Transform The Dead Space In Your Kitchen With These 17 Ideas

When you're evaluating your kitchen, you're probably quick to note how much cabinet space you have, whether you'll have enough room for an air fryer on the counters, and what paint color will look best with the countertops. The awkward dead space above your kitchen cabinets may not stand out to you straight away, but once you see it, you can't unsee it. The same goes for large blank walls without any cabinets, shelves, or appliances, as well as awkward dust-collecting gaps between cupboards and fridges. Luckily, there are a lot of ways to transform this space into a more aesthetic, functional part of your kitchen! 

We've compiled a list of 17 ways to modify dead space so it is a cohesive part of the kitchen. Whether that's showing off your cookbook collection, extending your backsplash up a full wall, or even building a few bookshelves in the kitchen, you can take advantage of every inch of space with these handy tips. 

Nothing elevates a space — even awkward dead space — as easily as plants. Any sort of flora is a great choice for the top of your cabinets or stove. Look for houseplants that do well in warm, humid conditions, as they'll be exposed to plenty of heat and steam as you cook. If you don't have a green thumb but don't necessarily want to opt for faux plants, you can also drape boughs of dried herbs, eucalyptus leaves, and more over your cabinets. All of these ideas add a pleasant, organic charm, and remember, when it comes to plants, green goes with any style. 

We don't recommend storing your everyday plates and bowls on top of the cupboards, because of course you don't want to pull out a ladder just to have a bowl of cereal. But this area is an excellent place to show off any special occasion pottery or collections. Jugs, salad bowls, cake stands, and so on, can still be reached if needed, but admired on display when they're not. Just be sure that the pieces look intentionally placed there, or else your kitchen can look messy. Try to display pieces with similar colors when possible, and don't over-fill the area. 

You might not always realize it, but food can be beautiful. Even basic ingredients like spices and dried pasta can look gorgeous when they're taken out of dinky cardboard boxes or you remove cheap labels. Put coffee, spices, nuts, and other dry goods into glass jars with airtight lids, and put them on display atop your cupboards. This adds beautiful color, but also breaks up the visual space. Plus, you'll find that food lasts longer when it's transferred into airtight containers, another added bonus of this trick! 

Some kitchens don't come with much workspace or storage like a traditional pantry. In these cases, you may be left with a large blank wall. Buying additional kitchen cabinets and cupboards can be exorbitantly expensive, but there's no reason you can't use bookshelves to create a stunning open-shelving unit instead, like the one seen here. This is a great way to show off oversized serving ware like large salad bowls, countertop appliances such as toaster ovens, and pantry goods. 

LED light strips are one of the best ways to give your kitchen professional-looking lighting. When installed on top of or below your kitchen cabinets, they really add visual intrigue to dead space without requiring new shelving units, construction, or even a can of paint. Not only can you play with fun multicolor settings, but additional lighting makes for a safer kitchen, as this can help you see more clearly while you're cooking or cleaning.

If you don't need the storage space but find the large, blank wall behind your stove or sink overwhelming, try adding an arch. An arch cutout really makes the space feel more intentional, rather than unfinished and empty. The best part is that it doesn't make the room feel any darker or smaller, which many other design options do. This is also a great way to show off the contrast between a backsplash and wall color, or create visual symmetry with other archways in the home. 

Backsplashes often only extend along the lower perimeter of a kitchen wall, typically behind the stove and/or sink, since this is where the majority of splashes occur. But installing tile up the full length of the wall is a great way to add visual intrigue and make for a more eye-catching display. As an added bonus, you can also use suction-cup hanging baskets on tiled walls to hold produce, lightweight kitchen utensils, spices, and more, adding valuable storage space easily and affordably. 

You probably already keep a weekly to-do list, but instead of storing it on your notepad or phone, why not sketch it out on chalkboard paint in your kitchen? Chalkboard paint can add some lovely contrast and is a useful place to jot down grocery lists, recipes, or other kitchen-related doodles without needing any significant construction or DIY skills. You'll also be glad if you have kids, as they'll finally have an activity to keep them busy while you're cooking or cleaning the kitchen. 

We often think of kitchens as totally functional, utilitarian spaces, and try to turn all dead space into storage — but this isn't necessary the best way to go. Sometimes a nice piece of art is exactly what your kitchen needs. We recommend thrifting a piece that doesn't have significant sentimental or monetary value, because it will be exposed to kitchen grease and dust. To keep a painting protected, you can always cover it with a piece of glass or a layer of shellac. Landscapes, portraits, or abstract pieces add charm and color to your space. 

If you're wasting that space between your fridge and the entrance to your kitchen, or just using it as a resting place for the mop and broom, this tip is for you. Spice racks are very affordable shelving solutions, and are typically lightweight enough that installing them is very easy. Use them to show off your spice collection, or as a cookbook library. With the latter choice, you can show off those gorgeous covers, and your favorite recipes are always within reach. Plus, you can easily paint cheap, unfinished spice racks any color you like, or leave the wood exposed for a more rustic look. 

Who doesn't love being given flowers? The problem is, flowers often come with their own vase, and more often than not these end up just taking up space between birthdays or getting thrown out altogether. Instead, use that space above the fridge, stove, or cabinets to show off your vase collection. Glass vases catch light beautifully, and by keeping them handy, you won't have to run out and buy another vase when you get a fresh bouquet of flowers. 

Some tiled or shiplapped backsplashes provide a very narrow ledge that likely isn't wide enough to hold very much, but is perfectly suited to small options like cutting boards and salt and pepper shakers. We love this idea for anyone with collections that seem to take up a ton of room on the countertops or in the cabinets, but can be easily reached and displayed on the wall. For any breakables like serving dishes, be sure to find a way to anchor them to the wall so they don't tip over and shatter. 

Take a note from Julia Child and put your kitchen tools on a pegboard instead of storing them in cupboards. Pegboards are wonderfully versatile, and when anchored properly to a wall, can hold a tremendous amount of weight. That means you can hang up even heavy items like skillets and saucepans, as well as smaller items like oven mitts and salad tongs. Pegboards maximize your kitchen wall storage and make perfect, functional use of dead space without the need to install expensive cupboards and shelves. 

No shelving? No problem. You can increase storage space with a wall-mounted rod, S-hooks, and hanging baskets. Install the rods directly onto the dead space and you have instantly created an aesthetically interesting but super utilitarian storage system. S-hooks can hold onto any items with holes in the handles, like many kitchen utensils, pans, pots, oven mitts, and cutting boards, along with dish towels and napkins. Use baskets to store dishes, or as an elevated drying rack to save some counter space, and consider adding a hanging plant for a fresh, natural look.

It's tempting to use empty kitchen space to store your bulky countertop appliances like an air fryer, toaster oven, or stand mixer: any kitchen tools you rarely use but need to keep on hand. Sadly, this makes for a cluttered, messy look. You don't have to let the storage space go to waste, but try to use some storage bins or baskets to hold the items. This will look decorative but provide an elegant cover for your kitchen miscellaneous. Plus, baskets and bins with handles will make it easier to put up and take down items. 

That awkward gap between the cupboards and the fridge is usually good for only one thing: collecting dust. But in fact, this is the perfect space to use a narrow utility cart to increase your kitchen storage. Use it to store your cooking and baking essentials like flour, salt, and pepper, foil and plastic wrap, or even turn it into a wheel-able snack cart for movie nights. The utility cart allows can move in and out of the space, which makes everything on the cart accessible, even in a very narrow gap. Be sure to measure the gap before purchasing a cart. 

Big walls of dead space in your kitchen are the perfect place to roll out a few panels of wallpaper. Because the space isn't impeded by cabinets or appliances, you can get away with a pretty bold pattern and playful colors without making the space look too busy. Renters can choose from a variety of peel-and-stick wallpapers that are easy to apply and remove. You can use any leftover wallpaper scraps to add a pop of color elsewhere in the kitchen, like in a drawer or on serving tray.