Decorating the space above your kitchen cabinets is a great way to show off your personal style, but to avoid a cluttered look, it is best to keep the area cohesive, use items of varying heights, and limit clutter to prevent grease and dust buildup.
It's such a great space to add some style to your kitchen. Think about using cute baskets for storage, a few potted plants to bring in some greenery, or stylish jars to hold your kitchen essentials. You could also add a tray with decorative items like candles or small sculptures.
As a general rule, if you have under 2' of space above kitchen cabinetry, very tall armoires or built-ins, don't decorate the space. All too often, doing so dates you to the 1990's and the area does nothing but catch dust.
The space above kitchen cabinets is frequently a magnet for greasy dust and can quickly look cluttered. Depending on your budget, you can either enclose the space permanently, use it for functional, hidden storage, or style it with curated, large-scale decor.
Some people consider decorating the tops of kitchen cabinets outdated, while others consider it a timeless option. Displaying essential kitchen items, incorporating natural storage baskets, or carrying your backsplash or wallpaper into the space above cabinets can keep them looking current.
A kitchen is typically considered outdated when it suffers from a combination of failing appliances, poor lighting, worn-out surfaces, and an isolating, disjointed layout. Trends evolve, and what was once fashionable can make the entire heart of the home feel less functional and visually unappealing.
Add baskets to hide clutter
Not only do wicker baskets add texture to any space, they're great for storage. Tuck infrequently used items (think small appliances or seasonal tea towels) into baskets to keep them out of sight.
The 2026 kitchen is defined by "warm minimalism," focusing on cozy, earthy color palettes, hidden smart-storage, and the rise of multifunctional prep kitchens. It blends inviting natural textures with sleek, flush appliances, shifting away from sterile, all-white or cold, gray layouts.
Here are some of the most common cabinet design mistakes and how to avoid them.
Filling the gap above kitchen cabinets prevents grease and dust buildup while creating a clean, custom look. For small gaps, install trim or crown molding. For medium to large gaps, build a simple wood frame and cover it with plywood or MDF that is painted to match your cabinets.
What makes it look cheap: A lack of continuity disrupts the home's visual and physical flow, subtly cheapening the overall experience. Mismatched flooring, abrupt ceiling changes, or lighting that feels disconnected from nearby spaces can make the kitchen feel compartmentalized instead of cohesive.
Kitchen cabinet colors that feel dated include stark, clinical all-white, cool minimalist grays, and red-toned woods like cherry or honey-oak. Flat, one-dimensional brown-on-brown color schemes and overly bright primary colors have also fallen out of style.
Decorative boxes, crates and vintage suitcases are all great things to stack on top of a cabinet adding height and interest. I myself love vintage suitcases as they double as great storage pieces for out of season items like wool blankets, sweaters, holiday table linens, etc.
Decorative baskets are one of the easiest ideas for decorating above kitchen cabinets. If your kitchen has farmhouse décor, opt for wicker, rattan or bamboo baskets. Use baskets of different sizes and shapes to create a balanced display. These baskets don't just serve as décor—they're also practical.
To make your kitchen look expensive on a budget, focus on high-impact, low-cost details rather than a full remodel. Swap builder-grade hardware for premium finishes, declutter your countertops, and add under-cabinet lighting. These targeted swaps instantly elevate the space, costing hundreds instead of thousands.
The 1/3 rule in cabinet design is an interior design guideline stating that a cabinet pull or handle should be approximately one-third the width of a drawer or one-third the height of a cabinet door. This ensures hardware is visually balanced and functional.
All Open Shelving
A few well-placed shelves can create visual interest and warmth in a kitchen, but relying mostly on open shelving looks disorganized and leaves a space feeling cluttered and chaotic, Padia says.
The 3-5-7 rule is a design principle that dictates grouping decorative objects, furniture, or art in odd numbers (specifically 3, 5, or 7). It breaks rigid, perfectly symmetrical pairings to create natural, eye-catching visual movement.
A home typically looks outdated when it features overdone, time-stamped trends from specific past decades, such as honey oak cabinetry, popcorn ceilings, or generic word art. Outdated homes also often suffer from poor lighting, worn-out flooring, and heavy window treatments that block natural light.
A kitchen is typically considered outdated when it suffers from a combination of failing appliances, poor lighting, worn-out surfaces, and an isolating, disjointed layout. Trends evolve, and what was once fashionable can make the entire heart of the home feel less functional and visually unappealing.
An Overview of the Top Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends This Year. If you just want the quick list: warm “new neutrals” (cream, warm white, mushroom, warm stone), deeper greens, inky blues, soft blacks, and carefully planned two-tone combinations are leading the kitchen cabinet color trends for 2026.
The kitchen triangle rule focuses on positioning the three primary work areas—the sink, refrigerator and stove—to form a triangle. This arrangement aims to streamline workflow and increase efficiency, allowing for smooth movement between tasks.
Decorate the space above your kitchen cabinets with large statement pieces like oversized baskets, ceramic vases, or faux trailing plants. Alternatively, add a warm ambient glow using LED strip lights, or leave it entirely empty to keep the area clean.
Kitchen cabinet colors that feel dated include stark, clinical all-white, cool minimalist grays, and red-toned woods like cherry or honey-oak. Flat, one-dimensional brown-on-brown color schemes and overly bright primary colors have also fallen out of style.
Yes, you can use Murphy Oil Soap on kitchen cabinets. However, it is specifically designed for natural wood and relies on proper dilution.