Look up in your kitchen, and you might find an awkward space with nothing but a light bulb in it. Above kitchen cabinets are not always easy to decorate – but they don’t have to be! In this post, In this post, we’ll go over some above kitchen cabinet decor ideas you can use in your own kitchen without breaking the bank.
Okay, guys, we need to have a talk.
You know that weird gap between the top of your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling? Some of you are wasting the opportunity to add some above kitchen cabinet decor that will make your space pop. And, to be frank…some of you have items there that totally date your kitchen.
Sorry, had to say it!
12 Above Kitchen Cabinet Decor Hacks I Highly Recommend
As you know, I’m pretty passionate about kitchen cabinets! So, I hate to see people do all this hard work painting their cabinets and not make the best use of every single inch of the space. Let’s talk about some of the best ways to decorate that awkward spot with some decorating ideas for above the kitchen cabinets.
1. A Large Sign
Looking for an economical, cute way to fill that gap? Why not browse Etsy or head to your local decor store and grab a sign? Just above the cabinets is a great spot for it! You could even paint your own custom sign with your family’s name or a meaningful phrase.
2. Lights
If you’re feeling ambitious, a unique above kitchen lighting idea is to install some type of light above your cabinets. One simple way to add a pop of color is to install some LED rope lights that have a remote. Then, with the literal push of a button, you can change your entire kitchen look!
3. Pictures or Artwork
I’m not going to lie, depending on the height you are working with, it can be tough to find the correct sized frames. But, if you can pull it off, you’ll smile every single time you walk into your space!
You can also use these photos to lean into your style more. Just above the cabinets is a great place to go for black and white or vintage-style pictures. Or, if you love farmhouse style, try some white chippy frames!
You can even make it a fun display area for the family. If you have kids, why not hang some above kitchen cabinet decor of their artwork?
4. Candles
To me, a few lit candles above the cabinets feel so cozy and inviting. They’re a great above kitchen decorating idea if you have a tall set of cabinets! Just make sure to get the battery-powered flameless candles…I do NOT want anyone burning their house down!
5. Pottery
This above the kitchen cabinet decor idea is an especially good one if you’re short on space! Showing off a pottery collection maximizes the amount of above kitchen decor without overwhelming the space.
There are so many ways you can utilize this idea. Vintage mixing bowls, collected soup tureens, or vintage pieces of china all look lovely. My personal favorite? Cake stands! I rarely bake but I think cake stands are so pretty—the perfect thing to set atop your cabinets!
One Kings Lane6. Decorative Glass
In the same vein, glass jugs like these are a lovely way to add visual interest without looking too cluttered. You can leave them empty, or fill them with a bit of greenery or flowers to brighten up your space!
7. Wicker Baskets
This above the kitchen adds some great texture to your space!
Wicker baskets are a great above kitchen cabinets ideas because they add style but also help keep the space organized. You can easily fill the baskets with extra linens, seasonal items, or rarely used kitchen items.
8. Copper
Copper placed above the kitchen cabinets is a great choice for adding some warm patina to an area of your home. Over time, copper will wear and age beautifully!
9. A Unique Collection
Want to make your kitchen extra fun? Why not add a whimsical collection above your cabinets? From a string of antique keys above to cow figurines, there are so many quirky above kitchen cabinet decor options out there!
10. Planters and Potted Plants
Filling that above cabinet space with potted plants is an unexpected idea that adds such a lovely pop of green to your kitchen! Just make sure you are very careful about what kind of greenery you add to this space—you don’t want to date your kitchen!
11. Backsplash
Want to add a little something to the top of your cabinets, but keep it fairly minimal? Why not extend your backsplash to the top of your cabinets? It’ll give your kitchen a luxe, high-end look.
12. Seasonal Decor
Want to make your kitchen extra festive? Above the cabinets is an excellent space to add some seasonal decor! Bring some extra holiday cheer to your space with garland and string lights. And why not decorate your cabinets with some wreaths too? 😉
As you can see, there are plenty of options for above cabinet decor to choose from!
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets
Now that you have a few ideas of what you can do, here are a few questions I have gotten from some of my readers that I wanted to share!
Help! How do I start decorating above kitchen cabinets with tall ceilings?
Some of you are hashtag blessed with those lovely ginormously tall ceilings. However, your blessing can start to feel like a curse once you start staring at that blank space above the cabinetry!
So what’s the secret to decorating above kitchen cabinets with tall ceilings? It’s actually quite simple. You can choose almost any of the ideas we talked about above, but you need to play with the scale. You can’t just slap up any dinky little piece—you gotta go big. OR, just leave it empty and enjoy all that lovely space!
How can I get rid of the blank space above my kitchen cabinets?
Do you realllllyyy dislike that empty area above the cabinets? Well, there are a few ways you can minimize it (unless, of course, you have those aforementioned super tall ceilings, then you are just kinda stuck with it).
Here are 3 quick ideas to get rid of the above cabinet empty space:
1. Add height to your cabinets
Think of this idea as adding a really tall crown molding. This genius idea was done using MDF and molding. Then, all you have to do is paint the top portion to match your cabinets!
Not sure how to paint cabinets? Well…hellooo! That’s what I’m here for! I walk you through every single thing you need to know in Cabinet Painting 101.
2. Add additional cabinetry
If you have a good amount of room, you could even consider adding an additional row of cabinets! Again, you’ll want to paint them to match your other cabinetry.
3. Move your cabinets up
Depending on how low the cabinets hang, you may be able to remove them from the wall and rehang them several inches higher.
Complete Your Dream Kitchen With The Perfect Above Kitchen Cabinet Decor!
As you can see, there are plenty of above kitchen cabinet decorating ideas that will work with your home and style. Whether you want to fill the space above your cabinets with potted plants or a collection, I hope this article has inspired some creative options!
If you want to know what NOT to use or maybe need to ditch, take a look at this helpful guide I put together on above kitchen cabinet decor you SHOULDN’T use.
such great ideas, I love the vintage paintings idea!!