How can I decorate the open space above my kitchen cabinets?
by
Judy
+3
I don't know if I want to layer the open space with artificial vines and flowers or something else. No matter what I use, it will always get dusty up there, mostly due to my ceiling fan which I love. Has anyone ever enclosed the open area above their kitchen cabinets, perhaps with a plexiglass material to avoid the mounds of dust that appear in that area? If so, what would look nice behind there, for a pretty kitchen display? Would love to see pictures, if you have done this. Often wondered why the builder just didn't enclose the entire area! A nice wallpaper trim up there might be nice. Maybe I should have my husband do just that! Thank you for your suggestions!
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House no. 2 had a decent set of cabinets and enough room above for my tea pot collection. Put items easy to clean above the cabinets. 1 of my friends collects salt and pepper dispensers. Thes things are much easier to wash up.
I use a few decorative items above my cabinets and have received compliments about how nice it looks. I have a series of three pictures of purple flowers that I lean against the back wall, then a couple of vases and a large purple plate in a stand in the corner. It takes a few times up and down my step stool to get the items arranged decoratively but it's well worth the effort. Perhaps some platters, pitchers or items you don't use often can be propped on the top of the cabinet to lean against the wall. Some clear tall vases with a few ornamental balls in them would also draw the eye up. Just have fun experimenting with random items. Maybe even some books. I find it doesn't get too dirty and when I clean the area I often rearrange a bit to get a totally different look. You could even decorate some boxes for storage of lightweight items you rarely use, or baskets will work as well.
I have almost 30 running feet above my galley kitchen cabinets. After dealing with the dust, I made the decision that less is more. I picked a few theme plates and hung them on the wall and put a couple of decorative pots on the cabinet top. Not busy or flashy, but kinda fun. It took me several months before I found what I liked. Don't rush or you might regret it. (Also, there's enough room up there for seasonal decor which I do - patriotic, Halloween and Christmas.)
You could just create a look of cabinets to the ceiling. Here's a great tutorial: https://centsiblechateau.com/how-to-extend-your-cabinets-to-the-ceiling-in-under-an-hour-for-20-or-less
This photo from neswblogs.com is lovely. I agree, keep it simple. The theme depends on your color scheme, what you have on hand and personal preferences. Here's a tip I learned from a friend: cover the tops of the cabinets in paper toweling. Prop your decor items on top of it. You can't see the paper towels lying flat. When it's time, dust your items and remove the paper towels. Replace as often as you deem necessary. It cuts down on the cleaning time!
I have used wax paper instead of paper towels ...on top of my refrigerator I always put wax paper which helps with the cleaning.