How do you decorate above kitchen cabinets?

7 years ago

What does everyone here do with the space between your cabinets and the ceiling? Do you decorate those areas or do you leave them empty?

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dcward89

7 years ago

I took my cabinets to the ceiling to avoid that dust collecting area up there. More storage is much more welcome in my kitchen anyway.

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Comments (11)

friedajune
7 years ago
Leave that space empty. Objects up there are dust collectors, and weigh down the appearance of the cabinetry. It is very difficult to achieve an uncluttered look with items in that space.

If you are able, try to have cabinets that go up to the ceiling. Don't worry about not being tall enough to reach up there. Most women can't reach above the second shelf regardless of the height of the cabinets.
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Well, I'm of the opinion that it's totally OK to use good quality artificial greenery . . . if it's used in a setting where that plant could actually grow. Obviously, it would be extremely difficult to grow real plants in a tipped sideways basket, though (LOL). That said, I always think that your above cabinet spaces should reflect you and your interests and/or continue the look of the room. I do think that a few larger items grouped together look better than a lot of little things lined up "like ducks in a row". It's a great space to showcase your collections, if they'll work with the rest of your kitchen decor. My own home here in New Mexico is a Contemporary Hacienda style home, with Spanish Colonial and Southwestern art, furniture and accessories. Bright Talavera-type pottery and santos (statues of saints and angels) are two of the things I like and collect and so I've used these types of things above my own cabs. BTW, I also have built-in lighting up there so that this area is lit in the evenings. But . . . my laundry room is out of the public eye and I've turned it into my little refuge filled with childhood memories from our summerhouse on Lake St.Clair outside Windsor. If my home and kitchen were of a different style, I would have used them in my kitchen instead. Above the cabs in my laundry room, I've got my inherited collection of Cottageware pieces displayed. Many are too small to look good sitting on their own above any cab, so I've put the smaller ones up on old cake pedestals, a cottage-y shelf and even a rustic doll chair. It's my solution of how lift up and showcase my smaller pieces. As you can see, I also like propping framed art up above my cabs. This wonderful retro-looking clothespin bag, like the one my mom used, hangs on another short wall and continues the cottage look. That and other chilhood memorabilia helps my Cottageware work in this room: Anyhoo, you can take any of these ideas here on this thread and apply them to fit you and your kitchen; your interests and/or your collections. Don't forget to get back to us and show us the final results! Lynn
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Don’t put stuff up there. Just leave it be. Not everything needs to be decorated. You don’t need to add embellishment to every space in a kitchen.
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I've read the same thing about putting too many things above the cabinet but I thought it call for something up there. . .I've also read more recently a some collections are ok if they are cohesive. Maybe a few more pics of different sizes and similar landscape might be what pulls it together. I like my little olive tree bonsai 😕
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bossyvossy
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

In our country home I have a country feel. Cute but dust collectors. In regular home, nothing.
sjhockeyfan325
7 years ago
In our previous home, we had upward facing lights, no decor. Current home - nothing at all.
debbie1000
7 years ago
I've been trying to figure this out for 20+ years! Our kitchen has vaulted ceilings, probably 20 feet high in places--so there is a lot of space between the cabinets and the ceiling. Yes, I have some dust collectors up there. Still trying to figure out the right answer to this!
Bunny
7 years ago
Nothing at all.
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
7 years ago
Above the cabinets?
More cabinets.
Even though I'll never put anything in them, being only 5'2, I like the look and it negates that empty, last minute thought-ish space up there. Smooth look with cabinets.

You'd be shocked at how many you can stick up there.
Gemcap
7 years ago
Sorry but I need to ask : do you want to / need to keep that empty space? As the others have said, it does become a nesting [place for dust bunnies, so if you can add another (even small / narrow) cabinet, would second doing that.
Bunny
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
If you can't add another cabinet above (e.g., existing boxes that you're keeping) and want to avoid cleaning dust bunnies, here's a very low-tech solution:

The top of cabinets happens to be the width of a paper towel. Run them along the entire top of your cabinet runs. The trim/crown should completely hide it from below. After a time, remove them, toss, and add fresh paper towels. It sure beats scrubbing. And FWIW, there's surprisingly little dust/grease on the old paper towels.
junco East Georgia zone 8a
7 years ago
I have a string of rope lights up there on a timer--looks warm and cozy in the evening. Also the largest of my collection of pitchers--I'll attach a photo. Yes, they get dusty but I don't actually use them, so every five years or so they get taken down and washed. I can't imagine scrubbing the top of the cabinets. I'm sure some of you think it looks "cluttered", but I like it and I'm not changing my cabinets.

The picture was actually taken to illustrate the ceiling fan, but you get the idea on top of the cabinets. As you can see, I am not a minimalist!

How do you decorate above kitchen cabinets?

dcward89

Comments (11)

friedajune

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