Refreshing Ideas to Decorate Kitchen Cabinet Tops

Kitchen cabinet tops offer useful space for both storage and design. However, many homeowners overlook decorating the tops of their kitchen cabinets. With some creativity, you can transform those boring cabinet tops into an eye-catching focal point that adds warmth and personality to your kitchen.

Whether you have a small galley kitchen or a spacious cook space, there are endless possibilities to makeover your cabinetry and highlight the treasures you display.

Understanding Kitchen Cabinet Tops

Before decorating, it's important to understand the purpose and components of kitchen cabinet tops. Cabinet tops simply refer to the horizontal surfaces at the top of kitchen cabinetry units. They provide an opportunity to creatively use the often underutilized space above eye level.

Kitchen cabinets themselves come in a variety of materials like wood, laminate, thermofoil, acrylic, metal, and glass. The most popular kitchen cabinet top materials include:

• Granite: A natural stone valued for its durability, stain resistance, and unique coloring/patterning.
• Marble: A metamorphic rock used more decoratively than granite due to its porousness.
• Quartz: An engineered stone that mimics marble and granite but needs less maintenance.
• Wood: Classic cabinets crafted from oak, maple, hickory and other woods, available in a huge range of stains.

The size, placement, and configuration of your kitchen cabinets will inform what and how you decorate the tops. Consider the existing decor of your kitchen backsplash, countertops, flooring, appliances and other elements before decorating.

Preparing Kitchen Cabinet Tops for Decorating

Properly preparing your kitchen cabinet tops is an essential first step for decorating success. Follow these pre-decor tips:

• Clean cabinet top surfaces thoroughly with a mild cleaner/degreaser to remove built-up grime and grease residue.
• Remove existing objects and decor items from the tops of cabinets.
• Fix any damages, imperfections, loose hinges/handles, or stability issues.
• Lightly sand cabinets if painting or staining; wipe clean after sanding.
• Prime and prep cabinet tops as needed based on the decor techniques and materials chosen.

Addressing any underlying issues with your existing cabinet build and design will allow you to truly transform the tops into decorative showpieces. Proper cleaning and surface prep also helps decorations adhere properly.

Simple Decor Techniques for Cabinet Tops

Looking for easy ways to decorate your kitchen cabinet tops without completely remodeling? Consider these simple makeover ideas:

Painting and Staining

Adding a fresh coat of paint or wood stain goes a long way in upgrading cabinet tops. Opt for neutral, warm, pastel or bright accent colors. Or try popular techniques like:

• Distressed paint: Intentional spots of worn 'chippy' paint for a timeworn look.
• Stenciled patterns: Use stencils and two colors for a graphic, custom cabinet design.
• Ombre stain: Stain tops darker than bottom for an elegant, graduated effect.

Adding Tiles as Backsplash

Tile offers nearly endless options for kitchen backsplashes. Extend your new or existing backsplash upwards along the cabinet top walls. Tiles with pops of color, geometric shapes, or natural stone textures all make bold statements.

Attaching Decorative Molding

Affordable trim pieces instantly elevate your basic cabinetry. Consider crown molding, dental molding, corbels or bun feet for simple yet chic architectural interest.

Installing New Hardware

Replacing dated or boring hardware with updated knobs, pulls or hinges showcases your style. Opt for glass, crystal, ceramic, wood appliques or hammered metal.

Creative Decor Ideas for Kitchen Cabinet Tops

Looking to make a splash with your kitchen redecor? Dare to think outside the cabinet box with these innovative concepts:

Wallpapering Cabinet Fronts

Specialty contact paper or wallpaper lets you affordably resurface cabinets in any print. Florals, geometric patterns and faux-textures like marble or wood grain liven up plain fronts.

Using Contact Paper or Laminate

For a quick DIY makeover, apply specialty contact paper right onto cabinet top surfaces. Choose a granite, metal or unique pattern print to disguise existing materials.

Adding Mirrors or Glass Doors

Mirrors visually expand smaller kitchens and brightly reflect light. Glass-front cabinet inserts and hardware also create displays while showing off pretty dishware.

Attaching Open Shelving

Mount floating shelves or rail shelving directly onto cabinet tops for handy display space. Style shelves with plants, cookbooks and barware to prevent clutter.

Decorating Cabinet Tops with Plants, Vases, Jars

Turn cabinet tops into mini garden sanctuaries or chic still-life displays. Use a mix of greenery, dried botanicals, fresh flowers, ceramics, baskets and glassware for eclectic charm.

Design Concepts and Layout for Decorated Cabinet Tops

When planning your kitchen cabinet top decor, consider the overall look you wish to achieve. Arrange items in inviting vignettes, create calming symmetry or opt for dramatic asymmetry. Whichever route you choose, maintain balance and purposeful design:

• Group items by color, texture or material for pleasant coordination without seeming too contrived.
• Repeat hues, shapes or styles across separate cabinet sections to establish intentional connections.
• Scale decor pieces appropriately so items don't get dwarfed by a large kitchen or overpower a small galley.
• Add lighting above cabinets or reflections below to draw attention upwards to displayed objects.

Also tailor your layout to the architectural specifics of your kitchen cabinetry. Adapt ideas to the reality of your existing footprint:

Staggered Kitchen Cabinets

• Spotlight corner cabinet tops with oversized statement pieces like trailing ivy in a ceramic planter.
• Layer collections of vases, pitchers or canisters atop center upper cabinet sections.
• Anchor ends of staggered banks with pairs of woven baskets stacked atop one another.

Straight Kitchen Cabinets

• Create vignettes across cabinet tops by grouping items at each end and center.
• Line up a series of small frames going across a row of wall cabinets.

The decor job doesn't end once your newly adorned kitchen cabinet tops are unveiled. Ongoing maintenance preserves their refreshed beauty while keeping displayed items dust-bunny free. Follow these care tips:

• Gently dust surfaces and decor items regularly using microfiber cloths or dusters on extendable poles.
• Spot clean painted cabinet surfaces as needed using damp cloths/cleaners recommended for that finish type.
• Remove grease or food splatter ASAP to prevent staining on cabinet fronts or decor pieces.
• Consider reapplying protective finishes to cabinet tops yearly as needed to boost shine and durability.
• Periodically evaluate if its time to swap out faded botanicals, wilted flowers or worn decorative objects.