I keep getting questions in my inbox and here on DESIGNED from people wanting advice about decorating above the cabinets.
I have a big blogpost that goes into all my usual visual tricks and rules when decorating above tall cabinets, bookcases, or even kitchen cabinets.
While I do sell this type of advice you'll see here below, I decided to go ahead and address this hot topic in the same format my DESIGNED In A Click! service uses so you can experience what you'll receive should you decide to reach out to me for a little bit of help. ;-)
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Oh, and before you scroll any further, I can't help but say...
These are just quick diagrams for my fast Q&A service. I know they are simple, but they are quick and to the point. :-)
Decorating Above The Cabinets in A Kitchen
Most times, if there is not a lot of space above the cabinets in a kitchen, I don’t elect to decorate there. I usually prefer nothing to a pile of stuff to dust and fuss with.
In this kitchen remodel I worked on, below, we just painted the perimeter cabinets to match the wall, we did not add to the tops of the cabinets to take them to the ceiling like I often do. We had so much to do on this job, we couldn’t do everything. :-)
So, I definitely did not want to decorate up there and accentuate the fact that they didn’t go to the ceiling. I wanted them to blend in to the walls and become the backdrop for the new, impressive island and light fixtures.
Kitchen remodel with no decorating above the kitchen cabinets! Carla Aston, Designer | Miro Dvorscak, Photographer
However, with these 3 situations I’m sharing here today, the homeowners DO have larger spaces up there with higher ceilings. Their cabinets do look a little dwarfed and the space up there feels a little ignored or unfinished.
In these cases, decorating above the cabinets can work in the ways I’ve described below.
READER Question #1:
"Hi. I just came across is while trying to decorate our new home. We have a lot of space above our cabinets that I want to do something with, but in the past have always used fake greenery. It does feel dated and I don't want to use it again, but am struggling with what to do. We have one end of the cabinets that is like a butlers pantry/wine rack, and I was thinking of doing that section with wine theme and the rest of the tops of the cabinets different, but they are connected so not sure what to do. Help! ~Beth"
My Response:
I’m so glad you didn’t start putting up fake greenery! :-)
I’ve placed a diagram over your image so you can see what I recommend. The principle applied here is balance — we’re creating balance by building up that area on the right side with bulky objects. Take a look:
I’ve also included another option for this space. Because it's long and the hood is off to one side, I like the idea of going with some repetition here with this long, linear space.
Reader Question #2:
"Hi, Carla! I have great vaulted ceilings in my kitchen and feel like I need something on my cabinets. I have no idea though what. I was thinking maybe big Marquis words or maybe get an appliqué for the wall, like a cute saying that I could start on one wall and then have it go onto the other wall? I don't have a collection of anything to put up there."
My Response:
Please... No "cute sayings". Just the other day I was perusing a Facebook group where designers were complaining about those. :-)
Don't get me wrong — it's not that something beautifully written, with equally beautiful meaning, represents bad design, it's just that these can get a bit overused, causing them to look cheap, fast.
Instead, I’d work on building a collection of items of similar color and texture, in shapes that I’ve shown in the diagram below. Second hand stores, flea markets, and antique markets — like Round Top, that I go to every year — all have tons of items that aren’t expensive. Baskets can be quite inexpensive too — especially from IKEA or Target.
When you build a mass from several objects, making them as similar as possible in color, texture, and type, it helps to create an overall look, as opposed to a chopped up, spotty, cluttered visual.
Further explanation is available in this diagram:
Reader Question #3:
"I just recently moved into a new house and am not sure what to do to decorate over the top of my kitchen cabinets since it's a ton of space over the left side of the cabinets and hardly none over the right. Any helpful tips/ideas would be much appreciated!! Thanks"
My Response:
I would build up on the left side to create some variation, like I indicate in the drawing, below. I also included a few additional tips in the following diagram to help make your kitchen look more custom when you are ready to do something more. Take a look:
In each of the above instances, I think these readers would benefit from some strategic decorating above the cabinets.
We’re trying to create some variation, some interest, and make these spaces look more high-end and custom. With the objects they choose, they would be best if they were larger in size, alike in color and texture, and sort of blend with the cabinetry to help create the look of a varied line of upper cabinets.
I hope this helps! ;-)
I want to thank my readers for submitting their questions. If you want some quick advice on decorating above your cabinets, or anything else for that matter, you can find out more about my DESIGNED In A Click! service HERE.
Pin this pin below, to Pinterest, to reference later. :-) Thanks!
Need some ideas on what to buy for decorating above the cabinets? I’ve got some suggestions below. :-)
RELATED: I’ve done one other advice post that unfolds in a way that's similar to my DESIGNED In A Click! service. It's also about decorating above the cabinets, and you can check it out HERE.