10 Easy Above Kitchen Cabinet Decor Ideas That Work

That awkward space between your upper cabinets and the ceiling is a common design dilemma. For years, I ignored mine. It just collected dust and grease. But leaving it empty can make your kitchen feel unfinished. Adding some smart above kitchen cabinet decor can make the whole room feel cozy and complete.

I used to think that space was useless. Then, I tried putting a few old pitchers up there. The difference was amazing. It made the ceiling look higher and hid the ugly gap. But you have to be careful. If you put the wrong things up there, it looks like clutter. If you put too much, it looks like a dusty thrift store garage sale.

Rules for Styling Your Above Kitchen Cabinet Decor

Before you start grabbing random items from your closets, you need a plan. Decorating this high up is different than styling a coffee table or a mantle. You are dealing with height, distance, and a lot of kitchen grease.

First, think about scale. Small knick-knacks disappear when they are high up. A tiny ceramic bird or a small candle will look like random junk from across the room. You want large pieces that people can see from the kitchen island. Think big bowls, tall pitchers, and wide baskets.

Second, keep cleaning in mind. Kitchens get greasy. Cooking oil floats through the air and mixes with dust. This creates a sticky film. Do not put fragile items or things that are hard to wash up there. Paper items, cheap fake plants with fabric leaves, and delicate fabrics will get ruined quickly. Stick to glass, ceramic, metal, and thick wood that you can wipe down easily.

Third, use the rule of three. Group your items in odd numbers. A single vase might look lonely. Two identical vases might look too symmetrical. Three items of different heights will look just right. You can place a tall pitcher, a medium bowl, and a small stack of books together. This creates a natural visual triangle that is pleasing to the eye.

Best Items for the Space Above Your Cabinets

You do not need to spend a lot of money to make this space look great. In fact, you might already have some of these items in your home. Here are some of the best choices that look beautiful and stay clean.

Woven Baskets

Baskets are a classic choice for a reason. They add texture and warmth to a kitchen. They are also highly practical. You can use them to store things you rarely use, like cookie cutters, holiday napkins, or extra paper towels. Woven baskets are lightweight and easy to pull down when you need them.

If you are working with a smaller room, you might also want to read about how to style small kitchen shelves to maximize your space. You can find cheap woven storage options at stores like Target or local thrift shops. Just make sure to measure the gap between your cabinet tops and the ceiling before you buy. You need at least an inch of clearance to slide the baskets in and out.

Ceramic Pitchers and Platters

White ironstone pitchers are my personal favorite. They have a clean, farmhouse look that never goes out of style. You can collect different shapes and sizes from antique shops. Grouping three different white pitchers together looks clean and intentional.

Large serving platters also work well. You can stand them up against the wall using plate stands. This fills a lot of vertical space and shows off beautiful patterns. Since these items are ceramic, you can wash them in the sink with warm soapy water whenever they get dusty.

Framed Art Prints

Most people do not think to put art above their cabinets, but it looks wonderful. It makes the kitchen feel more like a living room. Choose wide, simple frames. Since the art will be high up, look for simple prints with bold lines. Detailed drawings will get lost, but a simple landscape or a vintage food illustration will stand out.

Use plastic frames instead of heavy wood or metal. If a frame falls, you do not want heavy glass shattering on your countertop. You can even use command strips to secure the frames to the wall above the cabinets so they do not slip.

Fake Plants That Actually Look Real

Real plants rarely survive above cabinets. It is too dark, too hot, and too hard to water them. Fake plants can work, but you must choose wisely. Avoid the cheap, shiny plastic vines from the dollar store. Look for high-quality faux eucalyptus or pothos plants with matte leaves.

Put them in beautiful ceramic pots. Let a few vines drape slightly over the edge of the cabinets. This softens the hard lines of the woodwork. To clean them, just take them down once a month and rinse them in the shower, then let them air dry.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

It is easy to go wrong when decorating this area. Here are a few things you should avoid to keep your kitchen looking clean and modern.

• The fake ivy trail: Do not run a long string of fake ivy across the entire length of your cabinets. This was popular in the nineties, but today it just looks dated and traps a massive amount of dust.
• Too many small items: A row of tiny spice jars or small figurines looks messy. If you have a collection of small items, keep them in a glass cabinet instead.
• Blocking light: If you have under-cabinet lighting or ceiling spotlights, make sure your decor does not cast weird, dark shadows across your kitchen.
• Using bright colors that clash: Keep the colors neutral. White, cream, wood tones, and soft greens work best. This is similar to how you would choose color schemes for dark kitchens to keep the space looking bright.

You can learn more about the history of home layout and design on Wikipedia to see how kitchen spaces have changed over the decades.

How to Keep the Area Clean Without Constant Scrubbing

Let’s be honest. Nobody wants to climb a ladder every week to dust above the cabinets. Here is a brilliant trick to make cleaning easy. Cover the top of your cabinets with wax paper or newspaper. Lay the sheets flat across the wood.

The grease and dust will settle on the paper instead of the wood. Every six months, climb up, roll up the dirty paper, throw it away, and lay down fresh sheets. It takes five minutes and saves you hours of scrubbing. Your decor items will still need a quick wash, but the cabinets themselves will stay perfectly clean.

Before you buy any new above kitchen cabinet decor, do one simple thing. Grab a stool, climb up, and clean the top of your cabinets. You might find years of sticky dust up there. Once it is clean, measure the height of the space. Then, choose just one or two items to start with. You do not need to fill the whole space overnight. Let your collection grow slowly.