7 Ideas for Decorating Above Your Kitchen Cabinets

If your kitchen cabinets end several inches below your ceiling, the empty space above them likely looks blah and awkward. Fortunately, with a few ideas, you can either play down this area or dress it up to add style and storage space. Here’s how to decorate the top of your kitchen cabinets and blend it into your kitchen design. 

Cut Down on That Extra Space

First, consider reducing extra space between your cabinets and the ceiling with these strategies. 

1. Extend Your Upper Cabinets

To cut down on too much room above your kitchen cabinets, ask a cabinetmaker to stack another layer of cabinetry on top of your upper cabinets. Not only will you fill up some of that space, but you’ll also gain storage. To end up with the right proportions, make these cabinets roughly half as tall as the layer beneath them. Then consider accenting them with glass doors.

2. Install a Soffit

This framed-in box or bulkhead can hide unattractive pipes and wires, make your ceiling look lower, and lend your kitchen a more finished look. Either DIY—if you’re handy—or ask your local carpenter to build this feature for you.

3. Add Crown Molding

Ask a crown molding installer near you to add molding on top of your upper cabinets or right below your ceiling. Along with making your kitchen look more custom and formal, this upgrade will add the illusion of height. Molding is particularly ideal in traditional homes, such as Colonials and Georgians. 

Play Up That Extra Space

Next, decorate any remaining space for dramatic effect. 

4. Put in Shelves

Open shelving will give you the space to display collectibles, like large shells, antique kitchenware, or colorful cookbooks you use less often. To make sure it meshes with the rest of your kitchen, choose shelves in the same style. So, consider rough wood for an organic, natural space or metal for an industrial room. Avoid clutter by showcasing only a few objects.  

5. Use Shiplap or Beadboard

To make the space look intentional, adorn it with wood paneling. Shiplap is ideal in coastal homes, while beadboard will complement country kitchens and other traditional designs.

6. Accent with Paint

To direct your eye upward and add another hue to your space, paint the area above your cabinets. Choose a paint color that is different than the color of your cabinets. Use the same color for your ceiling to make it look higher.

7. Try Wall-Mounted Lights

To add another design element as well as a light source, install downward-facing fixtures, such as library sconces. Include a dimmer switch, so you can adjust the illumination depending on whether you need kitchen task lighting or soft lighting. Go with an odd number, such as three or five lights. As with shelving, pick a style and finish that go with the rest of your kitchen, such as sleek stainless steel for a contemporary space or antique brass for a more traditional look.