The kitchen cabinetry can make or break the kitchen. Apart from its primary function of offering storage space, it can add aesthetic value to the kitchen. Therefore, the size and placement of your kitchen cabinetry are very essential. For instance, a lot of people battle with the decision of whether to let their upper kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling or not.
Some of the reasons why people will consider making their kitchen cabinets touch the ceiling will be for more storage, to tuck things away that are not used regularly, and for a classic timeless look.
The height of your kitchen ceiling, the size of your kitchen, your budget, and your personal preference are factors to consider if you find yourself trying to decide whether to let your upper kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling.
Is It Necessary to Have Cabinets That Touch the Ceiling?
It is not obligatory to have kitchen cabinets that touch the ceiling. There isn’t a yes or no answer because of personal preferences. Nonetheless, some professionals are for it and some are against it.
Some professionals suggest leaving a space between the top of the upper kitchen cabinets and the ceiling. This space called the soffit is for housing pipes, wires, and other kitchen fittings that should be hidden.
The soffit does not always leave a descent in the ceiling so in the absence of that drop, you can opt to have kitchen cabinets that run up to the ceiling. So, though not necessary, you can have kitchen cabinets that run up to the ceiling for various reasons.
Furthermore, for a more aesthetically pleasing finish, when you have kitchen cabinets that touch the ceiling, the point where the top of the cabinets meets the ceiling may need some form of “decoration” and that means extra cost.
If you mind spending the extra bucks, then it is certainly not necessary to have cabinets that touch the ceiling.
Why Have Kitchen Cabinets That Touch the Ceiling
Though not compulsory, you can make your kitchen cabinets run to the ceiling. There are no hard and fast rules of how your kitchen cabinetry should look whether you own the place temporarily or permanently. Thus, for these varied reasons enlisted below, this decision can come as a no-brainer.
1. Preference
Choosing to have kitchen cabinets that run up to the ceiling can be your personal choice. In the same way, people prefer that their cabinets not go all the way to the ceiling, while others prefer the opposite. If having cabinets that touch the ceiling looks nicer to you then so be it.
You may have seen kitchens with cabinets that touched the ceiling or may have read that it is possible to do so. It is therefore very normal to want to have it too.
However, the mere fact that you prefer cabinets that touch the ceiling does not mean you can have them, or it is prudent to have them. We will see why a little later on in this article.
2. Extra Storage Space
Having kitchen cabinets that run up to the ceiling means more storage space in your kitchen. This reason would of course not be important to those who have few things to put away in their kitchen cabinetry. But again, even if you possess a few items, you may need to project into the future and leave extra room for future purchases or possessions.
Moreover, if there are some ingredients or kitchen equipment you hardly use, the upper cabinets that touch the ceiling can be a great place to store them. Other times too, you just want to hide some things or keep them out of reach of certain people like children for instance. In this case, cabinets that touch the ceiling are a great idea.
What To Consider Before Running Your Kitchen Cabinet to The Ceiling
Yes, you may want more storage space in your kitchen for your many ingredients and cooking equipment. On another hand, you may just prefer that your kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling regardless of what any professional advice says. However, it goes beyond these. These factors below need to be considered before running your kitchen cabinets up to the ceiling.
1. Size Of the Kitchen
Ordinarily, if you have a small kitchen, it is not advisable to have kitchen cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling. This makes the kitchen look even smaller than it already is, making it appear clustered.
I get it that if you have a lot of things to store or anticipate owning more things, but your kitchen is small, you may want extra storage space. However, kitchen cabinets that touch the ceiling are not good for small kitchen spaces.
On the other hand, if your kitchen is big, you can consider running your kitchen cabinets to the ceiling without any worries. In such big kitchens, cabinets that touch the ceiling will not appear to be swallowing the space. Sometimes, those cabinets even give the space a more elegant and timeless look.
2. Height Of the Kitchen
The height of your kitchen will also determine if you should or can make the cabinets run up to the ceiling. The average standard ceiling height ranges from 8 to 10 feet. Most kitchen cabinets are about a foot shorter than the average height. Hence, unless customized, your kitchen cabinets cannot touch your ceiling.
Also, some kitchens do not have the standard ceiling height or have uneven height throughout the kitchen so having kitchen cabinets that touch the ceiling may be too cumbersome and labor-intensive to put together.
3. Budget
Picking off from the previous point, the amount of money you are willing to spend will influence if you can get your kitchen cabinets touching the ceiling. Cabinets that run to the ceiling are expensive.
You need more money to be able to do this. So, if you have the money and are willing to spend more, you certainly can have your kitchen cabinets touching the ceiling.
4. Storage
It has already been established that kitchen cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling offer more or additional storage space. Whether you have too many items to put away in storage or expect to acquire more items soon, can influence your decision to have your kitchen cabinets going all the way up to the ceiling.
So, if you desire more storage space in your kitchen, one solution will be to install kitchen cabinets that run to the ceiling.
5. Accessibility
If you intend to have kitchen cabinets that run up to the ceiling, you must think about the items you plan to store in them and if it will be easy to reach them when need be. Generally, it is prudent to store items that you hardly use in the upper cabinets that touch the ceiling. However, if you use those items daily and can reach them by standing on a chair or using a ladder, then go for it.
Have in mind though that whoever uses the kitchen frequently must be able to reach the items in the upper cabinets somehow when it is needed. Unless, of course, you would want to keep those items away from a particular group of people.
6. Theme
The theme of your kitchen can influence whether to get kitchen cabinets that touch the ceiling. Though cabinets touching the ceiling are an old style, it is gradually returning. So, it is safe to say kitchen cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling can pass for both traditional and modern themes.
Thus, regardless of what the theme of your kitchen is, cabinets that run up to the ceiling can blend in beautifully.
Why Do Some Kitchen Cabinets Not Go To The Ceiling?
1. Beam Below the Ceiling
Some kitchens have a beam that goes around the room and below the ceiling. If this beam is present, the cabinets can go as high as where the beam starts. If you want to go past that beam, it will require more work in shaping or reshaping the kitchen cabinets you want to install. In my opinion, it is not worth the hustle and money.
2. Non-Standard and Uneven Ceiling Height
As mentioned earlier, some kitchen ceiling heights are not the standard measurement so there is no way they will not go all the way to the ceiling. If you do have the money, however, you can customize the kitchen cabinets so they touch the ceiling.
Moreover, if you have a kitchen with uneven ceiling height throughout the space, your cabinets are unlikely to run up to the ceiling. Per design and construction, some kitchen ceilings may slope, making the heights at different portions of the space unequal.
Final Thoughts
Upper kitchen cabinets can go all the way to the ceiling if you prefer that, have the money to incur that extra cost, and need extra storage in your kitchen. However, if your kitchen has a beam that goes around the room before the ceiling, you cannot install cabinets that touch the ceiling. Again, if you have uneven or non-standard kitchen height, it will be too costly to install customized cabinets that touch that ceiling.
Lastly, it is also not necessary to have cabinets that touch the ceiling if your kitchen is small or you cannot afford them.
