Emily Flores
For decades, the space above kitchen cabinets sat quietly, often gathering dust and little else. Some households used it to stash baskets, others ignored it altogether. But today, designers are turning this once-overlooked gap into a canvas for creativity. Step into kitchens or living rooms now, and you’ll see more than just cabinetry—you’ll see personality climbing the walls.
Add Living Energy With Greenery
One of the most effortless ways to begin the transformation is with greenery. Plants bridge the leap from “forgotten space” to “living space.” Trailing ivy or pothos spills over edges, softening cabinet lines, while herbs in matching pots add both fragrance and function.
Similarly, greenery connects the rooms to the outdoors, setting the stage for more organic, personal design choices. Once you’ve introduced life, it becomes easier to think of the cabinet top as a place for stories, not just storage.
Turning Space Into Story
With the natural warmth of plants in place, the next step is layering meaning. Designers usually encourage homeowners to treat the cabinet top like a gallery. For example, a row of vintage cookbooks hints at culinary passion, while a line of pottery collected during travels whispers of adventures abroad.
This approach works best when it’s intentional. Grouping objects by theme, material, or color creates a sense of cohesion, and leaving space between items allows each to shine.
Light It Up
Stories told through objects deserve a stage, and lighting provides exactly that. Think of soft LED strips tucked above your cabinets, casting a warm glow across the ceiling. Suddenly, the room feels taller, cozier, more inviting. Or maybe you’d rather spotlight a few favorite pieces with small puck lights, the way museums highlight their treasures. Either way, you’re always setting the mood.
Once the mood is in place, the next step is practical: how do you keep the space looking great without it turning into a dust trap?
Balance Beauty With Storage
Of course, not everything on top of your cabinets has to be purely decorative. Sometimes you just need more space—and that’s okay. The trick is finding ways to make storage look intentional, not like you’ve run out of room.
Use woven baskets or vintage tins lined up neatly above the cabinets. They hide all the extra things you don’t want cluttering your counters. The key here is balance. Too much storage, and the top of your cabinets can start feeling crowded. Too little, and you lose the chance to make the space work harder for you.
Play With Texture And Contrast
Flat surfaces can feel sterile, especially in a kitchen that already has a lot of straight lines. Adding texture and contrast above the cabinets is like throwing a cozy blanket over a stiff sofa—it softens everything and makes the space more inviting.
Picture glossy white cabinets topped with woven baskets. That simple pairing brings together sleek modern lines with rustic warmth. Or imagine dark stoneware pots above light cabinets, as the contrast pulls your eyes upward, giving the room a sense of balance. And just like that, your cabinet top starts working as part of the room’s personality.
Rotating With The Seasons
Kitchens that evolve with the seasons feel alive, and the cabinet top is the perfect spot for rotation. In autumn, a line of small pumpkins or dried branches brings warmth. Winter calls for evergreens, twinkle lights, and maybe even a hint of sparkle. By spring, the mood shifts again.
Seasonal rotation also gives you permission to experiment. You don’t have to commit to a single “look” forever. Instead, you can lean into the rhythms of the year.
Bringing It All Together
There’s no single “right” approach. Some rooms come alive with texture and seasonal changes, while others feel strongest when the cabinet tops are left completely bare. The point is to decide what feels authentic to your home.
So next time you walk into your house, lift your eyes. That stretch of space above your cabinets is waiting. Whether you fill it with plants, stories, light, or nothing at all, the choice is yours. And that choice can change the way your whole place feels.