Can you decorate the top of kitchen cabinets? Absolutely! Decorating kitchen cabinet tops is a fantastic way to add personality and style to your kitchen. For those who adore the cozy charm of country living, farmhouse kitchen decor ideas offer a wealth of inspiration for styling these often-overlooked spaces. This guide will walk you through how to decorate your kitchen cabinet tops with a lovely farmhouse aesthetic.
Image Source: www.thepondsfarmhouse.com
The Appeal of Farmhouse Above Cabinet Styling
Why focus on the space above your cabinets? These areas can become dusty, empty voids that detract from the overall look of your kitchen. By thoughtfully styling them, you can:
- Enhance Visual Interest: Break up the monotony of plain walls and cabinets.
- Showcase Personality: Display items that reflect your tastes and passions.
- Create Ambiance: Contribute to the overall cozy and welcoming feel of your farmhouse kitchen decor.
- Utilize Vertical Space: Make the most of your kitchen’s height.
- Add a Touch of Whimsy: Inject playful elements into your country kitchen cabinet decorating.
The farmhouse style, in particular, lends itself beautifully to this kind of decorative touch. It embraces natural materials, vintage finds, and a sense of lived-in comfort.
Planning Your Farmhouse Cabinet Top Decor
Before you start gathering items, a little planning goes a long way. Consider these points:
1. Assess Your Cabinet Height and Depth
- High Ceilings: If your cabinets reach high, you have more space to play with. Consider larger items or groupings that can be seen from a distance.
- Lower Ceilings: Keep it simple. Overcrowding can make the space feel smaller. Focus on a few key pieces.
- Cabinet Depth: Deeper cabinet tops allow for layering and more substantial items. Shallow tops might be best suited for flatter items like framed art or simple trays.
2. Consider Your Kitchen’s Overall Style
While focusing on farmhouse, ensure the decor complements your existing kitchen. Are there other rustic elements? What are your wall colors and countertop materials?
- Color Palette: Stick to a muted, natural color palette – whites, creams, grays, muted blues and greens, and natural wood tones.
- Materials: Emphasize wood, metal (like galvanized steel or wrought iron), wicker, and natural fibers.
3. Think About Functionality and Maintenance
- Dust: Items placed on top of cabinets will collect dust. Choose items that are easy to clean or can be wiped down regularly.
- Weight: Ensure items are stable and won’t easily fall, especially if you have children or pets.
- Accessibility: Avoid placing anything too precious or fragile in a spot that’s hard to reach for dusting or removal.
Curating Your Farmhouse Above Cabinet Accents
The heart of decorating kitchen cabinet tops in a farmhouse style lies in selecting the right pieces. Think about items that evoke a sense of nostalgia, nature, and simple living.
Essential Farmhouse Kitchen Decor Ideas for Cabinet Tops
- Vintage Finds: Old canisters, enamelware pitchers, wooden crates, antique scales, or milk glass vases are perfect.
- Greenery: Faux or real plants add life and color. Consider trailing plants like Pothos or ivy, or potted herbs.
- Wooden Elements: Wooden crates, cutting boards, signs with farmhouse sayings, or decorative wooden bowls.
- Metal Accents: Galvanized metal buckets, watering cans, tiered trays, or wire baskets.
- Ceramics and Pottery: Simple stoneware pitchers, crocks, or decorative plates.
- Baskets: Wicker or woven baskets for storing lightweight items or adding texture.
- Lighting: Small battery-operated fairy lights or mini lanterns can add a warm glow.
- Textiles: Small gingham or checkered cloths can be folded and placed as a base for other decor.
What to Avoid
- Too Many Small Items: This can look cluttered and make dusting difficult.
- Bright, Modern Colors: Unless it’s a very specific accent, stick to the farmhouse palette.
- Plastic or Flimsy Items: These detract from the rustic charm.
- Overly Themed Items: Avoid anything that feels too kitschy or overtly “seasonal” unless that’s your intent.
Styling Techniques for Decorating Kitchen Cabinet Tops
Now that you have your items, let’s talk about how to arrange them.
1. The Rule of Three (and Odd Numbers)
Grouping items in threes or other odd numbers often creates a more visually appealing arrangement.
2. Layering and Depth
Don’t just place items in a single line. Layering adds dimension.
- Place a taller item in the back (e.g., a pitcher).
- Add a medium-sized item in front of it (e.g., a small basket).
- Finish with a smaller item or a plant in front of that.
3. Incorporate Varying Heights and Textures
Mix tall items with shorter ones, smooth surfaces with rough textures. This creates visual interest.
4. The “Group and Cluster” Approach
Instead of scattering items across all your cabinet tops, choose one or two sections to create more substantial displays. This can make a bigger impact than many small, scattered arrangements.
5. Consider the “View From Below”
Think about how the items will look from your usual vantage point in the kitchen. You want to create appealing vignettes, not just fill space.
Farmhouse Kitchen Cabinet Top Decor Examples
Let’s look at some specific ideas to inspire your farmhouse cabinet styling.
Example 1: The “Crock and Greenery” Display
- Main Piece: A large, vintage-style ceramic crock or a galvanized metal bucket.
- Secondary Piece: A smaller pitcher or a wooden salt box.
- Accent: A trailing faux ivy or a potted herb (like rosemary or thyme) placed slightly in front.
Table: Crock and Greenery Display Components
| Item Type | Farmhouse Style Examples |
|---|---|
| Vessel | Ceramic crock, galvanized bucket, enamelware pitcher |
| Secondary | Wooden crate, antique books, smaller ceramic jug |
| Greenery/Life | Faux ivy, potted herbs, dried eucalyptus, faux wildflowers |
Example 2: The “Vintage Sign and Basket” Grouping
- Main Piece: A rustic wooden sign with a farmhouse phrase (e.g., “Gather,” “Eat,” “Home”).
- Supporting Piece: A woven wicker basket holding faux apples or lemons, or a stack of vintage-style tea towels.
- Height Element: A small antique-looking clock or a decorative metal rooster.
Table: Vintage Sign Grouping Components
| Item Type | Farmhouse Style Examples |
|---|---|
| Signage | Wooden plank signs, metal signs with distressed finishes |
| Storage | Wicker basket, galvanized bin, wooden tray |
| Accent | Small clock, decorative bird, miniature galvanized watering can |
Example 3: The “Tiered Tray Vignette”
A tiered metal or wooden tray is a fantastic base for creating a contained display.
- Bottom Tier: A small potted plant or a decorative candle.
- Middle Tier: A couple of small ceramic figurines or decorative fruit.
- Top Tier: A tiny birdhouse or a miniature watering can.
This is a great way to add vintage kitchen cabinet display charm without taking up too much horizontal space.
Example 4: The “Pantry Top Styling” Specifics
If you have a pantry with open shelving above, the same principles apply. However, you can also incorporate pantry-specific items.
- Canning Jars: Display filled with dried beans, pasta, or spices.
- Vintage Labels: Attach old-fashioned labels to jars or canisters.
- Wooden Crates: Use them to hold bags of flour or sugar.
- Farmhouse Pantry Signs: Small signs indicating the contents of shelves.
This type of styling ties directly into the overall farmhouse pantry top styling aesthetic.
DIY Farmhouse Kitchen Shelves for Above Cabinets
For those who want to go a step further, consider adding simple shelves above your cabinets. DIY farmhouse kitchen shelves can be surprisingly easy to create and offer more display space.
Simple Shelf Project Idea: Floating Wood Shelves
-
Materials:
- Wooden boards (reclaimed wood or new pine stained to look aged)
- Shelf brackets (metal, black, or industrial style)
- Screws and wall anchors (if not mounting into studs)
- Sandpaper
- Wood stain or paint (farmhouse colors)
- Drill
- Level
-
Steps:
- Cut wood to desired length if needed.
- Sand edges smooth.
- Stain or paint the wood boards. Let dry completely.
- Mark the wall where you want your shelves. Use a level to ensure they are straight.
- Install the shelf brackets securely into the wall studs or using appropriate wall anchors.
- Place the wooden boards on top of the brackets and secure them from underneath with screws.
These shelves provide an excellent surface for displaying your rustic kitchen top decor.
Decorating Kitchen Cabinet Tops: Maintenance and Refreshing
Once your cabinet tops are styled, remember they need occasional attention.
Dusting Tips
- Feather Duster: A long-handled feather duster is ideal for reaching into corners and around items.
- Microfiber Cloth: A dry microfiber cloth can also work well.
- Vacuum Attachment: A soft brush attachment on your vacuum can be used for more thorough cleaning.
Refreshing Your Decor
- Seasonal Swaps: Update your displays with small seasonal touches. For example, add a few faux pumpkins in the fall or a sprig of holly in the winter.
- Change Up Key Pieces: Swap out a pitcher for a basket, or a sign for a stack of books, to give the space a fresh feel without a complete overhaul.
- Introduce New Items: Keep an eye out for new farmhouse treasures that could fit your displays.
The Kitchen Cabinet Ledge Decor Aspect
For cabinets that have a slight ledge or lip at the top, this feature can be incorporated into your decorating.
- Small Items: Place very small items like miniature ceramic animals, buttons in a small jar, or tiny potted succulents along the ledge.
- Layering Base: Use the ledge as a natural base for a slightly larger item placed in front of it.
This adds another dimension to your kitchen cabinet ledge decor.
Final Thoughts on Farmhouse Cabinet Styling
Decorating the top of your kitchen cabinets is a rewarding way to elevate your home’s style. By embracing the principles of the farmhouse aesthetic – natural materials, vintage charm, and a touch of rustic simplicity – you can transform these often-forgotten spaces into delightful focal points. Whether you opt for a few carefully chosen pieces or create elaborate vignettes, remember that the goal is to add warmth, personality, and a sense of cozy charm to your kitchen. Experiment, have fun, and let your farmhouse kitchen decor ideas shine!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How high should I decorate above my kitchen cabinets?
A1: Decorate as high as is comfortable for you to reach and maintain. If your cabinets are very high, consider focusing on the lower half or using decorative items that are large enough to be seen from a distance.
Q2: What kind of plants are good for decorating above kitchen cabinets?
A2: Faux plants like trailing ivy, eucalyptus, or small potted herbs are excellent choices as they require no maintenance and won’t die. If you opt for real plants, choose low-light tolerant varieties that don’t need frequent watering.
Q3: Is it okay to mix metal and wood in my farmhouse cabinet decor?
A3: Yes, mixing metal (like galvanized steel or iron) and wood is a hallmark of farmhouse style. It adds texture and visual interest.
Q4: How often should I dust the items above my kitchen cabinets?
A4: It’s best to dust at least once a month, or more often if you notice dust buildup. A long-handled duster makes this task easier.
Q5: Can I put fairy lights above my cabinets?
A5: Absolutely! Battery-operated fairy lights are a popular choice for adding a soft, ambient glow above cabinets and contribute to the cozy farmhouse feel.
Q6: Should I decorate all my cabinet tops, or just a few?
A6: You don’t have to decorate every single cabinet top. Sometimes, a more impactful display on one or two sections is better than having small, scattered items everywhere. This can prevent the space from looking too cluttered.