Reader Lisbeth wrote in with that exact question. She recently bought a new home (pictured below with the previous owner's decor). The kitchen has particularly high ceilings (higher than 14') and Lisbeth is not sure if or how to fill up all that wall space.
Here's my two-cents.Best case scenario, if you have a lot of room in your budget, you could follow the new trend of building up and adding a second row of cabinets. I especially like glass paned doors on the second shelf.
image via Domino MagAnd don't forget a ladder.
Okay. Back to reality.
It's not likely that adding more cabinets is in the budget - that would be a very big expenditure. So regarding decor above cabinets - the rule is go big, or go home. No small paintings. No cake plates hanging out up there solo. It would be better to leave the cabinets blank if you don't have a nice collection to display.
And, in fact, there's something really nice and clean about leaving the tops empty...
I mean, if Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't care about blank wall space!...
If you decide that you do want to put up shelf decor though, I'll share with you a few of my favorite ideas.
1. Storage items.
Find and collect large boxes, baskets, storage chests, etc. for storing dry goods or magazines or cook books or food processor attachments that you never use like the cheese grater thing, or whatever.
I like these baskets from Domino (RIP)
Or these from Cottage Living.
2. Purely Decorative
Scour your local salvage yard for cool architectural pieces to display as almost sculpture.
Or start a collection of birdcages, like this pagoda cage in this Ruthie Sommers room.
Or antique water jugs.
3. Plates
I love me some hanging plates. It would be easy to amass a small collection to hang on the wall with plate hangers. You could stick with all white plates...
Or add some fun color and eclectic patterns...
Eddie Ross also likes to hang plates in the space above his cabinets. He has an incredibly gorgeous collection of antique ironstone, which you can pick up on eBay and at flea markets. You could also hang just plain, cheap, white plates and platters to achieve a similar effect.
I also like layering the hanging plates on the walls with stacks of bowls, pitchers, compotes, urns and cake stands. Again, though, you'll need a substantial collection to fill in all that space above your cabinets.
Here are other collections of whiteware on top of cabinets.
4. Shelves.I love the idea of adding a long shelf to the two corner walls to help fill in the large wall space. I would probably add a collection of plates or pottery to these shelves (see above and below). The shelves will help fill in the space and make the dishware collection feel more substantial, and best of all, draw the eye up and bring attention to the incredibly high ceilings.
like so -
5. Mirrors.Remember this photo from an old Martha Stewart Living? It's been floating around in my mind for years.
It would be so easy to recreate this look in any room or on any wall in your house - including the wall space above your cabinets.
Mirrors are like little lamps during the day. They are great for spreading natural light and making rooms feel bright and happy.
As for sourcing - you're in luck. Mirrors are absolutely everywhere. And you can usually get them for cheap. Thrift stores. Ebay. Michaels (or other craft chains). Target. HomeGoods/Marshalls/Ross. Bed Bath and Beyond. Pier 1. Pretty much any store you go to, you can find an interesting and cheap mirror. Talk about a big impact for this room.
So what about you, readers? What is your favorite trick for decorating above the cabinets? {And if any of you suggest faux ivy or grape vines, you'll be officially banished from the blog.}P.S. Don't forget about the give away - you still have until Sunday night at midnight to leave a comment here.
