Ideas to Decorate Kitchen Cabinet Tops
Kitchen cabinet tops often get overlooked as a decorating opportunity. Yet with some simple upgrades and styling, you can transform the tops of your kitchen cabinets into an inviting display space that adds visual interest and warmth to your kitchen design.
Read on for clever tips, ideas, and inspiration for decorating those forgotten horizontal surfaces atop your kitchen cabinets.
Assessing Your Existing Kitchen Cabinet Tops
Before decorating, take stock of your current kitchen cabinet tops. Look at the amount of horizontal space available along the tops of your upper cabinets. Measure to find the depth from the wall to the cabinet front. Standard depths are around 12 to 14 inches. Make sure you have enough room for the decor items you'd like to display.
Also evaluate the height of your cabinets. Standard is 18 inches tall above the countertop to the top. If you have especially tall ceilings, consider extending your cabinets all the way up with custom cabinetry for maximum decorating real estate.
Popular Kitchen Cabinet Materials
The materials of your existing cabinetry will impact decor options. Most kitchen cabinets are wood, laminate, or thermofoil. Neutral colored cabinets like white, gray, or wood tones offer flexibility. Brightly colored cabinets may dictate decor colors. Consider complementing or contrasting your cabinet top decor with the colors and textures already present from cabinets.
- Wood cabinet tops can showcase dishes, plants, baskets
- White cabinet tops pair nicely with greenery, or brighter accent decor
- Glass cabinet fronts easily incorporate lighting for brilliant illumination
Key Principles for Decorating Kitchen Cabinet Tops
Follow these fundamental principles for cabinet top decor success:
- Edit ruthlessly so counters don't become cluttered. Limit yourself to carefully curated cherished items.
- Group decor by function or visual theme to keep vignettes cohesive.
- Secure top-heavy objects with museum putty to prevent tragic falls.
- Consider installing discreet LED lighting to spotlight your decorative displays.
Setting a Budget for Kitchen Cabinet Decor Updates
The good news is decorating cabinet tops can range widely in cost. Even just reorganizing items you already own can give cabinets a mini-makeover. Or invest in customized cabinetry, glass doors, and high-end lighting for a true transformation.
Most cabinet top decor projects fall somewhere in between. Allow $20 to $50 for smaller DIY improvements like paint, new shelves, or decorative brackets. Allot several hundred dollars if you'll be refacing cabinets or replacing some doors and drawers to complement your new cabinet top look.
Simple and Affordable Decor Techniques for Kitchen Cabinet Tops
Not ready for a big kitchen remodel? Use these easy and budget-friendly ideas to embellish existing cabinet tops:
Paint or Stain Cabinet Boxes and Doors
A fresh coat of paint or rich wood stain instantly updates kitchen components. Neutral, warm, or contrasting hues complement potential decorative items that will reside on top. Consider a two-toned look, with lighter cabinet bodies and darker stained or painted tops.
Incorporate New Hardware
Swap tired hardware on cabinets and drawers for updated brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, or even vivid colors to tie into your theme. Funky mismatched knobs also work for a eclectic look.
Accent with Handpainted Ceramic Tiles
Jazz up a basic backsplash with handpainted tiles, available on Etsy or at specialty tile shops. Choose colors that complement your cabinet stain or interior wall shade. Insert colorful designs sparingly amongst solid tiles for pops of pattern and interest beside and behind cabinet top accessories.
Install Flexible Strip Lighting
Affordable LED strip lighting comes in self-adhesive rolls to perfectly highlight displayed items atop cabinets. Attach to the underside of cabinet tops or sides facing out towards decorative elements. Control lighting easily with remote dimmers or WiFi apps.
Display Special Serveware
Transform plain cabinet tops into a presentation space for beloved dishes, trays, bowls and tea sets. Opt for symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangements using decorative bookends, stands, or risers to vary heights. Introduce lighting, fresh flowers or foliage accents to highlight your treasured pieces.
Full Kitchen Cabinet Top Makeovers
For major impact, consider more extensive upgrades to complement a dramatic change in cabinet top decor. First address and refresh the boxes.
Refinish or Replace Cabinet Boxes
Does your cabinet interior need attention from water damage, heavy wear and tear, or dated laminates? Refinishing cabinet boxes restores interiors, while replacing the entire carcass enables a layout change along with material and color updates.
Refresh Cabinet Doors and Drawer Fronts
New doors and drawers transform the look of existing cabinet carcasses economically. Stained shaker, innovative metal finishes and materials like copper offer textural appeal. Or choose sleek lacquered options for pops of color.
Introduce New Countertop Surfaces
Simultaneously replace worn counters as you decorate redesigned cabinet tops. Quartz, recycled glass surfaces, and butcher block offer contemporary options that still deliver classic good looks.
Incorporate Glass Fronts and Open Shelving
Glass front cabinet inserts maintain easy visibility of attractive dish collections that can now reside inside cabinets--with interior lighting for dramatic illumination. Open shelving also displays treasured kitchenware in an organized, accessible way.
Stylish Kitchen Cabinet Top Decor Ideas
Not sure where to start in designing your new kitchen cabinet top vignettes? Draw inspiration from these popular decorative styles and themes:
Embrace Farmhouse Style
A cottage feel works perfectly in kitchen spaces. Display vintage cake stands, white pitchers, and wire baskets filled with faux or fresh greenery. Add interest with a cluster of drippy candles, blackboard menu easel and antiqued silver trays.
Go for Modern and Sleek Decor
The clean lines of contemporary kitchens need simple cabinet top decoration. Opt for a short stack of colorful ceramic planters or gleaming copper pots. Keep items minimal and streamlined for maximum modern appeal.
Build Cohesive Gallery Style Arrangements
Gather framed artwork atop cabinets to create a professional gallery effect. Opt for same-sized frames in identical black, silver or white. Feature bold graphic food prints, vintage dishware sketches, or black and white culinary photos.
Maximize Holiday Spirit
Cabinet tops offer prime real estate for elevating seasonal decor. Display miniature trees, a curated ornament collection in mercury glass bowls, or an array of amber jars lit from within. Drape twinkling string lights above for a magical holiday presentation.
Organize Coffee Bar Necessities
Carve out space in a kitchen cabinet top to curate coffee bar essentials. Display ingredients in matching antique bottles or gleaming canisters. Include stackable mugs, a small tray for stirring spoons and sugar packets, and cute creamer options.
Transforming Kitchens with New Cabinet Tops
For a complete kitchen overhaul, enhancing cabinet tops presents just one opportunity. Integrate complementary elements like built-ins, designer hardware and material finishes.
Extend Cabinets to the Ceiling
Extra tall custom cabinetry maximizes every inch, reaching all the way to your ceiling. Bonus space at the top accommodates larger decorative items like artwork, dish collections, or even books. Increase depth for additional serving ware or appliance storage.