• PORTFOLIO
  • SERVICES
  • OUTLET
  • BLOG
  • PRESS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DESIGNED for Designers
  • Menu

DESIGNED

Inspired, personalized, creative interior design by Carla Aston
  • PORTFOLIO
  • SERVICES
  • OUTLET
  • BLOG
  • PRESS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DESIGNED for Designers
original.jpg

3 MUST-KNOW DIY Tips On How To Decorate Above Your Cabinets

July 08, 2015 in Decorating, Designing

In response to this post and this one too, I keep getting questions in my inbox and here on DESIGNED from people wanting advice about decorating above the cabinets.

While I do sell this type of advice you'll soon receive here for free, I decided to go ahead and address this hot topic in the same format my DESIGNED In A Click! service uses so you can experience what you'll receive should you decide to reach out to me for a little bit of help. ;-)

RELATED: I’ve done one other advice post that unfolds in a way that's similar to my DESIGNED In A Click! service. It's also about decorating above the cabinets, and you can check it out HERE. 

 

Oh, and before you scroll any further, I can't help but say...

My Google Drawing skills are very mediocre. (Haha ;-) My staff does some amazing drawings on CAD and creates beautiful digital storyboards for our clients in Publisher and Photoshop; but I, on the other hand, am in charge of the bigger picture and don’t spend much time doing drawings (except by hand). I did, however, enjoy playing around in Google Drive with these, so well, please excuse my rudimentary skills here, please. :-)

READER MAIL

RE: DECORATING ABOVE YOUR CABINETS

READER Question #1:

"Hi. I guess this article is kind of old, but just came across is while trying to decorate our new home. We have a lot of space above our cabinets that I want to do something with, but in the past have always used fake greenery. It does feel dated and I don't want to use it again, but am struggling with what to do. We have one end of the cabinets that is like a butlers pantry/wine rack, and I was thinking of doing that section with wine theme and the rest of the tops of the cabinets different, but they are connected so not sure what to do. Help! ~Beth"

My Response:

First of all... Most everything I publish — aside from “trends” — is evergreen. Good design is good design is good design, no matter what the age. While technology, building materials, furniture, and building styles might change, most of what I discuss here on DESIGNED applies basic principles of design to different situations, and the advice I provide is always rooted in good principles and will, undoubtedly, stand the test of time.

Regarding your situation: I’ve placed a diagram over your image so you can see what I recommend. The principle applied here is balance — we’re creating balance by building up that area on the right side with bulky objects. Take a look:

I’ve also included an option for this space, because it's long and the hood is dominant:


Question #2:

"Hi, Carla! I have great vaulted ceilings in my kitchen and feel like I need something on my cabinets. I have no idea though what. I was thinking maybe big Marquis words or maybe get an appliqué for the wall, like a cute saying that I could start on one wall and then have it go onto the other wall? I don't have a collection of anything to put up there."

My Response:

Please... No "cute sayings". Just the other day I was perusing a Facebook group where designers were complaining about those. :-) Don't get me wrong — it's not that something beautifully written, with equally beautiful meaning, represents bad design, it's just that these can get a bit overused, causing them to look cheap, fast.

Instead, I’d work on building a collection of items of similar color and texture, in shapes that I’ve shown in the diagram below. Second hand stores, flea markets, and antique markets — like Round Top, that I go to every year — all have tons of items that aren’t expensive. Baskets can be quite inexpensive too — especially from IKEA or Target.

When you build a mass from several objects, making them as similar as possible in color, texture, and type, it helps to create an overall look, as opposed to a chopped up, spotty, cluttered visual. 

Further explanation is available in this diagram:


Question #3:

"I just recently moved into a new house and am not sure what to do to decorate over the top of my kitchen cabinets since it's a ton of space over the left side of the cabinets and hardly none over the right. Any helpful tips/ideas would be much appreciated!! Thanks"

My Response:

I would build up on the left side to create some variation, like I indicated in the drawing. I also included a few additional tips in the following diagram to help make your kitchen look more custom when you are ready to do something more. Take a look:

if so, subscribe to DESIGN REFRESH, my bi-weekly newsletter featuring design tips & tools that will have your home looking fresh and new in no time!
Thank you!

In each of the above instances, I think these readers would benefit from some strategic decorating above the cabinets.

We’re trying to create some variation, some interest, and make these spaces look more high-end and custom. With the objects they choose, they would be best if they were larger in size, alike in color and texture, and sort of blend with the cabinetry to help create the look of a varied line of upper cabinets. 

 

I hope this helps! ;-)

I want to thank my readers for submitting their questions. If you want some quick advice on decorating above your cabinets, or anything else for that matter, you can find out more about my DESIGNED In A Click! service HERE.

 

 

Need some ideas on what to buy for up there? I've made some selections for you right here.

My blog may contain affiliate links. Any purchases, at no additional charge to you, are most appreciated and make this blog possible. :-)

Did you like this article?

Tags: cabinet, cabinetry, decorate above cabinet, DIY, reader mail, DESIGNED In A Click, Google Drawing, Carla Aston, interior design, interior designer, Carla Aston interior design, Carla Aston interior designer, CAD, Google Drive, Designed In A Click example
Prev / Next
CARLA ASTON
Bold * Livable * Fresh Interior Designer & Design Blogger

carla_aston_download_button.png
Name *
Name

Here's the link to my Top 5 Bookshelf Styling Tips Guide! Thank you!

archive

Walls Republic Designer Home Dwell Wallpaper Sale

TRENDING

Featured
Before and After - A Partial Kitchen Remodel Done w/a Consultation
Before and After - A Partial Kitchen Remodel Done w/a Consultation
BEFORE AND AFTER: A Boutique Hotel Inspired Master Bath Remodel
BEFORE AND AFTER: A Boutique Hotel Inspired Master Bath Remodel
10 Must-Have Pieces of Spring Decor!
10 Must-Have Pieces of Spring Decor!
  My handy guide for all questions about backsplashes

My handy guide for all questions about backsplashes

  click thru to get links for shopping!

click thru to get links for shopping!


Designhounds black&white
BlogTour-Badge-Orlando_5.jpg
  Thrilled to be in the Top 10!

Thrilled to be in the Top 10!


  • DESIGN w/Carla Aston
    This lovely space designed by @theartofroomdesign for the white box challenge @dwellondesign turned out great. We s… https://t.co/pQWEf4UEi1
    about 5 hours ago
  • DESIGN w/Carla Aston
    This is the cutest little mini dishwasher I’ve ever seen. Perfect for #smallspaceliving in the @livingvehicle home… https://t.co/8WPiFSI4C3
    about a day ago

  Click to learn how to reach 200,000 + design lovers per month!

Click to learn how to reach
200,000 + design lovers per month!


Link Love

  • Greige Design
  • AvenueLifestyle
  • Emily Henderson
  • House of Hipsters
  • Desire to Inspire
  • Style at Home
  • The Style Files
  • Rip & Tan
  • Hadley Court
  • Farmers Daughter
  • Lauren Liess
  • sfgirlbybay
  • Apartment Therapy
  • DVD Interiors
  • Becki Owens
  • The Jungalow
  • Belgian Pearls
  • Boomer Smarts
  • Always In A Southern State of Mind
  • The Ace of Space
  • Classic Casual Home
  • Studio McGee
  • Mix and Chic 
  • House of Turquoise
  • Design Indulgence
  • Gates Interior Design
  • Linda Holt Interiors
  • Decor Arts Now
  • Laurel Home
  • Cozy Stylish Chic
  • The English Room
  • Centered by Design
  • Home Glow Design
  • Dean's Designer Dish
  • Design Cognoscenti
  • Calling It Home
  • Rough Luxe Lifestyle
  • Habitually Chic
  • Quintessence 
  • Design Chic
  • Savvy Southern Style
  • Good Life of Design
  • Tone on Tone  
  • Remodelista  
  • Seth Godin
  • Tempo da Delicadeza
  • 1stDibs - The Study
  • Ciao! Newport Beach
  • Gwen Moss
  • 5th & State  

Want your site's link here?
I'll add a link to your site if you add mine to yours!

Contact Me

Disclaimer / Comment Policy:

The advice and comments I offer here on the blog and in the comments section are free and are done for sharing and discussion. I am in no way taking responsibility for your decisions on your projects, I am simply offering up some advice from my distant and limited view of your situation in question. I try to answer as time permits but cannot get to all of them. If you want to hire me personally, there are ways to do that by clicking on my Services page.

Please note that if you load images in the comments section you are then giving your permission for me to use the image in a future blogpost, without reference to you, the owner of the photo. All comments are public and therefore can be republished.

Mean spirited, derogatory comments will be deleted. 


Note:  My blog periodically contains affiliate links. Purchases made through them are greatly appreciated.

Thx / Carla