🛋️ Creative Ways to Use the Space Above Your Cabinets
1. Storage Baskets or Bins
This was my game-changer.
Instead of stacking random containers and forgetting what’s up there…
I invested in a few matching woven baskets and lidded bins .
Result?
Hidden storage that looks intentional
A cleaner, tidier line across the top of the kitchen
Easy access to seasonal items like holiday dishes, pie tins, or fancy cookie cutters
Bonus: Add labels to avoid the dreaded "Where did I put that?" moment.
2. Display Decorative Boxes or Artful Items
If you're short on counter space but love having decorative touches around your kitchen…
Try placing:
Pretty boxes (with recipe cards inside)
Small potted plants or air plants
Vintage cookie jars or spice tins
It turns a utilitarian space into a design feature — and gives your kitchen character.
3. Stack Extra Linens or Seasonal Tableware
Need a home for:
Holiday platters
Extra tea towels
Fancy coasters or napkins
This high space is perfect for storing things you use only occasionally — but still want within reach.
Use stackable bins or flat trays to keep things neat and dust-free.
4. Add a Mini Pantry Shelf
If your kitchen lacks pantry space, consider installing a narrow floating shelf or small ledge above the cabinets.
Use it for:
Coffee mugs
Spices
Snack bars or cereal bags
Just be sure to keep lightweight items up there — safety first!
5. Make It Part of Your Décor
Some people don’t store anything at all up there — they treat it like an art wall.
Try these ideas:
Frame vintage kitchen prints or old recipe cards
Display cute ceramic figurines or retro appliances
Arrange a row of cookbooks for visual interest
Even better — paint the backsplash behind the ledge for contrast and depth.
🧼 Bonus Tips for Keeping It Clean & Useful
Dust weekly
Keeps cobwebs from taking over
Keep items in labeled bins
Makes finding things easy
Avoid overcrowding
Maintains visual flow and prevents tipping
Use step stool safely
Don’t risk falling trying to reach
Consider LED strip lighting
Adds warmth and highlights décor
Also, if you have kids or pets, think twice before storing food up there — unless you want to attract curious hands or paws.
🎨 Final Thoughts: Sometimes the Best Storage Is Hiding in Plain Sight
We spend so much time organizing drawers and pantries…
Yet we ignore the quiet shelf above our heads.
That space doesn’t have to be a graveyard for old measuring cups and lint.
It can be:
Functional
Beautiful
And even fun
So next time you catch yourself side-eyeing that dusty ledge…
Don’t sigh.
Start styling.
Because sometimes, the answer to a more organized kitchen isn’t under your nose.
It’s above your head.
And once you see what it can become?
You’ll never walk past it again without reaching for something useful — or beautiful.