a-kind items. Think old scales, a rustic bread bowl, or a vintage sign. These pieces add an eclectic and lived-in feel to your kitchen, making it feel more like home. A good design is all about the details, just like with home furniture ideas.
Use Decorative Storage Containers
If you need extra storage, use beautiful containers. Ceramic crocks or large metal tins can hold kitchen tools or dry goods. This keeps your countertop clear and your decor stylish while staying functional.
Reflect Light with Mirrors
Place a decorative mirror on top of the cabinets. It will reflect light and make the room feel larger and brighter. Choose an interesting frame to add a touch of glamour or character to the space.
Go All Out for the Holidays
The top of the cabinets is a perfect spot for seasonal decorations. You can easily switch out your decor for each holiday. Use pumpkins in the fall, garlands in the winter, and fresh flowers in the spring. This is just one of many DIY kitchen ideas you can explore.
Create Depth with Layering
Don’t just place items in a single row. Layer them by placing larger items in the back and smaller ones in the front. This creates visual interest and makes the display feel more intentional and curated.
Add a Touch of Sculpture
Introduce sculptural elements for visual intrigue. This could be a modern metal piece or a natural object like driftwood or coral. A unique sculpture draws the eye upward and adds a sophisticated element to your space.
Mimic an Open Shelf Look
Arrange your most beautiful serving dishes and platters as if they were on an open shelf. This creates a clean, intentional look. It’s a great way to display your favorite kitchenware and a perfect fit for a kitchen renovation ideas project.
Embrace a Minimalist Approach
Sometimes, less is more. Choose one or two large, simple objects that make a statement. This approach works well in modern kitchens and keeps the space from looking cluttered. It highlights the beauty of simplicity and clean lines.
Use Strategic Negative Space
Knowing when to leave an area empty is a skill. Don’t feel pressured to fill every inch of space. Leaving some areas empty allows your chosen decor to breathe and stand out, giving the eye a place to rest. This is a key principle in all home interior design ideas.
FAQs
What kinds of items should I avoid putting on top of my cabinets?
You should avoid putting items that are difficult to clean or will collect grease easily. Anything made of fabric, like fake garlands or wreaths, can become a magnet for kitchen grime. Also, be mindful of putting too many small, cluttered items up there, as they can make the space look messy from below.
How do I keep the space clean after decorating?
The top of cabinets is a dust and grease trap. For easy cleaning, use a broom with a dust cloth or a long-handled duster to reach the space. For more stubborn grime, a light spray of a degreaser cleaner on a cloth works well. You can also place a layer of wax paper or newspaper down first to make future cleanup much easier.
Should I decorate all the way across the top of my cabinets?
Not necessarily. The best approach often depends on the layout of your kitchen. For a small kitchen, decorating all the way across can make the room feel smaller and more cluttered. In a larger kitchen, you can create a continuous display or use strategic groupings. It’s often more visually appealing to decorate in intentional vignettes rather than a single, continuous line.
Conclusion
Decorating the top of your kitchen cabinets is a fantastic way to add personality and style to an often-overlooked area. By using these ideas, you can transform your kitchen into a more beautiful and personalized space.
