Five Ways to Use the Space Above Your Kitchen Cabinets
If your kitchen cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling, there’s probably a foot or so of vertical space that’s currently just collecting dust, even though you may never have thought about it. However, in our modern, storage-starved lives, having such emptiness in our homes is truly a waste because there are several ways to make that empty space work for you.
Storage
The most obvious use for this space is for additional storage. You can opt for built-in cabinet extensions (essentially wooden boxes that match the dimensions of your existing cabinets), but this will essentially raise your cabinets to the ceiling, which you will probably regret because it will be a real pain. take something out of there, and you’ll forget what’s hidden in those cabinets faster than you think.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use this space for storage – you just need to think about what and how you store in this space:
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Give preference to rarely used items. It’s best to place things in this space that you won’t use often. Those big gift plates from your wedding that you used once every ten years? Ideal!
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Arrange it artfully. The key is to manage the visual impact of the things you store there. Stack like items from large to small, placing the tallest stacks in the center and arranging everything in order of size, extending out to the sides. That’s why you need things that you rarely use so that the time you spend arranging them isn’t wasted. Likewise, stick to a single “variety” of items: bowls and serving platters or unusual utensils you never use — rather than both haphazardly mixed together. Since it’s so prominent, you want it to look cohesive rather than haphazard.
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Keep it clean. The space above the cabinets becomes dusty and greasy. No matter how strong your hood vent is, cooking will get the space dirty over time, so be prepared to dust and clean it periodically.
Decoration
Likewise, you can simply use this space for decoration. Instead of placing actual kitchen utensils and appliances there, simply create a beautiful arrangement using decorative items such as vases, indoor plants or any other knick-knacks that go well with the existing look and design of your kitchen. A few other ideas for decorating the space include baskets or other artistic objects—or skip the real thing and use wallpaper or sticker tile to add a pop of graphic color to the space.
Display
If you’re thinking about using the space for decoration, consider combining the idea with a larger purpose and turning it into a display area for:
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Collections. If you have a habit of collecting objects—figurines, decorative plates, old radios—why leave them in boxes or hidden somewhere? Whatever it is, put your collection on top of those cabinets. This will create a focal point for conversation with guests and allow you to truly enjoy your collection.
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Books. The top of your cabinets is an almost ideal place for books. Cookbooks would be the most obvious choice, but from a design perspective, any library will do. For extra points, choose books that are similar sizes and think about the color of the spines (if they’re arranged that way) or how the front covers work together when placed face-out.
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Photographs or art. This empty space can also be the perfect place for framed photos or artwork you’ve picked up along the way. A few beautiful photos of your friends or family, paintings you’ve chosen from local artists (or that you’ve done yourself), or any group of beautiful objects can also turn your kitchen into a gallery.
Pro tip: You can also rotate your displays like an art gallery, celebrating every dinner party and game day with a fresh display of art on the upper cabinets.
Wine cabinet
A great use for this quaint space is to store a growing wine collection. If you’re the kind of person who picks up a bottle from the store to drink right away, this doesn’t make sense, but if you enjoy tasting wine and buy it by the case to enjoy over time, you know that finding storage space can be a challenge ( unless you have a wine cellar under your house, dear person).
You could just add some freestanding wine racks there. For a more ambitious project, you can build a built-in wine rack like this that will keep your bottles dust-free.
Board
The easiest way to use this space is to paint it with high quality chalkboard paint (optional: use chalkboard paint as a backsplash and also to tie everything together). You can then decorate it however you like using colored chalk, or use this space as a menu display for dinner parties, a can’t-miss bulletin board for the whole family, a calendar marking monthly events, or a place to get creative with drawing when whatever you want. I feel like this.