20 Ideas for Decorating Above Kitchen Cabinets

That awkward space above your kitchen cabinets? It’s not just a dust collector – it’s a prime decorating opportunity!

If you’ve been wondering how to transform this often-overlooked area, you’re in the right place.

Discover creative ways to add personality and flair, using everything from stylish decor objects and lush plants to practical baskets and eye-catching wall art.

Get ready to maximize your vertical space and add stunning visual interest with these inspiring design ideas.

Farmhouse sign and greenery

Arrange different cute farmhouse signs and items on top of your kitchen cabinets for a fun, playful feel!

I think this green and metal decor looks really good with the warm brown cabinets.

Rustic farmhouse decor on top of kitchen cabinets

Farmhouse decor for on top of the cabinets is a popular decorating theme, and I personally love how all the little cute plants are arranged!

It doesn’t even have to be real plants if that’s too much work for you to water, good quality faux greenery and plants will also do the job!

Utilize Vintage Mirrors

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Max Kim-bee

Placing mirrors up high will bounce light around for an airy look.

In this light-flooded kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, a pair of vintage mirrors perched on the top row of open shelving reflects light and views.

Try Patterned Wallpaper

Pin Design by deVOL Kitchens

To fill the blank space above the cabinetry, deVOL Kitchens hung nature-themed illustrated kitchen wallpaper that complements the dark green tile backsplash.

It adds a layer of visual interest without cluttering up the narrow space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling.

Incorporate Bar Storage

Pin A Beautiful Mess

Store infrequently used items, or things that you don’t want the kids to get their hands on on top of kitchen cabinets.

A Beautiful Mess child-proofed the liquor cabinet by storing neatly organized bottles in a row of wire baskets.

Choose Trailing Vines

Pin Design by deVOL Kitchens

Decorate the tops of cabinets with trailing plants for an organic touch.

This space from deVOL Kitchens is decorated with illustrated wallpaper, shades of green and cream, copper accents, and plants with delicate trailing vines perched atop the closed and glass-front cabinetry.

Add Art and Objects

Pin Mindy Gayer Design Co.

Mindy Gayer Design Co. layered art and objects on top of the kitchen cabinets in this high-ceilinged lower-level Lake Arrowhead kitchen that focuses the eye and makes the space feel cozier.

The top of similar cabinets in the corner is left bare to keep the space from feeling cluttered.

Style With Dried Botanicals

Pin Lobster and Swan

When decorating the top of kitchen cabinets, choose objects that reflect the color palette and style of your space for a cohesive look.

The top of this olive green painted china cabinet in an English country kitchen from Lobster and Swan is layered with rustic objects and a tall vase of branches.

Add Timeworn Touches

Be creative! Decorating above kitchen cabinets with large wooden boxes, packing crates, and harvest baskets serves several purposes.

The containers enhance vintage designs, supply eye-catching graphics and patinas, and hold everything from paper party goods to kitchen linens.

Up the Nostalgia

white kitchen desk with small built in desk and granite counters

Decorating above kitchen cabinets with objects that further your design vision is an easy way to add interest.

In this office alcove, vintage blue canning jars of all sizes brighten a space with little light.

When decorating up high, group same-color items to create big-impact displays that read as a collection.

Greenery and plants

Bring a breath of fresh air into your kitchen by incorporating greenery and plants above your cabinets.

Tall, leafy plants or a row of small potted herbs not only add a touch of nature but also create a visually appealing transition between the cabinets and the ceiling.

Consider planters in varying heights and styles to create a dynamic and organic display.

A delicate wreath

Sometimes there isn’t necessarily a lot of space above your kitchen cabinets.

Then, it’s a great idea to decorate with a wreath. This breaks up the monotone color of the cabinets in a cute and fresh way.

You can change up your kitchen wreaths depending on the season! I particularly love wreaths for winter and spring.

Display Colorful Vases

Pin Dazey Den

Dazey Den displayed plants and colorful glassware on the tops of opposite rows of cabinetry in this bold midcentury modern space that helps define zones in the semi-open-plan kitchen and dining room.

Mix and Match Objects

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar

A pair of rustic vintage painted wood cabinets with a worn patina stacked on a side wall of this kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors provide extra storage.

The top of the cabinet is styled with rustic objects in a mix of materials to give it an effortless feel.

Build Open Storage Nooks

Pin Design by Alvin Wayne

Interior designer Alvin Wayne added open stained wood niches above the white kitchen cabinets that serve as display space and storage for those cookbooks that only get trotted out during the holidays.

Store Kitchen Items

Pin Arbor & Co.

In this garage-turned-guest-house from Arbor & Co., an L-shaped kitchen has a mix of upper cabinetry and open shelving to accommodate the small space.

The cabinetry top is treated as an extension of the open shelving, housing a pair of simple bowls that make the corner space look cohesive and keep everything visible and accessible.

Introduce Pizzazz to Perimeters

Outfit the edges of your upper cabinets with deep crown moldings to create a stage-like effect to show off your favorite things.

These homeowners used molding to meld an over-the-window shelf with neighboring cabinets and fashion a holding area for flea market finds.

Maximize Display Options

Take advantage of out-of-reach openings to display sculptural pieces with similar colors or design periods.

This kitchen has generous wall space accommodating tall cabinets topped with open shelves.

Decorating above kitchen cabinets with a hefty glass vessel contributes color and sparkle to the kitchen’s streamlined design.

Show Off Heirlooms

Decorate above kitchen cabinets and on shelves or in nooks and cubbies with Sunday-best dishes or polished silver objects.

Select your finest pieces that boast fetching forms, captivating colors, and eye-catching details to fashion gracious displays that are sure to charm.

Create a Connection

A simple shelf with a fluted edge fills the gap between window-framing cabinets.

The convenient nook keeps white pitchers and plants near the sink for easy watering and stores cookbooks within reach of the chef.