20 Brilliant Ideas for Decorating Above Kitchen Cabinets

Ever look at that empty stretch above your kitchen cabinets? It’s a space just begging for attention, not simply a spot for dust to settle! If transforming this forgotten area has been on your mind, look no further.

Explore brilliant techniques to infuse character and charm, utilizing everything from chic decorative pieces and vibrant greenery to useful storage baskets and captivating artwork. Prepare to elevate your vertical dimensions and introduce striking visual appeal with these imaginative concepts.

Farmhouse sign and greenery

Place various charming farmhouse signs and decorative pieces above your kitchen cabinets to create an inviting, lively atmosphere! This green and metal ornamentation appears particularly striking against the inviting brown cabinetry.

Rustic farmhouse decor on top of kitchen cabinets

Rustic farmhouse style remains a favored choice for cabinet top decor. The arrangement of delicate plants offers an especially appealing touch! Watering real plants might feel like too much effort, so high quality artificial greenery and botanicals will achieve the desired effect just as well.

Utilize Vintage Mirrors

decorating top of kitchen cabinets with mirrors

SAVE IT

A pair of vintage mirrors positioned at a higher elevation will reflect light, contributing to an open and bright aesthetic. Within this radiant kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, vintage mirrors situated on the uppermost open shelf amplify both illumination and exterior views.

Try Patterned Wallpaper

SAVE IT

To adorn the empty expanse above the cabinet array, illustrated kitchen wallpaper, featuring nature inspired motifs, from deVOL Kitchens enhances the dark green tile backsplash. This choice introduces a dynamic visual element without crowding the confined area between the cabinet tops and the ceiling.

Incorporate Bar Storage

SAVE IT

Place rarely accessed belongings, or items you prefer to keep out of children’s reach, atop your kitchen cabinets. A Beautiful Mess demonstrates how a liquor cabinet was made child safe by organizing bottles tidily within a series of wire baskets.

Choose Trailing Vines

SAVE IT

Adorn cabinet surfaces with cascading plants to introduce a natural element. This particular area from deVOL Kitchens showcases illustrated wallpaper, hues of green and cream, copper highlights, and botanicals with graceful trailing foliage resting above both solid and glass front cabinets.

Add Art and Objects

SAVE IT

Artwork and decorative items are arranged atop the kitchen cabinets in this tall ceilinged, lower level kitchen by Mindy Gayer Design Co. This technique draws the gaze upward and creates a more intimate atmosphere. Adjacent cabinets in the corner are left unadorned to prevent a sense of overcrowding.

Style With Dried Botanicals

SAVE IT

When adorning the area above kitchen cabinets, select pieces that align with your room’s color scheme and overall aesthetic for a unified appearance. The surface of this olive green china cabinet in an English country kitchen from Lobster and Swan is embellished with rustic items and a sizable vase holding branches.

Add Timeworn Touches

Embrace imagination! Adorning the space above kitchen cabinets with substantial wooden boxes, shipping crates, and gathering baskets fulfills multiple functions. These vessels augment classic designs, provide captivating visuals and aged finishes, and can store diverse items like paper party supplies or culinary fabrics.

Up the Nostalgia

white kitchen desk with small built in desk and granite counters

Enhancing the area above kitchen cabinets with items that complement your decor concept offers a simple method for introducing appeal. Within this office area, assorted vintage blue canning jars illuminate a poorly lit nook. When styling elevated spaces, group similarly colored objects to form impactful arrangements that appear as curated collections.

Greenery and plants

Introduce a refreshing ambiance to your kitchen by placing foliage and live plants above your cabinets. Towering, lush botanicals or a line of petite potted herbs not only impart a natural feel but also establish a pleasing visual flow from the cabinets to the ceiling. Explore various planter heights and designs to cultivate a vibrant and organic presentation.

A delicate wreath

Limited clearance above kitchen cabinets can sometimes present a challenge. In such cases, adorning with a wreath offers an excellent solution.

This simple addition beautifully interrupts the uniform cabinet color, lending a charming and vibrant touch. You can effortlessly update your kitchen wreaths to match seasonal themes, with winter and spring being especially delightful times for such decor.

Display Colorful Vases

SAVE IT

Plants and brightly colored glassware were arranged on opposing cabinet runs by Dazey Den. This approach aids in delineating areas within the kitchen and dining space that features a bold midcentury modern aesthetic.

Mix and Match Objects

SAVE IT

Two rustic vintage wooden cabinets, exhibiting an aged finish, are stacked against a side wall in this kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, offering additional storage. The cabinet’s upper surface is adorned with various rustic objects, combining different materials for a natural and relaxed aesthetic.

Build Open Storage Nooks

SAVE IT

Above the white kitchen cabinets, open stained wood niches were incorporated by interior designer Alvin Wayne. These serve as both showcase areas and practical storage for cookbooks typically used during festive seasons.

Store Kitchen Items

SAVE IT

Within this transformed garage from Arbor & Co., an L shaped kitchen combines upper cabinets with open shelving to maximize the limited footprint. The area above the cabinets functions as an extension of the open shelves, holding two modest bowls that unify the corner and keep items readily visible and within reach.

Introduce Pizzazz to Perimeters

Adorn the borders of your upper cabinets with substantial crown moldings. This creates an elevated platform for showcasing cherished possessions. Molding was utilized to connect a shelf positioned above the window with adjoining cabinets, forming a display zone for unique market discoveries.

Maximize Display Options

Utilize elevated spaces to exhibit sculptural items sharing similar colors or historical design periods. This kitchen provides ample wall surface, allowing for tall cabinets crowned with open shelves. Embellishing the area above kitchen cabinets with a substantial glass container adds vibrancy and shimmer to the kitchen’s sleek aesthetic.

Show Off Heirlooms

Embellish the area above kitchen cabinets, on shelves, or within alcoves with your finest dinnerware or gleaming silver items. Choose your most exquisite pieces, showcasing attractive shapes, engaging colors, and noteworthy features, to craft elegant arrangements that will undoubtedly captivate.

Create a Connection

A plain shelf with a grooved border fills the gap between cabinets bordering a window. This practical alcove positions white pitchers and botanicals close to the sink for convenient hydration and stores culinary guides within the cook’s grasp.