Spruce Up The Dead Space Above Your Kitchen Cabinets With A Dazzling Design Idea

If your kitchen cabinets don't reach all the way to the ceiling, you likely have an awkward gap above your cabinets and may not know what to do with it. While some people leave the space completely empty, others may try to fill it with faux plants. You could also try turning the empty space above your kitchen cabinets into a storage statement piece by filling it with books. However, perhaps you want a more minimalistic look that doesn't add visual clutter, but you also don't want to keep the space bare. If so, consider this dazzling design idea: Place fairy lights or LED strips above your kitchen cabinets.

Besides helping you avoid a cluttered look, there are many other benefits to adding lighting above your kitchen cabinets. If you agree with Gen Zers and Millennials who think the big light is a big pain, this could be a better lighting option for you, as it will create more ambient lighting and make the space feel more relaxing. Furthermore, depending on what type of lighting you choose, this project could be completed in just a few simple steps. It will also allow you to control your lights through a remote, making them easy to turn on and off. Finally, there are tons of different string lights and LED strips to choose from, so you'll be able to completely personalize this feature. Here's how to install lighting above your kitchen cabinets and some of the best options to consider.

Before you add ambient lighting above your kitchen cabinets, you may want to clean the area, as this gap is most likely filled with both grease and dust. To remove the mess, safely climb up on a ladder and spray a degreasing cleaning product over the entire surface. Next, use paper towels and something with a plastic edge like an old credit card or putty knife to scrape off the greasy dust. Wipe off the surface again and your cabinets should be clean.

You'll then need to measure the width of your cabinets to determine how long the string lights need to be. If you have different areas of cabinets that are separated by something like a window or range hood, you may need multiple string lights. Then, determine if you'd rather choose battery-operated lights or have them plug into an outlet. If they're battery-operated, installation will be simple, but you'll have to trade out the batteries when they stop working. Plugging your lights into an outlet will require more work upfront, but you won't have to worry about batteries. To install plug-in lights, you'll need to find where the closest outlets are located before installing. In some cases, you may also need to drill through your cabinets to keep the string light cords out of sight. Finally, you may also want to place your lights inside of flat channels if the top of your cabinets aren't completely flat.

Once you've decided whether you want battery-operated lights or plug-ins, you can then look at all the various options available on the market. If you want to go the easy route and get battery-operated lights, the 9.8-foot Smart Direct LED Strip Lights, which come with a remote, timer, and dimmable features, cost $12 on Amazon. These have multiple color options, including cool white, warm white, blue, and multicolor. If you'd rather use traditional fairy lights over LED strips, the 33-foot Twinkle Star Fairy Lights are another remote-controlled option that comes in many colors and costs $10 on Amazon.

An alternative is to use battery-operated puck lights, like the three-pack of remote-controlled Merkury Innovations Multicolor Lights that cost $10 at Walmart. The benefit of using puck lights is that you can highlight specific areas of your over-cabinet space. For instance, if you want to combine your lighting with other decor, these can act as spotlights to draw attention to your decorations. Your final option is to install lights that plug into an outlet, such as those from Super Bright LEDs. We recommend purchasing an LED Strip Kit, which should provide you with all the materials needed to install the lighting above your kitchen cabinets.