3 min readThe kitchen may be the heart of the home, but with so many high-end appliances and premium materials included, it’s also one of the most expensive rooms to renovate. Depending on the size and scope, a kitchen remodel can reportedly cost up to $100,000, so every design decision counts.
While swapping in new light fixtures or choosing budget-friendly materials like quartz can help keep costs down, designers say there’s one place you shouldn’t cut corners: your kitchen cabinets. More specifically, make sure you never leave a gap between your upper cabinets and the ceiling.
“Visually, it feels dated, disruptive, and makes a space feel smaller,” says Molly Portnof, founder of New York-based design firm DATE Interiors.
Ahead, designers explain why that awkward gap above your kitchen cabinets can make your space look far cheaper than it is—and what to do instead.
Why You Should Avoid the Cabinet Gap
Designers can immediately clock a cabinet gap as being the result of a rushed kitchen reno where the budget was especially tight.
“Spaces above cabinet uppers give ‘we ran out of resources’ vibes,” says designer Courtney B. Smith. “It can lead to assumptions about a homeowner’s commitment to quality workmanship and overall investment in other areas.”
What’s more, the cabinet gap presents a cleanliness issue as well as an aesthetic one. “It’s a dust trap,” Smith adds. “Full-height upper cabinets eliminate awkward surfaces that collect dust and grime.”
The Benefits of Full-Length Cabinets
In a perfect world, every kitchen would feature full-height cabinets for a cleaner, more polished look—and a lot less dust.
“Extending the cabinets creates the illusion of ceilings as there is no break to the eye,” says Kerri Pilchik, a designer in New Jersey and House Beautiful Next Wave alum. “It also maximizes storage.”
If replacing your cabinetry entirely isn’t in the cards, Portnof says adding a topper or stacked cabinet above your existing uppers can be a more budget-friendly way to elevate the space.
And the benefits go beyond aesthetics. Both Portnof and Pilchik note that extra-tall cabinetry offers valuable storage for larger items like vases, decanters, and water carafes. If you’re lucky enough to have especially high ceilings, Pilchik says taller cabinets can even justify adding a rolling library ladder.
“If they are more standard nine-foot-high ceilings, a step stool definitely is necessary,” she adds.
How to Fix an Existing Cabinet Gap
If all-new storage is out of the question, there’s a way to fake the look. Some designers bridge the gap with a soffit, which is a boxy drywalled area that can create the illusion of sky-high ceilings. But remember: It has to look intentional.
“Under-scaled crown molding or cabinetry that simply looks slapped onto the wall without any architectural integration can instantly cheapen a kitchen,” says Chicago-based designer Tom Stringer. “They can make even beautiful cabinetry feel flat and inexpensive.”
For a well-appointed alternative, Stringer prefers oversized molding, which he says adds more “architecture and permanence” to the space. “It elevates the cabinetry, creates cohesion and continuity into adjacent rooms, and makes the kitchen feel truly custom,” he adds.
A Rental-Approved Solution
Though leaving a space between the cabinets and ceiling might read cheap, renters are left with a predicament: How do you make a temporary space feel more elevated without forfeiting your security deposit?
Pilchik says floating shelves can make the negative space feel more intentional, plus it requires a lot less elbow grease. She’s also a fan of inset cabinet doors over an overlay style and says mixing various hardware can create a bespoke look.
Or, if you want to keep the DIY touches to a minimum, a little bit of color goes a long way.
“Paint the kitchen cabinets and walls the same color,” Portnof says. “This helps distract from the space above the kitchen cabinets.”
