For some reason one of the questions I get asked most by my clients and my readers is, “What should I put above my Kitchen cabinets”. My answer is typically, “nothing”. I don’t think this is the answer my clients are always looking for. Most of them can’t imagine having so much blank space above their cabinets. In fact I think it’s a little unnerving for people. But I actually like the negative space you create by leaving all that empty space above your cabinets.
via Alice Lane Home Collection photo by Nicole Hill Gerulat
Plus I feel like you are able to focus more of your attention on all of the other details in a Kitchen instead of focusing on all the clutter!
via Alice Lane Home Collection Photo by Ashlee Raubach
I feel like design is trending cleaner and cleaner these days. More people are craving clean and clutter free living spaces.
image from this post
I honestly just don’t see anything wrong with having nothing at all above your cabinets!
However there are instances when a client can’t bear the idea of not having once single knick-knack or decoration above their Kitchen cabinets and for those people here are some ideas…
Stick to larger objects or the item will get totally lost and if you do want to use smaller objects group them together so they feel like one large statement piece instead of a bunch of smaller pieces.
photo from this post.
Keep the items minimal in shape and design. I love love love white ceramic pieces above cabinets because it gives you the chance to display objects but visually it doesn’t appear to cluttered.
via house beautiful
If you are going to display something I think dishes make the most sense, it’s a Kitchen after all! If you are going to display dishes make sure they are really beautiful. You can’t go wrong with antique silver or pewter.
domino
I like items to be similar in color so the eye isn’t getting tired and going crazy with too much going on. Baskets in similar tones are a great idea! They are big enough that they can take up large amounts of space without creating too much clutter.
photo via Me Oh My Photo by Ashlee Raubach
One of my favorite ideas is to take your backsplash all the way to the ceiling. I love the look of subway tile on an entire wall. This way you get a little texture and sheen but you don’t have to actually put anything above your cabinets.
If the idea of going totally “bare” above your cabinets is a little daunting start slowly… remove all the items and then just put a few things up that you really love. Or if you are brave enough try living with it empty for a few weeks and see if you can get used to it.
No matter what don’t add faux ivy… please.
What are your tips for decorating above your cabinets! I’d love to get more ideas.
i would have never thought to put backsplash all the way to the ceiling but i really love that look. and i agree–dishes, if anything, are great to display over cabinets. makes sense!
I just LOVE your blog and your voice 🙂 When we built and moved in a year and a half ago, I was thrilled with the clean (empty) look above my cabinets.
http://www.lifeinyellow.com/2012/01/my-favorite-spot/
Everyone who stopped by to tour would ask, "what do you think you will put up there?" as if I just hadn't gotten around to it. Um, nothing! Love it the way it is. 🙂
Good for you! I don't think many people have ever even considered "nothing" an option!
I like a clean look so I don't want anything above my kitchen cabinets–I'm having trouble fighting off the clutter on the counters! I love the light fixtures in the first photo-amazing!
I like the nothing look!
Great post, this is a question I have wondered about.
I'm glad design is trending into cleaner looks. I'd like that first kitchen. Could you please inform my mother-in-law that faux ivy is atrocious. I am thankful that it will never make its way into my home.
http://www.istaistaista.blogspot.com
lol! Just send her a link to this post and she'll get the hint!
Amen. Ha ha! I'm always telling this to clients too, but I stick a little more hard lined and try to talk them out of it. I love your softer approach of saying, "Ok, if you have to….." Just tiling gets my first vote, then the dishes. Those dishes look great!
Yes! I love the tiling approach too!
We have subway tile to the ceiling and I love it! I featured our whole kitchen reno on the blog a few months ago – also love the idea of baskets!
Xo
Brooke
I totally agree less is more! I love keeping it clean. Your tips are great though – a great reminder to keep items larger on top & something to keep in mind when styling bookshelves top shelves too!
Thanks for the post!
Jana
Okay, when I first saw the post title–I cringed. Haha! I am not a fan of the "decorating above the cabinets"…my sister asked me the same question when she moved into her home and I gave her the same answer! I love the simplicity of the pewter jugs and baskets you have here, but I think it looks better cleaned up and left alone.
I so agree with you Sara that photo is one of the few photos that I really like of things above the cabinet!!!
I agree with your opinion 110+%
Nothing above cabinets…stylish, clean, classic ….etc.
no faux ivy…. love that line. so cringe when i see that in homes
Thank you for this post! I have been wondering what to put above my cabinets ever since we moved in! They are tall cabinets and only leave maybe 8 inches? of space above them. Now I won't feel guilty or lazy leaving them empty! THANK YOU!
Haha! The entire time I was reading the post, I was thinking, anything but fake ivy! I agree with everything you said–either keep it empty, large objects, and same color, so that it's not too crazy! Great post!
I love the idea of subway tile up to the ceiling in the kitchen in fact it's on my to do list but I prefer nothing on top of my cabinets, but I'm also a nothing on my refrigerator and no cereal boxes etc. on top of the frig type of gal! I like a cleaner look but honestly it would be one more thing to clean. No thanks! (:
We are lucky in this house that our cabinets are built right up to the ceiling (we finished them off with crown moulding too) but otherwise I totally agree — leave it blank! Great post 🙂
I'm with you on leaving the cabinet tops bare. Less is more. And faux plants are a dust collector and a definite don't
This is good advice. Question….what that a year supply of spam loaded up in the cupboards in the first picture?!
Great post kirsten! When we lived in an apartment and didn't have enough storage I used the space above my cabinets to house my cake stand collection. I also added a rope light, so at night the only thing you could see in my kitchen was my pretty dishes. It made a feature of the not-so-cute kitchen. -Emily
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Thanks for sharing this idea Kirsten! I've always love the clean look in the kitchen until I we moved in to a house with smaller kitchen (same layout as the Rainey house kithchen) but with a vaulted ceiling and I'm just stumped on what to do with the dead space.
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I'm totally with you about the faux ivy! 🙂
I prefer some kind of plants, its a way to bring the outside in and make a peaceful work space.
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“What should I put above my Kitchen cabinets.” —This question caught my attention, Kristen. And I must agree with you that it's better empty than loaded. It makes an impression of limited space in your kitchen. Anyway, those pictures that you posted were great.
WoodsCustomKitchens.com
I had some knickknacks on top of my cabinets but just finished painting my kitchen and was thinking of not putting the items back up there. I like minimal decorating and was actually kind of dreading putting the stuff back up but felt like I was committing some sort of decorating faux pas if I didn't. Thank you for this alternative approach!
I love your post. It looks amazing!
That's an excellently made cabinet, love it.
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