What to do if your cabinets don't go to the ceiling?

Author: Prof. Albert Connelly  |  Last update: Thursday, August 17, 2023

  1. 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. ...
  2. Fill in the space with a furr down. Furr down? ...
  3. Fill the space with trim in a contrasting color. ...
  4. Install really tall upper cabinets.

Why don't cabinets go all the way to the ceiling?

In a typical family home, wall-hung kitchen cabinets measure between 32 and 36 inches tall, leaving a space of around one or two feet above. 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.

What to put on top of kitchen cabinets that don t go to the ceiling?

If you have space between your cabinets and the ceiling, you can decorate the top of the kitchen cabinets with vases, baskets, books, and more! I love our all white kitchen in our new home! It has a very clean look, but sometimes it can also feel a little bit empty.

Do cabinets need to go to ceiling?

If your ceilings are any higher than ten feet it is probably not a good idea to have the your kitchen cabinets meet the ceiling. From a usability standpoint, kitchen cabinets that are higher than this would be difficult to reach and would not meet the needs of most home-owners.

How to fill the space between the top of cabinets and ceiling?

How Do You Fill The Gap Between The Cabinets And The Ceiling?
  1. Include A Plant. ...
  2. Collections That Go Together. ...
  3. Gallery Of Vintage Items. ...
  4. Extend wall over the Cabinets.

Put aluminum foil in your toilet…and THIS will Happen! (Dollar Tree Trick)

What can I do with dead space above my kitchen cabinets?

11 Smart Ways to Use the Space Above Your Cabinets
  1. Display serving pieces. ...
  2. Use canisters to conceal clutter. ...
  3. Or bust out the baskets. ...
  4. Show off a collection. ...
  5. Display cookbooks. ...
  6. Store your wine. ...
  7. Grow something. ...
  8. Add another shelf.

Why is there a gap above kitchen cabinets?

Mainly it is a matter of cost and ease of installation. Most kitchen cabinets are built in standard sizes and, when mounted on the wall, they leave space up above which gives the installer some wiggle room when leveling the cabinets.

Do cabinets that go to the ceiling make the room look bigger?

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.

How do I make my kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling?

Four popular ways to extend kitchen cabinets to the ceiling are:
  1. Double-Stacked Cabinets.
  2. Bulkhead Trim and Crown Moulding.
  3. Bulkhead Trim Only.
  4. Multi-Panel Doors.

Is it out of style to decorate above kitchen cabinets?

Is decorating above kitchen cabinets outdated? The short answer is no. There are so many beautiful ways to decorative above kitchen cabinets that will inject modernity, textural interest and decorative style to your kitchen. There are many interesting kitchen styling techniques and designs to chose from.

How do you add height to cabinets?

5 Ways to Add Height to Your Kitchen Cabinets
  1. Stack Another Layer of Cabinets on Top. If you have the room and budget, this strategy makes the most sense and will make your ceiling look higher. ...
  2. Add Crown Molding. ...
  3. Use Paint to Create the Illusion of Height. ...
  4. Install Shelves. ...
  5. 5. Box in the Space Above the Cabinets.

Is crown molding on cabinets outdated?

Crown moldings are installed on walls and bottom of walls, and when they're used on kitchen cabinets, it's just another supposed way of taking them from boring to extraordinary. But nowadays, you can easily find cabinets without crown moldings that look absolutely beautiful.

Should cabinet crown molding touch the ceiling?

1) Never leave crown moldings closer than 9 inches from a ceiling. Once you get within a foot of the ceiling you should have the cabinetry and molding meet the ceiling. Don't create spaces that look odd and that can't be cleaned. Molding too close to ceiling without reaching it.

Why are cabinets recessed at the bottom?

A toe kick is the recessed space on a lower cabinet that offers room for – you guessed it – your toes. These few inches enable your feet to rest comfortably under a small section of the cabinet, allowing you to get closer to the countertop without having to hunch over.

Should kitchen cabinets go to 9 foot ceiling?

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.

What can I do with a gap in my kitchen?

A practical way to fill the space is with a trolley filled with kitchen supplies (this version here is only 45cm wide). If you don't want your trolley on show a crafty solution is to use a curtain cover up. Even tall vertical gaps can be put to good use.

How high should cabinets be floor to ceiling?

Most manufacturers offer wall cabinets in heights of 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 32, 36, and 42 inches. For example, if your ceiling is 8 feet, two 42 inch cabinets stacked with a 12-inch cabinet on top would give you floor to ceiling coverage.

How to design a kitchen with low ceilings?

Well-chosen paint, lighting, millwork and other details can give rooms a lift
  1. Forgo Ceiling Moldings and Millwork. ...
  2. Bounce Light With a High-Gloss Paint. ...
  3. Extend Cabinets and Other Built-Ins to the Ceiling. ...
  4. Go for Floor-to-Ceiling Millwork. ...
  5. Use a Toilet With a Low Tank. ...
  6. Emphasize Long Horizontal Planes. ...
  7. Go Up to the Rafters.

How do you add depth to a ceiling?

Warm and Cool Colors

Light colors give the illusion of expansion while dark colors visually contract and bring closer. Warm colors will visually lower a ceiling. The color range includes brown, red, orange, yellow, green and teal. Cool colors will visually raise a ceiling.

How do you finish space above cabinets?

To fill in the space over your cabinets, you basically build a frame and then attach plywood sheeting to the frame. We chose to add crown molding so we needed the frame to also have somewhere to nail the molding.

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