How to Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets 2026
Do you have awkward, empty space above your kitchen cabinets? This post is for you!
- Discover decorating ideas that use your kitchen’s vertical space to create visual interest.
- Learn which items (baskets, plants, vases, etc.) work best in modern kitchens without looking cluttered or outdated.
- Choose a design plan to match your home’s style: vintage, coastal, farmhouse, minimalist, or modern.
With the right styling, you can absolutely decorate above kitchen cabinets in 2026. Keep reading for decor finds, plus a comparison of our kitchen makeover before and after!
This post may contain affiliate links.
Design Dilemma: Empty Space On Top of Kitchen Cabinets
Let’s begin with a little backstory. Our builder grade kitchen doesn’t have quartz counters, a beautiful sink, or tall cabinets that extend to the ceiling. Sadly, I ignored this space for years because I didn’t see it as my “dream kitchen.”
But more recently, instead of seeing what isn’t here, I decided to focus on what is: lots of light, space, and functional appliances. In addition, I began searching for a simple way to add my personal style to our kitchen (on a budget).
A few months back I shared tips for upgrading a basic kitchen without renovating, and today I have another easy way to help you love your kitchen. I decided to decorate the top of our kitchen cabinets, and I think you’ll be surprised at what a difference it makes!
The picture above shows our spring kitchen decor before I styled the cabinets. I really liked this look, but wanted to make it feel more warm and welcoming, with a bit of cottage charm.
Quick Decor Ideas for Above Kitchen Cabinets
Before you begin styling the top of your cabinets, gather a collection of decor from around your home to use on top of your kitchen cabinets. Here are some ideas that work for many different styles:
- Vases
- Planters
- Faux plants
- Fake flowers
- Dried flowers
- Wooden bowls
- Wicker baskets
- Cookbooks
- Cake stands
Kitchen Cabinets Farmhouse Style
I decided to go for a more traditional look with a cozy cottage vibe. But if you have a farmhouse kitchen, here are some additional ideas for farmhouse decor on top of your kitchen cabinets:
- Vintage crocks
- Wooden crates
- Wire basket
- A large sign
- White pitchers
- Vintage scales
- Mason jars
- Picnic basket
Design Ideas for Above Kitchen Cabinets
New! Here are some mood boards showing ideas for how to decorate above kitchen cabinets for different design styles. We will cover vintage, coastal, farmhouse, minimalist, and modern traditional. Then, keep scrolling down for decor finds and more tips for arranging decor, depending on your cabinet layout.
1. Vintage Frames on Top of Kitchen Cabinets
First, here is an idea if you would like to create a vintage look in your kitchen. You can find vintage picture frames at thrift stores, and arrange them on top of your kitchen cabinets. Vary the shapes and heights for a collected look, or space them out equally for something more simple.
Pro tip: If you find some pretty frames but don’t love the color, you can use rub ‘n buff to refresh the metal tone. Personally I love the look of antique brass frames!
2. Coastal Basket Collection Above Cabinets
Secondly, here is an idea for decorating above kitchen cabinets in a coastal home. Use a collection of round baskets with similar colors for a cohesive look! If you would like to see a similar design with matching baskets, scroll down to idea #4.
3. Farmhouse Cutting Boards Above Kitchen Cabinets
Thirdly, here is beautiful above cabinet decor for a farmhouse kitchen. Layer wooden cutting boards or bread boards along the top of the cabinets to add warmth and interest to the space. Again, you could use similar boards spaced evenly for a simplified design.
4. Minimalist Large Baskets on Top of Cabinets
This is an additional idea for decorating the tops of cabinets in a minimalist or boho kitchen. Use two very large baskets, arranged in a symmetrical way. You can even use the baskets to store seasonal decor sealed in plastic bags.
5. Modern Traditional Above Kitchen Cabinet Decor
Finally, here is a traditional design for above kitchen cabinets, similar to what I did! Use small collections such as vases, planters, or baskets, mixed with faux plants. Keep it minimal for a modern look, or go maximalist for a cottage look.
Top of Kitchen Cabinet Decor Finds
In this section we will go over the types of decor to use on the tops of cabinets. You probably have many of these items already! But if you are starting from scratch, here are some more of my favorite items for decorating above kitchen cabinets. You can also find many of these items at a thrift store or flea market to achieve this look on a budget.
Vases and Planters
I like to group vases or planters with a similar color palette together. For example, I styled a collection of gray and white vases above our microwave for a cohesive look.
Faux Plants and Dried Flowers
Faux plants and flowers add a pop of color to the top of the cabinets. Or, try dried flowers for neutral colors.
Bowls and Baskets
Wooden bowls and wicker baskets are a great idea for adding texture to the cabinet tops. The natural materials also warm up an all white kitchen.
Cookbooks
I would not put favorite cookbooks on top of cabinets because you need them to be accessible! But they are useful for propping up shorter decorative objects or filling in a small space.
How to Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets
Now, some more specific ideas for how to decorate above kitchen cabinets. Above all, you will want to group decor items together based on your cabinet layout.
Staggered Cabinets
Since we have staggered kitchen cabinets, it was easy to decide where to place decor groupings. The tiered height of the cabinets divides up the space on top into a top portion and a lower portion.
For example, here is how I styled each section:
- First, I put planters on top of the corner cabinet section. I like the way the hanging plant trails down over one side and balances the stems on my island.
- Next, I placed all of my extra vases on top of the center cabinet section (above the microwave). A large basket between these two sections keeps the design from feeling cluttered with small objects.
- Finally, I anchored the ends of the kitchen cabinets with items of a similar shape and color–a wooden bowl and a woven basket.
When it comes to decorating above cabinets, balance is key! Try to mirror colors, textures, and shapes so that the design feels cohesive.
If you need encouragement, remember that styling a new space usually takes multiple tries. While decorating the top of our kitchen cabinets, I put together one design, lived with it for a few days, and then decided to make some changes. I am so happy with the final look!
Straight Across the Top Cabinets
On the other hand, I would not use the exact design from my kitchen for cabinets that are all one height, because the decor may look cluttered without the separation of the staggered cabinets.
Instead, for kitchen cabinets that are straight across the top: try a large decor grouping at each end, and one grouping at the corner, leaving space in between. Or you could use one type of decor all the way across, for example a collection of vases or picture frames in a row. (See this section for ideas!)
Top of Kitchen Cabinet Decor Sources
- Washable runner
- Cherry blossoms
- Ceramic pans
- Utensil crock
- Gray air fryer
- Purple leaves
- Glass vase
- Kitchen cart (similar)
- Hanging plant (similar)
- Serving board (similar)
- Basket (similar)
More exact and similar kitchen decor here!
What About Dust on Top of Kitchen Cabinets?
I shared an Instagram reel about decorating above kitchen cabinets, and somehow it received millions of views? Still in shock about that!
Many viewers were concerned about dust and grease accumulating on the decor. The tops of my cabinets were pretty dusty considering I had not cleaned them in… well, years. But after a quick vacuum, I decided to go for it! If you are concerned about dust and grease, I would recommend using ceramic or glass vases, as they are relatively easy to wash in the sink.
Decorating is my creative outlet, so I know I will end up swapping the items before too long. I will be sure to clean and keep things mostly dust free. For me it is worth a little extra work, but it may not be for everyone, and that’s okay!
Above Kitchen Cabinets Decor: Before and After
Here is a side by side comparison so that you can see before and after I decorated above the kitchen cabinets. Which look do you prefer?
I am loving the cozy cottage look right now, but I also appreciate a minimalist space!
If you have a similar kitchen layout and are wanting to add character to your space, I hope you found this post helpful. And leave me a comment if you try this, I would love to hear what you do!
I’m Caitlin.
A creative homebody on a mission! Since 2017, I’ve been dreaming up ways to make our builder grade house feel like home. Blogging every step of the way, my goal is to help you create a space that is cozy and functional. I write about decorating, organizing ideas, and DIY projects, plus occasional gift guides. Grab a cup of tea and let’s make home cozy!
I love your kitchen, have tried forever to figure out decor. Love the island. Where did purchase it? If you don’t mind me asking! We have similar kitchens and now I have some great ideas. Thank you
Hi Rhonda! Thank you so much! Our exact island was from Target and unfortunately no longer available. However, here are some really similar gray island options from different stores! Lowe’s, Wayfair, Amazon. Hope that helps 🙂
Loved the way you have used kitchen space and provided with storage idea and main focus was the few changes in your kitchen, the white tones looks very classy, i have similar style kitchen and i am also going to take some idea from your exclusive kitchen…
Thank you Campbell!
Do you have any pictures of how you change the decorations with the seasons? I love the look!
Jennifer, thank you so much! I need to take some new photos soon, so far I don’t have any new ones. Will update this post once I do!
Looks great! We have similar looking cabinets with varying heights and crown molding. Finding it’s not a flat and even up there, plus we need to raise the decor items so not half hidden by the crown molding. What did you use to perch items so they are elevated? Hope this question makes sense 🙂
Hi Lucy! Our cabinets are the same way. For smaller items, I propped them up with old books or even plastic containers! For larger or heavy items, I did not prop them up. Hope that helps!
I had the Tuscan look for years with grapes and wine and baskets. It looked lovely but 15 years later, I am sick of it. I wish I could raise the cabinets but I can’t afford it. I like the before pictures of your kitchen. Can’t stomach the clutter anymore but the space does look empty. We repainted the wall and cabinets. Wallpaper border gone. Any other ideas to fill up that space without the clutter?
Hi Lisa! I’m in the same boat as I would love to have cabinets that go up to the ceiling, but it’s not in my budget right now. Maybe someday!
For a less cluttered look, I would recommend just a few large rectangular baskets to fill the space above the cabinets. Or, if you don’t want to use any decor, you could consider peel and stick wallpaper that is not too busy (here is an example). It is also completely okay to leave the space empty if you prefer the minimalist look! Hope that helps 🙂
Can you show what you mean about the cabinets straight across? Maybe a sketch? I have white cabinets-coastal themed home
Hello Brenda! What a great idea, thank you for the comment. I just added five different mood boards to this post sharing how to decorate on top of cabinets for different kitchen styles. One of them is coastal, and they would all work for straight across cabinets. Just be sure to leave a little space between groupings of different items, so that it does not look too busy. Give the decor room to breathe! Hope that helps 🙂
Hi Caitlin, I love your ideas for over cabinet decor. Very beautiful. I’m in process of decorating my kitchen. What is the faux golden color weeds or plants in the shallow basket on right side of picture? Could not find.
Thank you.
Thanks so much Karen! Those stems are actually dried baby’s breath. If you prefer faux, here is an option! Hope that helps 🙂
Can you tell me what knife set you have on the counter?
Hi Kristin! We have Wusthof classic knives! They come with the wood block.
So timely for me to have landed on this beautiful website. We just bought a new house about a year ago, and I have been at a loss for the space above the cabinets. Thank you for these soft and sophisticated ideas!
– KW.
Thanks so much Khalia! 🙂
Hello there, your beautiful arrangement in glass vase with white flowers caught my eye. Are they faux flowers where you could send link to both flowers and vase?
Hi Claudine! Here are the cream strawflowers from Michaels! The exact vase is no longer available from H&M, but they do have one that is clear glass. Hope that helps!
I’m so glad I found this! I just had my kitchen cabinets painted, so I’ve been looking for new ideas to decorate them. This gives me so many ideas! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks Alex! Glad you found it helpful.
Hi!
I love your design! I have very tall cabinets. My problem is the crown molding is very tall. When I put anything on top of the cabinets you can’t see all of the items. I am stumped as to how to raise them high enough. Any ideas?😊
Hi Sara! Thank you so much for the comment. With tall crown molding, I would use a sturdy box or plastic food container to prop up the items! I actually did this for a few of mine and it worked really well. Just make sure to use something sturdy so the items are secure. Hope that helps!
I love this so much! We recently refinished our kitchen cabinets and I’ve been absolutely dreading trying to buy things for the top of our cabinets in fear that I would hate how it would look because I don’t have the design expertise for that area. This gave me so many ideas and inspiration and I can’t wait to get started! I love the rug that you used. I am definitely going to need to find that. Do you happen to know what color you used for your hardwood floors? I love the contrast between them and your cabinets. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you Alex! Our LVP was from our builder 8 years ago and unfortunately I don’t have the info on the color. But so glad you found the post inspiring! Have fun decorating your newly refinished cabinets 🙂
I have a collection of pottery and other finds above my cabinets. My cabinets are custom and quite tall, but my ceilings are taller! They don’t get that greasy, and I clean the items once a year. I like your after with the items on top of the cabinets. If you do it nicely it works and is interesting.
Thank you for the kind comment Ally! I was just rearranging a few items on top of the cabinets last week, and I have had the same experience. I only clean once in a while and haven’t had any issues. A collection of pottery sounds beautiful! Thanks again 🙂
I have high blue cabinets and really high ceilings. Not sure what size my decoration items should be.
Hi Mari! Even if your ceilings are very high, the decorating ideas in this post will still work for you. Since you have the extra space, you could use larger items such as large storage baskets or cutting boards to balance the high ceilings. I would avoid using lots of small items. Instead, focus on a few groups of larger items, or several large matching baskets spread evenly across the top. Hope that helps!