Design Tips for Decorating Above Cabinets in the Kitchen

When remodeling an older kitchen, you may find yourself with a design dilemma. What should you do with that space above kitchen cabinets? There must be a better kitchen design idea other than leaving it empty to collect dust. Maybe your tired kitchen has a boxy bulkhead running from the top of the cabinets to ceiling. Regardless of your situation, we will dive into all the ways you can decorate the space above kitchen cabinets to fit your personality and taste.

Once all the dust has settled from your kitchen remodel and you are moved in, it might seem like something is still missing. You did the hard work of measuring your space, creating a layout and choosing your finishes, but why does it still look...empty? The fact of the matter is some kitchens just need above cabinet decor.

However, there are tasteful and not-so-tasteful ways to do this. With some simple recommendations and tips, you will be on your way to a more beautiful and satisfying kitchen design. Here are 5 tips to use when decorating above cabinets.

1. 1. Use Different Types of Decor
   The best above cabinet decor starts with a variety of pieces. This can include books, small artwork, faux plants, and other home decor pieces such as bowls, jars, vases and small artwork from a retailer such as Pottery Barn. Start small by choosing a few pieces for the space above kitchen cabinets and move them around as you see fit.
   Modern organic materials are popular right now, so accessorize with jute, wicker, glass and ceramics in timeless colors. This will help draw your attention upward to the decor without being too distracted from your brand-new beautiful kitchen.
2. 2. Choose Different Textures, Colors & Sizes
   One rule-of-thumb for decorating in both residential and commercial settings is to switch it up. For decor to be interesting, each piece needs to be different. For instance, if you have a tall item, add a shorter item to the mix. If you have something smooth, find something else with texture. And if you have a matte finish, mix in shiny finishes. Doing this will create a dynamic design keeping your eyes interested no matter where you look.
3. 3. Group Decor Together
   Although you may not have realized it, our eyes are attracted to clusters of decor. Especially in odd numbers. Group similar items together in quantities of 2 – 3. This could be a few books horizontally stacked or layered artwork. Even though this is a great design principle, don’t overdo it. Add in the occasional singular vase or jar for a sleek, modern look.
4. 4. Space it Out
   The top of cabinets can easily become overwhelmed with decor and souvenirs from trips. Make sure you maintain space between decorative items to avoid a cluttered look. Depending on your space, use 1 – 2 feet between each grouping to avoid your kitchen looking like a museum for old decor. One of the trickiest parts of decorating is using restraint to maintain an elevated look.
5. 5. Minimize Word Signs
   Word signs have certainly had their moment in home decorating. We all love Hobby Lobby and Home Goods, but when every decorative item makes you read, it lowers the aesthetic. Use one, maybe two word signs at most and allow your art, vases and cutting boards to shine instead.
   Remember to clean your above cabinet decor regularly to prevent the fuzzy look. Decorating above cabinets is not easy, but it’s worth it to find the right pieces that will enhance your kitchen design.

Usually, older homes have what’s known as kitchen cabinet soffits. They are typically plain boxy panels. Soffits often hide pipes on top of cabinets from an upstairs bathroom, electrical wiring or ductwork. Often, there is absolutely nothing behind the soffits. They serve no purpose other than to fill the space, making kitchens look dated and closed in.

However, some soffits are structurally necessary and should only be modified by a professional. If you can’t move the pipes or ductwork, consider applying decorative molding to the bulkhead that covers these mechanicals and painting it to match your cabinets. Matching the paint and crown molding to your existing cabinets will give you the appearance of taller wall cabinets with a finished look.

Install taller cabinets that reach the ceiling and finish them off with crown molding. Taller wall cabinets with molding provide a more finished and sleek transitional design style. The photo below shows the same kitchen pictured above, but after a complete renovation.

If your kitchen has generously high ceilings, you may not want tall cabinets that make it difficult to reach upper shelves. In that case, crown molding is still a simple and effective way to help transition the empty space between cabinets and the ceiling. Painting the wall with darker accent colors adds visual interest. If crown molding sits below the ceiling, another creative touch is to add lighting behind the crown molding. This can be as easy as installing a string of LED accent lights.

Install stacked cabinets in the space above kitchen cabinets to display decor or seasonal serving dishes and platters. Cabinets can have glass inserts or solid doors for more storage. Again, accent lighting within glass cabinets adds a bright and cheery touch.

Keeping things simple, clean and streamlined is always a safe bet for any style kitchen, whether it’s modern, transitional, farmhouse or contemporary. If you’re thinking about how to decorate above kitchen cabinets, connect virtually with a CliqStudios designer for your free kitchen design plan.

Contact a CliqStudios designer to get started on your kitchen now!