Pretty Kitchen Idea: Hang Wallpaper In the Wasted Space Above Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen Inspiration

Rental or non-custom kitchens often have an unfortunate design detail: wasted space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling, which leads to all sorts of conundrums. Instead of bemoaning your lack of floor-to-ceiling cupboards, make the most of what you've got and try this trick: hang wallpaper above the cabinets!

As you can see, this Finnish kitchen has a blue backsplash, but bright yellow patterned wallpaper above the plain white cabinets. It completely transforms the room!

(Image: La maison d'Anna G)

Categories: Main, Kitchens, Inspiring Kitchens

Posted by Cambria Bold

Cambria is the design and lifestyle editor for The Kitchn. She loves discovering how people cook, eat, and live in their kitchens. She's also a singer and a songwriter with one EP out and a full-length album on the way.
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Comments (5)

I'm not sure how that is a real kitchen solution, but rather an aesthetic solution. My parents have space between the cabinets and the ceiling and they make use for it by storing attractive bowls.

I don't like it. The whole kitchen is too bright for my taste. If the kitchen is the heart of the home, I guess I like mine more calming. (Also, I'd hate to be the next buyer of their home and have to remove it!)

I do like the idea of a contrasting color and/or pattern up top. I think I would achieve it with paint though. I don't consider that wasted space at all - I put serving pieces up there.

I like the idea. It's a great way to bring in a bold pattern you like but not overwhelm it. Some people use the area for storage and some prefer to have nothing up there because of the dust that accumulates. This would definitely only work if you don't plan on putting stuff up there. And you can use any wallpaper pattern or color, so if you wanted something more calming, you could find a more neutral paper.

I'm short. If I'm storing things above the cabinets then that means I'm never using 'em, so they might as well go to a new home.

I love the bright wallpaper up there. Brings the eye up, enlarges the space. Exactly as much wallpaper as I'd ever want to apply, see or remove.

Awesome.