Does the space above your cabinets feel like a wasted opportunity? You could use this space to maximize storage, make your kitchen feel bigger, or add a personal touch to your home. In this guide, we’ll go over some creative ways to decorate above kitchen cabinets.
Take Your Cabinets to the Ceiling
If you have a decent amount of space above your current kitchen cabinets, you could use that as additional storage. There are several ways to go about this. You could double stack your upper cabinets, running a second row directly on top of the first row. Most kitchens do not have enough wall space available for this, and most homeowners don’t have the need for storage that high. Nevertheless, it is an option for select kitchen styles.
Another way to run the cabinets to the ceiling is to replace your upper cabinets with a taller set. This may give you an extra shelf or two of storage inside the cabinets, and it will draw the eye up the wall in the kitchen. This makes the space feel taller and larger.
If you do not want to replace your current cabinets, you could use a matching material to make the cabinets look like they go to the ceiling. Decorative molding will cap off the tops of the faux cabinets and create a transition between the cabinets and the new material. This is a great trick for kitchens with soffits above the cabinets. The cabinets no longer look like they run into a low ceiling. Instead, the cabinets look like they go all the way to the ceiling.
Use Crown Molding to Cap the Top of the Cabinets
Whether your cabinets reach the ceiling or they stop short of it, consider capping off the top with crown molding. This is a beautiful way to add a finishing touch to your kitchen cabinets. If you have inexpensive cabinets, you can make them look custom with decorative trim on top. This will also draw the eye upward, once again making your kitchen feel bigger.
Add Art or Accessories above Kitchen Cabinets
If you have space above your kitchen cabinets and do not want to run your cabinetry to the ceiling, use this as a place to personalize your kitchen. Art and decorative accessories give that space a purpose, making the kitchen feel more finished and cohesive.
When adding accessories above kitchen cabinets, create small groupings or vignettes. Place accessories in sets of odd numbers, and leave space in between the sets. For example, you may have a plate with two figurines in front of it as one grouping above a cabinet. Then skip the width of another cabinet door before creating a grouping of 3 or 5 items. There needs to be a break in the accessories so people can appreciate each grouping on its own. Otherwise, it becomes a cluttered mess that is hard to decipher.
As you select art and accessories for above your kitchen cabinets, be mindful of your kitchen accent color. If your plan is to use yellow as an accent color, have an element of yellow in several accessory groupings. Think about how the accessories are going to look with the overall design of the kitchen. Use hand towels, rugs, and eye-level features to bring the colors from above your cabinets into the rest of the kitchen.
If you’d like more information about kitchen remodeling, contact O’Hanlon Kitchens at 443-285-0558. We offer premium kitchen remodeling services in Maryland and Pennsylvania. You may also check out our blog for additional kitchen remodeling tips.
