How to Protect Your Floors From Furniture Marks

How to Protect Your Floors From Furniture Marks

How to Avoid Wasted Space Above Cabinets in Your Custom Kitchen

Leslie Fleming

Even in the biggest kitchens, that unused space above kitchen cabinets always feels like a waste. The great thing about a custom kitchen renovation is that you can finally put that dead area to good use. Here are three great ways to avoid that wasted space when designing your new kitchen.

Fit Cabinets Up to the Ceiling

The first and most obvious thing to do with that empty space is to fill it with cabinets. Floor-to-ceiling cabinets are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their modern appearance and lack of wasted space. You can also have these cabinets built around your fridge, giving your space an unmatched sleek look. If you do choose floor-to-ceiling cabinets, it's a good idea to make some of that cupboard space open or doorless to break up the space and avoid a flat, monotonous wall. Alternatively, you can use contemporary cabinets that start at the ceiling but don't go all the way to the floor. These cabinets often have doors that open upwards to make retrieving items easier. Remember to invest in a matching kitchen stool that you can use to reach things on the highest shelves.

Make the Space a Light Source

If your current kitchen feels dark and dingy, why not use the space above your new cabinets as an additional light source? There are two ways to do this. If you're happy with artificial light, you can add wall lights above your cabinets or even a mirror to reflect light back into the room. If you prefer natural light, consider getting a new window installed above the cabinets if they're on an outside-facing wall. Slotting in a small window here will be far cheaper than adding a roof light or an additional full-sized window. Since the window won't be at eye-level, you also won't have to worry about blinds and curtains to keep nosy passersby from seeing in.

Install Open Shelving

If all else fails, open shelving is a classic option you can't go wrong with. You can either add shelves above regular cabinets or you can opt for a custom, built-in cabinet unit that fits shelves seamlessly into its design. Of course, if you do choose shelving to replace your wasted space, make sure you think carefully about what you put up there. You can store any items you don't use often on the highest shelf of a closed cabinet, but with open shelves, you also need to think about the appearance. You may only use that old slow cooker once in a blue moon, for example, but it could detract from the carefully crafted appearance of your new kitchen if you leave it out for everyone to see.

For more information or ideas, contact a company that helps with kitchen renovations.


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About Me
How to Protect Your Floors From Furniture Marks

When we started building a home together, my husband and I got a lot of furniture donations from friends and family. While this saved us a lot of cash, it did mean that we didn’t have a lot of say in the designs we ended up with; some of our larger pieces are a little old-fashioned and heavier than a lot of modern stuff you can buy in the shops now. While we like the eclectic look, it's still important for us to know how to keep this furniture clean and how to keep the flooring from getting damaged by these larger additions. After a bit of trial and error we found ways to prevent furniture and flooring from getting damaged.