12 Eye-Catching Ways to Style Your Kitchen Cabinet Tops

Kitchen cabinet tops often go overlooked and underutilized. This prime real estate sits empty while the rest of your kitchen hustles and bustles below. But with a bit of creativity, you can transform those barren cabinet tops into a functional and stylish focal point.

Decorating the tops of your kitchen cabinets offers tons of benefits. You can add visual interest to your kitchen, display favorite items, and organize the space. The vertical room also provides extra storage and access to frequently used tools and ingredients. Best of all, you can easily upgrade your kitchen's aesthetic with budget-friendly accents and clever decor ideas.

Why Decorating Your Kitchen Cabinet Tops Matters

There are many excellent reasons to show your lonely cabinet tops some love:

• Makes better use of wasted vertical space.
• Provides much-needed storage and organization.
• Adds visual interest and personality to your kitchen.
• Completes the look of your kitchen with a decorated focal point.
• Allows you to display favorite items.
• Opportunity to add style on a budget.

Your kitchen cabinet tops offer an often untapped chance to add function and beauty to your cooking space. Here are 12 eye-catching ways to style those overlooked tops.

12 Eye-Catching Ways to Style Your Kitchen Cabinet Tops

1. Woven Baskets for Warmth

Natural woven baskets are a go-to choice for cabinet top decor. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your needs. Larger baskets corral fruits and vegetables or store bulky cookbooks and appliances. Smaller versions organize spices and utensils. Baskets add texture and a casual, inviting look to your kitchen while hiding away clutter.

2. Matching Lidded Jars for Harmony

Clear glass jars with lids present a unifying, cohesive look on your cabinet tops when chosen in matching colors or patterns. Large jars hold dry bulk ingredients like flour, sugar, pasta, or rice. Smaller jars neatly organize spices, nuts and bolts, cotton swabs and more. Pretty chalkboard labels let you organize ingredients and identify what's inside each jar easily.

3. Vintage Tins for Nostalgia

Old-fashioned tins evoke sweet nostalgia while providing practical storage. Upcycle vintage cookie, tea, and coffee tins by cleaning and repurposing them. Fill them with baking staples like flour, sugar, chocolate chips, etc. The tins keep food sealed and bugs out. Their retro vibe and mixed metallic colors have lots of character when grouped together.

4. Hanging Utensils for Easy Access

Hanging frequently used utensils right below your upper cabinets keeps them visible and close at hand. Options include wall-mounted rails, cup hooks, hanging wire baskets, or ceiling pot racks. Free up drawer space for lesser used items. Having essential cooking tools in easy reach makes meal prep easier.

5. Fresh Flowers for Brightness

A few stems of fresh flowers or a petite plant instantly brighten your kitchen. The natural pop of color livens up the space. Opt for blooms in seasons hues like sunflowers in summer or holiday poinsettias in winter. Faux flowers work too if you want the look without the maintenance. Display flowers in a vase or ceramic planter to complement your style.

6. Fruit Bowl for Freshness

A bowl of fresh fruit infuses your kitchen with life and vibrant color. Citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges add cheerful yellow hues. Apples, grapes, bananas and berries provide more options. Real or quality faux fruit both work. Anchor the arrangement with greenery for extra freshness. The fruit bowl pairs perfectly with a vase of fresh flowers.

7. Display Meaningful Dishware

Show off your prettiest dishware, especially ones with sentimental meaning. Arrange collections of vintage plates or teacups. Prop up decorative platters with bookends or shelf risers. Hang plates or bowls from plate racks. The visual feast delights the eyes and displays items dear to your heart.

8. Organize Appliances by Task

Group small appliances on your cabinet tops according to usage zones. Keep breakfast appliances like your coffee maker and toaster together. Have baking essentials like your stand mixer and food processor handy. Corral beverage stations for the kettle, Keurig, etc. Customize zones to match your cooking habits. Adding labels helps identify each zone.

9. Bookends for Cookbooks

Bookends help organize your favorite cookbooks neatly and attractively. Choose bookends that match your kitchen's style - sleek metallic, rustic wood, colorful enamel, etc. Pull out the cookbooks you use most often. Angle the books and bookends facing outward for easy reading. Keep them dust-free and away from heat and moisture.

10. Wallpaper Accent Wall

Use removable wallpaper to inexpensively create a stunning accent wall. Apply it to just your upper cabinets for maximum impact. Choose a lively print or texture that complements your kitchen's color scheme. An accent wall adds major visual drama without a permanent change. It's also great for disguising damaged cabinet surfaces.

11. Painted Pattern

Similarly, paint solely the top portion of your cabinetry. Opt for a vibrant color or fun geometric pattern like chevron stripes. Use painter's tape to create sharp edges. The daring pop of color makes your upper cabinets feel like an intentional design choice, not an afterthought.

12. Lighting for Illumination

Proper lighting truly makes your pretty decor shine. Install puck lights, rope lights or LED strip lighting to illuminate your cabinet tops. Accent lighting highlights your displays while eliminating dark, gloomy corners. Helpful for task lighting too when prepping ingredients. Choose warm white lights for a welcoming glow.

Design Inspiration Boards for Your Kitchen Cabinet Tops

The first step in decorating your kitchen cabinet tops is to dream up your ideal look. Search places like Pinterest, Instagram, and interior design sites for inspiration. Note color schemes, styles, and arrangements you love. Compile ideas into a vision board. This provides a helpful visual reference as you decorate and keep your space cohesive.

With a bit of creativity and effort, you can take your kitchen cabinet tops from dreary to dazzling. Start small and add to your decor over time. Refer back to these 12 eye-catching ideas to create a space you're proud of. Show off what makes you happy while staying organized. Most importantly, have fun giving your overlooked cabinet tops their long-awaited time to shine!