What to do with the space above your kitchen cabinets

Display artwork to showcase your design

As kitchens have become a space for entertaining and relaxing, think about displaying some artwork in the space above your kitchen cabinets. There is so much scope to use this space as a display area.

Depending on the style of your kitchen, artwork up high can demand attention: on canvas, a vintage sign, a neon sign or even Moroccan tiles. If you want a more relaxed, natural vibe, pieces of carefully selected driftwood could look elegant. Striking dinner plates can be placed symmetrically along the top (perhaps alternating with plants). If you want to get crafty, you can buy large wooden letters from a craft shop, ready to paint. Or if you don’t have time, you can order bespoke made or light-up letters and then place them along the top — spelling out things like ‘enjoy’ or ‘let’s eat’ or simply ‘family’.

Use canisters to conceal any clutter

A clutter-free home is good for your wellbeing, creating a sense of peace as you walk into the room. However, before you adopt a zen-like minimalist lifestyle, there will likely be certain items which invariably add to the clutter, but that you can’t throw out because you use them every once in a while. As good as it is to declutter, sometimes the throw-away culture can be bad for the environment and it’s best to save for a rainy day and make do and mend. 

If the items don’t need to be at arms reach because they aren’t used regularly, you can store the odds and ends in stylish labelled canisters on top of the kitchen cabinets. You can also store dry goods like extra supplies of pet food, or wild bird food, in smart canisters — much nicer than in scrappy paper bags, and it keeps the dry goods fresh. This is particularly useful if you bulk-buy.

Hoard cookbooks and other collections

OK, we know that we can find recipes on the web…but it still feels good to open up a cookbook on the kitchen counter ready to delve into the pages and get cooking, glass of wine in hand. A line of well-loved cookbooks above the kitchen cabinets also adds a homely charm and personality to a kitchen. 

That space above the cupboards is also just the spot to display any collections you might have — antique memorabilia or vases — whatever your thing is.

Use the space for plants, bringing light to your kitchen 

Numerous studies have proven that indoor plants keep you healthier and happier — it’s a fact. So if you’re wondering what to do with the space above your kitchen cabinets — add some plants. Choose some which don’t need much watering (note: hard to kill, so you can neglect with a conscience), such as:

• Orchids
• Spider plant
• Red aglaonema
• Ponytail palm
• Snake plant
• ZZ plant
• Sago palm
• Devil's backbone

FAQ:

How can I hide the gaps under my kitchen cabinets?

This is a quick win: use a thin bead of caulk to fill in the gap between the cabinet toe kick and the floor. If the gap is quite large, use a finishing trim first.

What to do with cabinets that don’t go to the ceiling?

Crown moulding or trim can fill in small gaps between the top of a cabinet and ceiling. If the gap is larger, you’ll need to ask a professional cabinet maker for a quote. Or alternatively, make the most out of the space for storage or design elements by using our tips above!

Is greenery above kitchen cabinets outdated?

Greenery above kitchen cabinets will never be outdated! Placing plants high above the cabinets creates a calming effect. If you don’t have space above the cabinets, or the plants you prefer need more natural light, then take a look at the vast range of ceiling and hanging plant shelves, indoor mini-greenhouses, wall plant pots and living walls.