Reimagine Your Kitchen Design with Bold Cabinet Top Decor

Is your kitchen looking lackluster? Do those boring cabinet tops make your space seem dull and dreary? Transforming the often overlooked area on top of your kitchen cabinets can reenergize your whole kitchen's style. With a bit of creativity and dash of boldness, you can reimagine your kitchen design by decorating those cabinet tops.

Read on for clever tips to decorate above your kitchen cabinets. We'll cover prepping your cabinet tops, creative styling ideas, designing a cohesive look, and doing it all on a budget. With a few simple upgrades, you can drastically change your kitchen's aesthetic and make better use of the wasted space up there.

Prepare Your Cabinet Tops for Decorating

Before decorating the tops of your kitchen cabinets, some prep work will set you up for success. Taking a few preliminary steps ensures your new cabinet top decor has a solid, clean foundation.

Remove Clutter and Clean Surfaces

First, remove everything from the top of your cabinets. Take down any existing decor items, plants, or dust-collecting clutter. Once your cabinet tops are cleared, do a deep clean by wiping down the surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner. This removes grease and grime so new decor won't slide around or get dirty.

Inspect your bare cabinet tops closely while cleaning. Look for any damage, warped areas, or needed repairs. Addressing issues now is easier than working around new decor later. A few touch ups or fresh coat of paint prepares your cabinets for styling.

Consider Height and Safety

Measure how tall your cabinet tops are from the countertop. Standard heights range between 12 to 18 inches. This informs what decor items will fit without overwhelming the space. Then assess what's around the tops. Note ceiling height, proximity to vents or lights, and any windows above the cabinets.

When selecting cabinet top decor, avoid tall or heavy pieces that could fall and cause damage. Also refrain from blocking lights, vents or windows that need to remain unobstructed. Keeping height and safety limitations in mind allows you to decorate while avoiding potential hazards.

Creative Ways to Style Your Cabinet Tops

Ready to bring your boring cabinet tops to life? Get inspired by these creative decorating ideas for above your kitchen cabinets. Mix and match for a look that's uniquely you.

Plants for Freshness

Incorporating greenery instantly refreshes your kitchen's aesthetic. Trailing vines, succulents, or a mini herb garden infuse natural vibrancy. Opt for low maintenance plants if your cabinet tops don't get much sunlight. Consider installing grow lights if you have the space. Research your plants' proper watering needs too.

A row of herbs along the front cabinet top edge doubles as decor and a handy seasoning station. Or let trailing vines or succulents drape down along cabinet sides. Just be sure any trailing greenery stays clear of the stove or countertops.

Illuminate with Lighting

Lighting can make a big visual impact above your cabinets. String lights or pendant fixtures add ambiance to your kitchen. Opt for warm white bulbs - anything too bright or color-changing looks tacky. Avoid heat generating bulbs to prevent a fire hazard. Consider plug-in lights vs hardwiring for more flexibility.

Mini sconces flanking a decorative focal point, like platters or art, also draws the eye upwards. Any lighting should spotlight your displays, not be the main event. Whatever lights you add, position them to maximize brightness on your cabinet tops.

Display Collections

Those cabinet tops present prime real estate for displaying beloved collections in your kitchen. Floating shelves or plate racks neatly exhibit your grandma's china, a mug collection, or your vintage cookbooks. Curating what's displayed prevents turning your cabinets into cluttered attics.

Edit your collections, keeping only your very favorites on view. Arrange them artfully - don't just set items out randomly. For a cohesive look, display plates by color or subject, or alternate books and decor items. Elevating everyday pieces to an art form up high personalizes your space.

Add Baskets for Storage

While decorating your cabinet tops, don't forgo their storage potential. Neutral woven baskets corral kitchen supplies like napkins, placemats, or spices while contributing an earthy textures. Keeping necessities at arm's reach also minimizes rummaging around.

A set of matching baskets creates unity across your cabinet tops. Stick to subdued natural fibers like seagrass, rattan, or jute rather than bold patterns. Then use decorative tags or chalkboard labels to identify basket contents if needed.

Brighten with Artwork

Your cabinet tops present the ideal display place for artwork, prints, or photos. Floating ledges hold framed pieces securely. Plate racks angled against the wall easily exhibit canvas prints, photos, or even decorative plates.

For more visual impact, group coordinating frames into a mini gallery wall above your cabinets. Incorporate pops of color with vibrant art against plain cabinet fronts. Or keep it minimalist with crisp white matting and black frames. The right assortment of artwork can really elevate your whole kitchen.

Decorating Cabinet Tops on a Budget

You don't need to spend a fortune to revamp your cabinet tops. Affordable options abound, especially if you employ creative reuse. Here are budget-friendly ideas for cabinet top decorating on any budget.

Repurpose framed art or baskets you already own in a new spot overhead. Switch out what's displayed seasonally for a quick refresh. Raid a thrift store or garage sale for inexpensive prints, plates, and knickknacks to style atop your cabinets.

Dollar store frames and floating shelves cost little and still upgrade your look. For greenery, choose faux plants and vines over pricy live ones. And decorative lights instantly elevate for the cost of a pack of string lights. With resourcefulness, you can decorate those cabinet tops without breaking the bank.

Design a Cohesive Look

With endless decor options above your cabinets, how do you tie it all together cohesively? Use these design tactics to create an intentional, polished look.

Repeat Colors and Textures

Unify your cabinet top decor with a cohesive color story. A palette of two or three complimentary colors creates harmony. Neutral tones like white, wood, black, and natural fiber textures also blend seamlessly.

If your displays include brighter hues, repeat them in artwork and accents across the cabinet tops. The key is sticking to a designated scheme vs clashing colors competing for attention. Then vary textures like glossy china, rustic baskets, and sleek frames.

Style in Themes

Selecting decor in a consistent theme lends cohesion too. If your kitchen is modern, display geometric prints and metallic vessels. For farmhouse style, showcase antique platters and mason jars of utensils. Or create a coffee house vibe with signage and a menu board.

Your theme can be serious or playful. Highlight favorite hobbies and travel mementos. Or opt for a color theme like blue and white china stacking decor. Keeping every item aligned to a specific motif makes your cabinet tops feel curated.

If your kitchen could use a style pick-me-up, look no further than the unused space atop your cabinets. Prepping the surface and decorating with imagination lets you completely reimagine your kitchen's aesthetic.

Get inspired by lighting, collections, baskets, artwork, and plants. Tie your look together through color schemes and cohesive themes. Now those dusty cabinet tops can finally fulfill their potential as a functional and stylish part of your kitchen design.

What are you waiting for? Grab some creativity and breathe new life into your kitchen by decorating above those cabinets. It's an easy weekend project with dramatic visual impact. Your kitchen is sure to go from drab and dull to bold and beautiful in no time.