Invigorate Your Kitchen with Brilliant Cabinet Top Decor

Does your kitchen need a refresh but you don't have the budget for a full remodel? One of the easiest and most affordable ways to update the look is by decorating the tops of your cabinets. This often-overlooked space offers ample room for creativity that can completely transform your kitchen's style.

With the right decor additions like open shelving, plants, lighting or wallpaper, you can customize your kitchen to match your taste. Cabinet top decor also takes advantage of unused vertical space for display and storage. Read on for tons of ideas that will inspire you to dress up those boring cabinet tops and give your kitchen new life.

Dress up Cabinet Tops with Stylish Open Shelving

Installing open shelving on top of your upper cabinets instantly creates a focal point for displaying cherished items or storing frequently used accssories. Floating shelves give your kitchen an airier, less closed-off look. Here are some ways to incorporate open shelving into your cabinet decor.

Open Shelving Ideas

Floating wood shelves in finishes like white washed, natural wood, or even painted colors are a versatile option. For a more modern style, try sleek metal rails, brackets, or shelves in matte black, brass, or chrome.

Glass or acrylic shelves introduce transparency while still securely holding lighter items. Multi-level shelving stands bring depth and allow you to stack items vertically behind each other.

Design and Install Shelving

First, measure the tops of your cabinets to ensure you get shelves sized perfectly for the space. Standard depths are usually 10-12 inches deep.

Choose a finish that coordinates with your kitchen's overall aesthetic - for example, rough-edged wood for farmhouse style or matte black metal for contemporary. Make sure shelves are mounted securely into studs on the wall or on top of the cabinet boxes.

Style and Stock Shelves

When styling your new open shelves, use decorative bookends, baskets, bins, and trays to keep items organized. Display everyday dishware you want to show off along with cherished cookbooks, vases, and potted plants.

Rotate seasonal items to keep your shelf display fresh and interesting. Make sure heavier items are towards the back and lighter items are placed towards the front where the shelf is most stable.

Invite Greenery In with Cabinet Top Plants

Plants are a quick and easy way to inject life into your kitchen. Greenery adds a lively pop of color and texture while purifying the air. Best of all, many low-light plants thrive in the sheltered spot on top of cabinets.

Best Plants for Low Light Kitchens

Great options include pothos, philodendrons, zz plants, ferns, and dracaena. Succulents also do well with the limited direct sunlight. Visit your local nursery to pick out a few vibrant plants in different shapes, colors, and sizes.

Displaying Plants on Cabinets

Opt for hanging planters that attach to the underside of cabinets with hooks. These allow plants to gracefully trail down. Set pots inside drip trays or saucers to prevent water spills.

Use mounting putty or museum gel to firmly secure planters in place. Position them away from sinks or cooktops where they might get splashed.

Arranging Plants for Maximum Impact

Group a collection of plants together at different heights for a lush look. Add taller statement plants in the back and smaller pots in front. Let vines or trailing philodendrons spill over the sides.

Choose planters like ceramic, rattan, or concrete that coordinate with your kitchen's finishes. Incorporate wood stands or wall-mounted shelving to create additional levels.

Illuminate Your Kitchen with Brilliant Cabinet Lighting

The right lighting can make all the difference in your kitchen's functionality and ambiance. Installing new fixtures above your cabinets introduces both task lighting for food prep and accent lighting to brighten up the space.

Cabinet Lighting Options

Pendant lights that hang from the underside of cabinets add a touch of style while providing focused lighting for countertops and islands. Hardwired track lighting offers flexibility in directing light. Under cabinet lighting illuminates more evenly.

Consider plug-in style pendants which are quick and easy to install. Hardwired fixtures require professional help but give you more placement options.

Install Cabinet Lighting Like a Pro

To install pendant lighting, carefully measure and mark locations on your cabinet bottoms to drill holes. Use the hardware included to mount canopies and hang pendants. Take care not to hit electric or plumbing.

Recessed or track lighting should be wired by a qualified electrician. DIY under cabinet lighting by securing battery-powered LED strip lights with adhesive.

Choosing Complementary Fixtures

Opt for pendant lights like drum shades, globes, or conical to match your kitchen aesthetic - modern, traditional, rustic, etc. Go for warm LED bulbs or dramatic filament options.

Select finishes like black, brass, or nickel that coordinate with your cabinet hardware and kitchen fixtures for a cohesive look. Look for dimmable lights to control ambiance.

Wallpaper Your Way to a Stylish Focal Point

Wallpapering your cabinet tops creates visual interest and color while letting the cabinets below remain neutral. Today's removable papers make this decor idea easy and renter-friendly.

Wallpaper Ideas for Kitchens

Go bold with graphic tile-inspired prints or muted tones like grasscloth. Choose peel-and-stick wallpaper for the easiest installation and removal. Wall decals are another DIY-friendly option.

Prepping and Installing Wallpaper

Use a level and painters tape to mark straight edges along the top of your cabinets. Clean the surface well before applying primer. Follow wallpaper instructions for smoothing out air bubbles and creases.

Finishing Touches

Use trim or molding to conceal top edges for a streamlined look. Incorporate pulls, knobs, plates, and glassware to tie the wallpaper to the cabinets below. Add coordinating open shelving or plants.

Update Cabinets with New Hardware

An easy upgrade for dated cabinets is swapping out the visible hardware. New knobs, pulls, and handles can give your kitchen a mini makeover on a budget.

Cabinet Hardware Guide

Choose knobs for a more eclectic look or pulls for a sleeker style. Brass, matte black, nickel brushed, and more are very on-trend.

Finding the Right Hardware

Stick with one finish for a cohesive look. Mixing metallics adds contrast. Choose hardware to match your kitchen's existing finishes or to introduce a new accent color.

Installing New Hardware

Fill existing holes with wood filler if needed. Use a drill to pre-drill new holes to make installing easier. Secure each piece tightly. Take doors off to work more comfortably if needed.

Focus decorating above the stove for a pleasant focal point during cooking. Layer on the outside of glass cabinet doors to customize enclosed storage.

Incorporate pops of color through accessories like baskets, rugs, and window valances. Work around awkward angles by embracing negative space.

Check out Etsy and thrift stores for unique vintage and handmade finds. The options for cabinet top decor are endless - so roll up your sleeves and start revitalizing your kitchen!