These 15 Kitchen Cabinet Decor Ideas Are Above and Beyond

In a Malibu, California, beach house kitchen belonging to designers Nathan Turner and Eric Hughes, metallics and green take over in the best way. The cubby holes placed above the cabinets are the perfect space to showcase an extra pop of color, in this case, blue kettles and pots, colorful kitchen books, and a collection of silverware.

The fabulous kitchen of Bronson van Wyck—which he designed with Ben Bischoff, Oliver Freundlich, and Brian Papa—is anything but boring. The top of the cabinets are decorated with glass jars and a regal bust that oversees the room.

If you like your kitchen to be functional and keep all things cooking-friendly, there’s no better way to decorate than with cookware! This collection of copper pots and pans, in the home of fashion-industry powerhouse Robert Duffy, is a flawless example of how to do that.

“I’ve always been a fan of vintage and have collected all manner of odds and sods over three decades,” shares stylist Lisa Piddington. For her maximalist kitchen, she knew she wanted a room packed to the brim with things she loves that make her smile. “Because my kitchen is filled with plants, tins, enamelware, copper pots, antique art, and foxed mirrors, it makes me happy every time I walk in!” she says.

There’s never enough lighting in a kitchen, which is why interior designer Sam Sacks added a statement sconce above the kitchen cabinets. Painted in Blue by Benjamin Moore, the vibrant cabinets pair nicely with the crisp white walls.

Don’t forget about the space between kitchen cabinets. Here, designer Megan West made clever use of shelves. “We wanted the space to feel very welcoming, so we focused on bringing in warm tones through our floating shelves, various textures, and honey bronze hardware,” she explains. Complementary decor and glassware keep the look clean and polished.

If your kitchen follows a particular theme, the unused space above the cabinets is a fabulous way to accentuate the vibe. Surfing photographs pair great with the decorative sailboat and ceramic vases in this nautical-themed kitchen.

Art director and designer Janine Genower loves her colorful kitchen. To bring even more vibrancy to the room, she placed charming plants—in pots to match the room!—atop her cabinets.

This eggplant-colored kitchen by Krantz Designs makes the most of the space above the kitchen cabinets. This modular wine rack placed above the cabinets not only looks inviting, but it adds a special element to the room. After all, it’s always happy hour somewhere.

Blogger Corie Williams wanted a European modern farmhouse aesthetic for her kitchen, and what better way to do that than by displaying a collection of brass vessels and accessories above the cabinets? “We were able to achieve a light, bright kitchen that has warmth and character,” says Williams.