Should Your Kitchen Cabinets Reach the Ceiling? Making the Right Choice for You

Are you planning for a kitchen remodel? When you make decisions about your cabinets, one very important question is this: do you want your kitchen cabinets to run all the way up to the ceiling? Or do you want them to stop one to two feet below? Don’t know what you should do? Read on for all the information you need to make the best choice for your kitchen.

In the past, upper cabinets were generally either 32” or 36” tall, and so leaving a gap between them and the ceiling was standard. Today, many people prefer cabinets that reach the ceiling. It can give a cleaner, more streamlined look, and it increases a cabinet’s storage capacity. It also eliminates the “dead space” between the cabinet and the ceiling. However, there are definitely times when regular-height cabinets are best for your Tallahassee kitchen.

What to Consider if You’re Thinking About Ceiling Height Cabinets

How High are Your Ceilings?

Eight Feet

If you have an 8-foot ceiling, you can use 39” or 42” upper cabinets and reach the ceiling (since wall cabinets are mounted 54” up from the floor). Which size you use will depend on the height of the crown molding that you use at the top of the cabinet.

Nine Feet

If your ceilings are 9 feet high, you won’t be able to use a single wall cabinet because they aren’t designed to be that tall. This is because a cabinet door that reached the top of a cabinet that tall could warp over time. Instead, to take your cabinets all the way to the ceiling, you’d need to use a stacked cabinet. This means that one cabinet is stacked on top of another and each cabinet has its own door. The top cabinet is usually smaller than the bottom cabinet and often has glass door panels for a decorative touch.

If you use budget cabinets, the installer will often just literally stack two cabinets on top of each other. This is fine but will result in a seam that you may not like the look of. Better quality cabinets will make the stacked cabinet as one piece, eliminating the seam for a high-end look.

Taller Than Nine Feet

If your ceilings are higher than 9 feet, you can still make your cabinets reach the ceiling, but it may not be practical. You really won’t be able to reach anything stored in the top cabinets without a ladder. It can also look overwhelming. A better idea is to create a soffit at the 9-foot-mark and run the cabinets to it, or vary the cabinet height to add interest and break up wall space. Either of these options will give plenty of storage and a streamlined look to your Tallahassee kitchen.

What is Your Budget?

Ceiling-height cabinets are more expensive. And when you add several (six or ten or more) stacked cabinets to the design, the cost increases drastically. Adding glass doors to the top cabinet adds cost as well. It may be worth it to you if you need the extra storage space or love the look of ceiling-height cabinets, but as you plan your kitchen remodel, it’s worth taking into account.

If you love the look of no gap above the cabinet but don’t want to spend the money on tall cabinets, you do have a few other options.

• You can add a drywall soffit between the cabinet top and the ceiling. This is not our favorite choice but it does get the job done.
• You can also add a false cabinet panel that extends to the ceiling. The panel can be decorative and add interest but save a lot of money when compared to the cost of stacked cabinets.
• You can cut costs in other areas of your kitchen remodel and put the saved money toward stacked cabinets. Check out this article for information about what factors affect costs in a kitchen remodel and where you might save money.

Do You Have Beams, a Vaulted Ceiling, or Other Architectural Details?

If your Tallahassee home boasts wooden beams, vaulted ceilings, coffered ceilings, or detailed crown molding, you should count yourself lucky. These gorgeous details elevate the look of any home. However, they do add a layer of complication when it comes to ceiling-height cabinets. Beams, crown moldings, and other design elements may interfere with the placement of ceiling-height cabinets or give them a crowded, awkward look. It’s often a better decision to keep the cabinets below the architectural elements, which highlights your unique features.

Vaulted ceilings can pose another problem as you certainly don’t want your cabinets to soar that high–the storage would be almost completely inaccessible and they would not look good. It’s better to accentuate the vaulted ceiling and let the cabinets end at a reasonable height.

When You May Want Cabinets to Go To the Ceiling

Dust and Pest Prevention

Ceiling-height cabinetry is more than just a stylish design choice for your kitchen. One of its key benefits is its role in maintaining a cleaner and healthier home environment. Here’s how:

Prevention of Dust Accumulation: By extending cabinets all the way to the ceiling, there are fewer open spaces where dust can settle. This means less cleaning and a tidier kitchen overall.

Effective Pest Deterrence: With no gaps between the cabinets and ceiling, pests like insects and spiders have fewer places to hide and nest. This minimizes their ability to infiltrate your kitchen and reduces the risk of infestations.

Enhanced Hygiene: When dust and pests are kept at bay, the kitchen becomes a more hygienic place. This helps protect both your food and your family’s health.

In essence, ceiling-height cabinetry offers practical benefits beyond aesthetics, contributing significantly to dust and pest prevention in your kitchen.

Showcase Collectables 

Extending cabinetry all the way to the ceiling can transform your kitchen into an elegant display area for collectables, combining functionality with style.

Maximize Vertical Storage: By reaching toward the ceiling, you create more room, perfect for arranging decorative or antique items.

Incorporate Glass-Front Cabinets: Integrate cabinets with glass doors to elegantly showcase your prized possessions. This design choice ensures that your collectables remain safe from dust while being on full display.

Enhance with Lighting: Installing soft lighting within these cabinets can further highlight your collectables, adding a warm glow to the kitchen ambience.

When You May Want to Pass on Ceiling Height Cabinets

If Your Ceilings Are Just Too High

According to designer Ashley Noethe, “At a certain point, there’s no benefit in going higher because you’ll need more than just a stepladder to reach anything you store there. It’s better to keep things more accessible.” We agree with Ashley on this point. It does not make sense to spend the money on more cabinets when they aren’t serving the main function of cabinets: easy storage!

If Your Ceilings Aren’t Quite Flush

Ceiling height cabinets often require fillers to make the upper cabinets appear even and to fix areas of the ceiling that aren’t flush. This limits your ability to use crown moldings as decorative elements at some points. However, crown molding is merely decorative, and you may decide you’d rather sacrifice the use of crown molding for the additional storage ceiling height cabinets will give you.

If Your Kitchen is Small

It may seem counter-intuitive to avoid ceiling-height cabinets in a small kitchen. Wouldn’t the size of the space mean the extra storage is even more important? While the storage is a benefit, ceiling-height cabinets can create a claustrophobic feeling in a small kitchen. On the other hand, the streamlined look might make the room feel more open! This is a case where you need to consider your own design preferences and see what feels right to you. 

Some possible solutions include running the cabinets close to the ceiling but not touching it, and putting lights above them. This gives you both extra storage and the illusion of more space. You can also have glass upper cabinets installed, which adds both depth and light to the space and can help break up that claustrophobic feeling. If your kitchen is small, our team can help you make the best call based on your unique kitchen and needs.

If Your Ceilings Are Unusual

If your home has unusually designed ceilings (for example, a ceiling that soars on one side and slopes down on the other side), you may want to avoid ceiling-height cabinets. If you really wanted them, you could get them fully customized to fit the space, but they will probably cost significantly more because they will have to be completely tailored to your space. They will also require more labor to install…and they might end up looking odd.

An In-Between Option

The best answer for you might be somewhere in between ceiling height and standard. You can bring the cabinets almost to the ceiling but keep them slightly lower, creating a shadow line that can look classy and intentional. You can also fill that area with cove lights to softly illuminate your kitchen. Or you can use your unique kitchen features to inform your design decision. For example, if you have a beam that runs around your kitchen right below the ceiling, you can stop the cabinets at the level of the beam instead of the ceiling. Again, we are here to help you make the best decision for your individual space.

What Do You Like?

The decision of whether or not to use ceiling-height cabinets depends on a variety of factors, as we’ve discussed. But one of the most important things to consider is your own preferences. Do you want ceiling-height cabinets? Do you love the look? Do you need the storage? Or would you rather use standard-height cabinets and spend your money elsewhere, or just enjoy the more traditional look? The choice is yours.

When you’re ready to make a call, we’re here for you. Serving Tallahassee, Florida neighborhoods like Killearn Lakes and Golden Eagle, McManus Kitchen and Bath has been designing and remodeling gorgeous kitchens for almost twenty years. Reach out to us today and we will get started on your dream kitchen remodel.