Most homes have kitchen cabinets that are 32 or 36 inches tall, with an interval of 1 to 2 feet between the tops of the cabinets and the ceiling.
It's better to keep things more accessible,” Ashley says. Always work with your designer to determine what height will look best in your space. “Leave a foot or more between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling. This looks intentional and gives your kitchen the polished, elevated look you're seeking.”
Fill in the space with trim.
If the gap between your upper cabinets and the ceiling isn't particularly large, you can fill it in with trim running along the top of your upper cabinets. This makes for a cohesive, built-in look, and a lot less potential for collecting dust.
There is a valid reason for the gap between the kitchen cabinets and the ceiling; this is the height that most people can reach by standing on the floor or by using a ladder.
Ceiling Height
It is generally recommended that wall cabinets be mounted 54 inches up from the floor, which means that for 8 foot ceilings, a 39 or 42 inch upper cabinet will reach the ceiling, depending on the height of the crown molding used at the top of the cabinet.
Some people are completely focused on having as much storage as possible in the kitchen and selecting 42" upper cabinets will definitely give you more space. It also helps make the ceiling appear larger by having the cabinets touch the ceiling. But, be warned, the extra space does come with a few caveats.
Cabinets come in standard sizes, and to reach the ceiling, you will need to figure out what size works best. Most kitchen ceilings are 8 to 9 feet high. You can likely use 42-inch tall wall cabinets, with 12-inch additions on top if needed, to achieve the height you want. You can fill any gaps with crown moulding.
If you are installing crown molding allow 1” to 2 ½” drop from the ceiling with your wall cabinets. You will have a choice of either small crown molding or large crown moldings. Both these sizes will be offered in different looks. Crown Moldings come in 96” lengths and will need to be cut to fit during install.
Kitchen soffits are usually installed above your cabinets, closing the gaps between the cabinets and ceiling. While kitchen soffits were very popular in older homes, the style has fallen out of favor for many homeowners and interior designers. The lower ceilings create a cramped atmosphere that can feel restrictive.
Set up Cabinet Doors in Pairs
The doors open in opposite directions like the pages of a book. If you have a mounted microwave above your stove, the cabinets directly above the microwave would be a pair. Then the two surrounding the microwave would also act as a pair.
Most homes built in the last 50 years have kitchen cabinets that are 32 or 36 inches tall, installed so there is a gap of 1 to 2 feet between the tops of the cabinets and the ceiling.
This is a classic move, and for good reason: The space above your cabinets is just right for little-used items like cake stands, big serving boards, and a few decorative items.
The upper kitchen cabinet should be installed at least 54 inches from the floor to allow for a conventional backsplash. Keep the upper kitchen cabinets within comfortable reach by keeping the base cabinets between 32 and 36 inches high.
Cabinets, including crown molding, will go all the way to the ceiling with one wall cabinet. The kitchen cabinets and molding do not go to the ceiling and the wall cabinets and trim will be just below the ceiling. Any crown molding or trim will continue around the room, above the cabinetry.
Also, you could use 12” cabinets above the 42” ones and then fill the gaps with crown moldings or other decorative work. → For 10-foot-tall ceilings, the best option would be to have cabinetry makers build the custom cabinets to fit the space perfectly.
While it is necessary to use some types of kitchen cabinet molding to complete a project (especially fillers, toe kicks, and skins), crown molding and light rail molding are optional enhancements that add a polished look to any kitchen.
We recommend doing a 42"H upper OR a 36"H with a 12"H stacked cabinet above with glass (bringing you to 48" H) with a crown molding of at lease 5" in height.
If you have a small kitchen, white and neutral paint colors can be a lifesaver. White paint reflects light, makes walls recede, and increases the sense of space.
Generally, upper cabinets are mounted with the bottom edge being 54-inches above the floor. That means if you have 8-foot ceilings, your upper cabinets would be 42-inches tall, while a 9-foot ceiling has 54 inches available.
Choose a lighter ceiling color.
Paint your ceiling a color lighter than the walls, preferably white. Some believe high-gloss paint is best because it reflects light and makes the ceiling look somehow less fixed and static, while others say a matte finish will help the ceiling to blend in more.
Avoiding Damage: The floor is often prone to moisture, spills, and cleaning activities. By leaving a small gap between the cabinet doors and the floor, it helps to prevent the doors from coming into direct contact with these potentially damaging elements.
Often times, when a cabinet door won't close, and there is no damage to the door itself, the culprit is a worn-out or damaged hinge. Hinge adjustments on cabinets are not difficult with some patience.
The kitchen typically serves more of a practical purpose than an aesthetic one. High shelves are impractical and the large fluctuation in heating and cooling the space given the activities being performed there warrant as low a ceiling as possible.