Asked on Sep 14, 2017
How hard is it to move kitchen cabinets further up on the wall?
by
Sandi
+7
My kitchen wall cabinets are about 20" down from the ceiling. That is a large amount of useless space for me. I'd like to move them up on the wall and add a shelf below. Just wondering how hard that would be?
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I would love to have that much space to fill with pretty things. But, to move them up you have to take them down. Each unit is screwed up to the wall on the studs. Unscrew them, and raise them up. I would have some help. Support studs for holding them in place would really help, too.
Here's a link that will get you started.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+raise+kitchen+cabinets&rlz=1C1BLWB_enUS700US700&oq=how+to+rais+kitchen&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.9456j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
You can move your cabinets up, but it is a bit of work. You will have to empty the cabinets, remove the screws holding them into the wall and to each other, and then remount them higher...making sure you hit the studs again when you screw them back in. Keep in mind that cabinets are generally mounted a specific height above the countertops....so if you move them up, you may not be able to easily reach inside of them anymore.
Just remember its going to be much harder to access the things in the top of those cabinets. I would put a smaller cabinet in that 20" with glass doors and cabinet light for store your best pieces. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/52072939410966552/
Remember putting them up that high would also negatively affect your house value at sale.
You might do better to add cabinets to the tops of your existing cabinets. That would be way easier.
Our kitchen is really what had been the pantry of this old house. One thing I love about it is that the cupboards go to the ceiling and yes it is hard to access the top shelf but you still have it.
18 inches is the standard.
You don't mention what the dimensions for yours are
Cabinets over your existing cabinets ( in that 20" space) are not going to be a negative. You are replacing dead space with cabinets for items that are used only on a few occasions a year. Yes, you have to get out the step ladder but it a small price to pay.
18" from counter to bottom of cabinets.
Several things can make the cabinets seem lower. Too much clutter on counters.
4 inch backsplash with tile on top can chop up the 18" space in two sections.