The space above your kitchen cabinets often goes unnoticed, but it holds significant potential for enhancing your kitchen’s overall aesthetic. Decorating this area can bring an extra layer of charm and sophistication to your kitchen, making it feel more personalized and complete. Whether your kitchen has a modern, rustic, or traditional design, carefully selecting and arranging items above your cabinets can create a cohesive and stylish look that ties the entire room together.
Understanding the Space Above Your Cabinets
Decorating the space above your cabinets can transform an otherwise plain and empty area into a focal point that adds height, depth, and interest to your kitchen. This space is ideal for introducing new elements like texture, colour, and visual contrast, which can help balance the design and make your kitchen feel more harmonious. Additionally, it allows you to infuse your personal style into the kitchen, making it a more inviting and unique space.
How to Assess the Available Space
Before you start decorating, it’s crucial to evaluate the space above your cabinets to ensure your design choices are appropriate. Start by measuring the height, width, and depth of the area to understand the dimensions you’re working with. This will help you choose decorations that fit well without overwhelming the space. Consider the height of your ceiling as well tall ceilings might require larger or more dramatic pieces to fill the space effectively, while shorter ceilings might be better suited for smaller, more delicate items. Additionally, take into account any existing elements such as lighting fixtures or architectural features that could influence your decoration choices.
Planning Your Design
Planning is key to making the most of the space above your cabinets. This step involves measuring the area to ensure the decorations fit properly, choosing a style that aligns with your kitchen’s theme, and considering how functionality can play a role in your decor choices. A well-thought-out design plan will help you create a balanced and cohesive look that adds to the kitchen’s overall appeal.
Measuring Your Space
Accurate measurements are key to ensuring that your decorations enhance rather than clutter the space above your cabinets. Use a tape measure to determine the exact dimensions of the area, including the distance from the top of the cabinets to the ceiling. This will guide you in selecting items that are proportionate to the space. For instance, if the space is narrow, opt for smaller, streamlined decorations that won’t overwhelm the area. Conversely, if you have ample vertical space, you might choose taller pieces that draw the eye upward and make the kitchen appear more spacious.
Choosing a Style
When planning your design, it’s important to select a style that complements the existing décor of your kitchen. Whether your kitchen leans towards modern minimalism, rustic charm, or classic elegance, your decorations should align with this theme to create a cohesive look. For example, in a modern kitchen, sleek, metallic objects or minimalist artwork might be most appropriate, while a farmhouse-style kitchen could benefit from the warmth of vintage signs, woven baskets, or natural elements like wooden trays and pottery. The goal is to enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen by choosing items that resonate with your existing style.
Considering Functionality
While aesthetics are important, it’s also worth considering how your decorations can serve a functional purpose. For example, decorative baskets or stylish containers placed above your cabinets can double as extra storage, helping you keep seldom-used items out of sight but easily accessible. Additionally, consider the practicality of maintaining these decorations: choose items that are easy to clean and won’t collect too much dust, especially in a kitchen environment where grease and moisture can accumulate.
Popular Decorating Ideas
Decorating the top of your kitchen cabinets allows you to add a unique touch to your kitchen. Each of these options can help create a cohesive and polished look.
Open Shelving
One popular approach to decorating the top of kitchen cabinets is to install open shelving. This not only adds a decorative element but also provides additional storage space. You can use these shelves to display beautiful dishware, cookbooks, or collectibles that enhance your kitchen’s theme. Open shelving allows for flexibility in decoration, as you can easily swap out items to refresh the look according to seasons or personal preferences.
Hanging Plants
Adding greenery to your kitchen can bring a sense of freshness and life to the space. Hanging plants above your cabinets are an excellent way to introduce natural elements into your kitchen décor. Choose low-maintenance plants that thrive indoors, such as pothos, ivy, or air plants. These plants can cascade down from the top of your cabinets, adding a soft, organic contrast to the hard surfaces of your kitchen.
Artwork and Mirrors
Small pieces of artwork or mirrors can also be used to decorate the space above your cabinets. Artwork can introduce color and personality, while mirrors can help reflect light and make the kitchen feel larger and brighter. When choosing artwork, select pieces that resonate with the theme of your kitchen and are appropriately sized for the space.
Decorative Objects
Curating a collection of decorative objects that reflect your personal style or the theme of your kitchen is another great way to decorate above your cabinets. Items like vases, sculptures, or vintage kitchenware can add character and interest to the space. Be mindful of scale and proportion to ensure that these objects complement the size of your kitchen and the height of your ceilings.
Tips for a Stylish Look
Creating a stylish look above your kitchen cabinets requires attention to detail. Focus on colour coordination to ensure your decorations complement the existing palette of your kitchen. Lighting can also enhance the space, drawing attention to your decor and adding warmth.
Colour Coordination
One of the keys to a stylish and cohesive look is colour coordination. Choose decorations that complement the existing color scheme of your kitchen. Consistent colors help create a harmonious atmosphere, tying the room together and preventing the space above your cabinets from feeling disjointed. You can also use this opportunity to introduce an accent color that adds a pop of interest without overwhelming the space.
Lighting
Make your cabinets more inviting by adding additional lighting above your decorations. LED strip lights are a popular choice as they are easy to install and can provide a soft, indirect light that enhances the overall mood of the kitchen. Lighting can also help draw attention to your carefully curated decorations, making them a focal point in the room.
Balance and Symmetry
When arranging items above your cabinets, aim for balance and symmetry to create a visually appealing display. Group items in odd numbers, as this tends to look more natural and less staged. Vary the height and size of your decorations to add depth and interest, but ensure that the overall arrangement feels balanced and not overcrowded.
Personal Touch
Adding a personal touch to the space above your cabinets can make your kitchen feel more like home. Consider incorporating family photos, heirlooms, or items that hold sentimental value. These personal elements can make your kitchen feel uniquely yours and more inviting to guests.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When decorating the space above your cabinets, it’s easy to fall into common pitfalls. Being mindful of these mistakes will help you create a polished and cohesive look that enhances your kitchen.
Over-decorating
One of the most common mistakes when decorating above kitchen cabinets is over-decorating. It’s easy to get carried away, but too many items can make the space feel cluttered and chaotic. Instead, choose a few key pieces that complement each other and contribute to the overall look without overwhelming the space.
Ignoring the Existing Kitchen Theme
When selecting decorations, it’s important to consider the existing theme and style of your kitchen. Mismatched styles can create a disjointed look that detracts from the overall design. Ensure that your decorations align with the kitchen’s colour palette, materials, and overall aesthetic to maintain a cohesive appearance
Out-of-Scale Items
Another mistake to avoid is using items that are either too large or too small for the space. Decorations that are too large can overpower the area, while those that are too small may go unnoticed. Aim for a balanced arrangement where each piece contributes to the overall design without dominating the space.
Final Thoughts
Decorating the top of your kitchen cabinets is a wonderful way to add style, personality, and a touch of creativity to your kitchen. By carefully selecting and arranging your decorations, you can transform this often-overlooked area into a visually appealing and functional part of your kitchen. Remember to keep the space balanced, coordinated, and reflective of your personal style for the best results. With the right approach, the space above your cabinets can become a standout feature that enhances the beauty and ambiance of your kitchen.
FAQS
Should you put stuff on top of cabinets?
Whether or not to put stuff on top of your cabinets is a personal preference. Some people enjoy the added decorative space, while others prefer a minimalist look. If you do decide to decorate the top of your cabinets, be sure to choose items that are lightweight and won’t pose a safety hazard.
Is greenery on top of cabinets outdated?
Greenery on top of cabinets is not outdated. In fact, it’s a popular decorating trend that can add a touch of nature and freshness to your kitchen.
How can I decorate the top of my cabinets?
There are many ways to decorate the top of your cabinets, including:
- Open shelving
- Hanging plants
- Artwork and mirrors
- Decorative objects
- Fake Flowers
What to put on top of kitchen cabinets to keep clean?
When choosing items to place on top of your cabinets, consider materials that are easy to clean and maintain. Some good options include:
- Glass or ceramic objects
- Metal items
- Faux Plants
