How to Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets Without Looking Cluttered or Dated

Inside: If you have that awkward space between your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling, here’s how to style it so it looks intentional—not cluttered or outdated.

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Decorating above kitchen cabinets can feel tricky. Leave it bare, and the space can look unfinished. Fill it up, and suddenly it’s 2005 again with ivy garlands and rooster figurines (not that I didn’t do that back in the day).

My own kitchen in my new-to-me villa came with that awkward cabinet gap. And since a kitchen remodel wasn’t in the budget, I had to figure out how to decorate it. After some experimenting, I finally landed on this formula that works: less is more, and bigger is better.

With just a few large, well-chosen pieces, you can make the area above your kitchen cabinets feel finished and stylish—and not cluttered or dated.

When to Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets (and When to Leave It Empty).

If your cabinets go all the way to the ceiling, congratulations— you’re on trend. This look is cleaner and makes the room appear taller.

You can also skip the decor above the cabinets if you have a sleek modern kitchen. Empty space can look intentional and minimalist for this style.

But for all other styles, if your cabinets stop short of the ceiling leaving a gap of a foot or more, that blank area can feel like something’s missing.

In that case, decorating it thoughtfully can help tie the room together—especially if your ceilings are tall, or the cabinets have a warm wood tone that visually stops the eye lower on the wall (like mine do).

Good reasons to decorate above kitchen cabinets:

• Your ceilings are high, and the gap feels empty.
• You want to bring your kitchen’s finishes or colors up higher for balance.
• The space needs something to soften all the hard lines, like pottery or glass, to feel finished.

Good reasons to leave the space bare:

• You have very little height between the cabinets and ceiling.
• Your kitchen is modern, sleek, or minimal.
• The area is hard to reach or close to vents where dust and grease collect.

How to Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets Without Clutter.

Once you’ve decided that space needs a little decor, these easy guidelines will help it feel finished and cohesive instead of busy or overdone.

1. Use Fewer, Larger Pieces.

This is the most important rule for decorating above kitchen cabinets: choose a few oversized pieces instead of lots of small ones.

When I first started experimenting with what to put on top of my cabinets, I tried grouping slightly smaller items, but they looked cluttered and random. Once I simplified and used just three sets of neutral, large pieces—a white urn and vase, a grouping of copper pots, and two clear glass bottles, that space had the finished, clean look I was after. The scale and simplicity made all the difference!

SH&H Tip: Go as big as you can while still fitting comfortably in the space. Large vases, jars, baskets, or urns will always look more current than lots of little accessories.

2. Keep the Color Palette Simple and Connected to the Kitchen.

Your above-cabinet decor should feel like a continuation of your kitchen—not an unrelated display.

In my kitchen, the white pottery ties into my light backsplash, white walls, and the many white decor items I use to lighten up the brown granite countertops.

The copper echoes my copper pots hanging above the cooktop and complements the warmth of the wood cabinets.. (Plus decorating with copper in the kitchen always adds warmth and character!)

And the clear glass of these oversize bottles adds an airy layer that keeps everything from feeling heavy:

When you’re choosing decor pieces, repeat finishes or materials that already exist in your kitchen:

• Ceramic or white pottery for a fresh, timeless look.
• Glass for an airy, open feel.
• Metallics like copper, brass, or stainless to connect to hardware or light fixtures.
• Woven baskets or wood bowls for natural texture—especially excellent in farmhouse or cottage kitchens.

3. Leave Plenty of Empty Space.

Even though I used three groupings above my cabinets, I left plenty of blank space around them.

The open sections are just as important as the decor itself. Your eye needs rest between the focal points. That “breathing room” is what makes it look neat and updated instead of cluttered.

Rule of thumb: Two or three groupings total are usually enough for an average-sized kitchen. Don’t feel the need to fill every inch or section.

4. Be Practical About Dust and Cleaning.

Another reason to keep it minimal—every piece up there will collect dust. I chose smooth-sided vases and jars so I can easily wipe them off a couple of times a year.

If your cooktop vents nearby, avoid faux greenery or textured materials that trap grease. And make sure your decor doesn’t block any recessed lighting or vents.

Ideas for Decorating Above Kitchen Cabinets by Style.

Traditional or Classic Kitchens.

Go with timeless materials—white pottery, ginger jars, copper cookware, or large decorative platters.

Farmhouse or Cottage Kitchens.

Think large woven baskets, rustic pitchers, cutting boards, or greenery in galvanized containers.

Modern or Minimal Kitchens.

Choose just one or two sculptural vases or a single long wooden bowl. Keep colors neutral and lines clean.

Coastal or Transitional Kitchens.

Mix glass bottles, driftwood tones, or textured pottery in sandy, sea-glass hues.

Seasonal Touches.

If you like to refresh your kitchen for each season, this space can change too. Add simple fall stems in a vase, twinkle lights at Christmas, or a sprig of greenery for spring.

What NOT to Do Above Kitchen Cabinets.

Here’s a short list of the common mistakes to avoid:

• Using too many small items.
• Filling every inch of space.
• Letting ivy or garlands drape across the tops.
• Ignoring scale and proportion.
• Using decor that doesn’t tie into your kitchen’s finishes.
• Forgetting that dust and grease are unavoidable.

My Final Look (and Why It Works).

After I pared everything back to just those few groupings—the white pottery, the copper, and the glass—the space finally felt finished without looking dated.

The warm copper ties the kitchen together, the white adds contrast against the cabinets, and the glass pieces keep everything light and airy. It’s the right mix of neutral, minimal, and easy to maintain.

Letting go of the idea that I had to fill the empty space above every cabinet made all the difference. Sometimes the best decorating decision is simply knowing when to stop.

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