Many people are at a loss for how to decorate above their kitchen cabinets.
There are many options for decorative items you can put up there.
Here is a list of the good, the bad, and the ugly options for decorating above your kitchen cabinets.
Most important - make sure that your cabinets can hold the additional weight before adding anything to the top.
Fake Plants
Do NOT decorate with above kitchen cabinet plants.
Everyone knows that they are fake because you are not going to get on a ladder to water them.
Also, you will most likely very rarely get on a ladder to dust them so they will look dusty and even more fake, especially since kitchen grease acts like glue to adhere all of the little dust particles floating in the air to your plant!
Artificial plants often hang down near the cabinet door and get closed inside the door. When you close your cabinet door, you disturb the dust on the fake plants and dust from overhanging plants falls on your countertops and maybe into your food - YUCK!
Everyone knows that they aren't real, so just don't use them.
Decorative Storage Containers
Almost everyone wishes that they had more storage in their home, so why not use the space above your kitchen cabinets for more storage?
You can use decorative baskets or other stylish containers to hold cookbooks, linens, or seasonal decor.
Large Accessories
A better decorating solution for the top of your kitchen cabinets would be to store large scaled kitchen items there that do not overhang the cabinet doors.
You can put large pots, big platters, serving trays, cook books that you rarely reference, large vases, a picnic basket that you only use once in a blue moon, or even empty wine bottles up there.
Make sure to dust the items above your cabinets at least once a month. You may need to stack empty boxes or magazines on top of your cabinets to elevate your items so they are more visible.
Art
If you have a large wall space above your kitchen cabinets, consider hanging art on the wall.
Since the upper cabinets protrude from the wall, you will probably have to hang the artwork very high on the wall so it is visible.
An art alternative is architectural salvage items, like old stained glass windows, however be careful to position them so they don't fall if someone slams your upper cabinets.
Lighting
One of the best solutions for decorating above kitchen cabinets is to not put anything up there except above cabinet lighting, which will give your kitchen a clean and tidy appearance.
You can tie your under cabinet lighting in with your above cabinet lighting to create a beautiful and functional effect.
Experiment with different lighting placements and intensities to achieve the desired effect.
Lighting not only highlights your decor but also adds depth and dimension to the space.
Make sure to select the best light color for your kitchen. Most people prefer a light color in the range of 2700-3200K.
Add Cabinets to the Ceiling
A very popular option for decorating on top of your kitchen cabinets is to fill in the gap so you don't have to decorate that area.
You can add additional cabinets to the top of your cabinets (either solid front or glass front) and fill in the entire space to the ceiling.
This option is the best, however most expensive, option for decorating above your kitchen cabinets since it gives you more storage and increases your home value.
If you don't have enough room to add a cabinet, you can add a hollow box to the top of your cabinets that touches the ceiling. The box should match your cabinets and you should add trim to the top that matches your cabinet style.
Tips and Tricks
You might be wondering....is it still in style to decorate above kitchen cabinets. Most interior designers will agree that the short answer is no, however you can do what you want in your own home and decorate it to suit your own style.
However you decide to decorate above your kitchen cabinets, make sure it looks good from all parts of your room, both standing and sitting.
If you have a 2 story home, make sure the tops of your kitchen cabinets look good from upstairs as well as downstairs.
Other Articles You Might Like....
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How to Have a Beautiful and Functional Kitchen
How to Give Your Kitchen a Custom Look Without a Complete Remodel
