Kitchens are the heart of homes. As such, smart kitchen design is pivotal for elevating not just meal prep efficiency but our daily joy of being. Yet with so many gadgets, serveware sets, and small appliances in constant kitchen rotation, storage woes plague many. How do we keep every item not just organized but easily accessible? Stacked kitchen wall cabinets provide a streamlined storage solution that both maximizes your existing footprint while giving you that sleek, high-end look. Read on to discover why stacked wall cabinets might be right for your next kitchen refresh.
What Are Stacked Wall Cabinets?
Stacked wall cabinets constitute an extra row of cabinets installed directly above your existing kitchen’s upper wall cabinets. Often referred to as cabinetry “on stacked,” they build not just upwards but outwards–adding height yet depth to your current kitchen cabinet configuration.
Top Benefits of Integrating Stacked Wall Cabinets
- Streamline kitchen design for a more modern, spacious aesthetic
- Maximize and fully utilize your existing kitchen footprint’s storage capacity
- Create expansive hidden storage space for seasonal kitchen items and lesser-used small appliances
- Use lighting to highlight and enhance the stacked cabinet area
Carefully Evaluating Your Kitchen for Stacked Cabinets
While the storage gains of stacked wall cabinets are undeniable, they aren’t necessarily right for every kitchen layout or homeowner’s needs. Before committing to an additional upper row, analyze if your space can both physically and visually accommodate more cabinetry up top.
Measure Empty Space Above Existing Cabinets
First, assess if there’s adequate empty space above your existing wall cabinets to install stacked cabinets. Many interior design experts recommend having at least 18 inches of space between your current cabinets and ceiling. This allows for sufficient cabinet height, lighting additions, and breathing room so your kitchen doesn’t feel too imposing or enclosed overhead.
Consider Your Current Cabinet & Kitchen Design
How might a second row of upper cabinets blend or contrast with your existing kitchen cabinet design? Take into account factors like:
- Your cabinet door style, hardware, and color scheme
- How an additional darker or lighter row might complement or stick out
- Your overall kitchen layout and how stacked cabinets can seamlessly integrate
Factor in Costs
While adding storage capacity, stacked cabinets also increase project costs. There is further building material, construction labor, and complexity of cabinet installation to account for. Be sure to balance your storage wants and long-term organizational gains vs the investment of taking your build higher.
Perfect Storage Items for Stacked Wall Cabinets
Once committed to additional height, what should you store within your newfound stacked wall cabinet space? Keep less frequently used kitchen tools close yet out of your everyday storage way.
Seasonal Kitchen Items
Free up your main kitchen cabinet real estate for daily use dishware and glassware by scaling stacked wall cabinets for seasonal or holiday-centric serveware and cooking gadgets. Think specialty baking tins or festive platters used a few times per year. Consolidating these items ten feet up and out of sight makes retrieving everyday dinner plates far simpler.
Kitchen Collectibles
If you curate precious dishware or ceramic collections, stacked cabinets present the perfect display opportunity without monopolizing your counter space. Glass-front built-ins give cherished antique plates and handmade pottery the spotlight they deserve without impeding kitchen flow.
Small Appliances
We all acquire those trendy small kitchen appliances over time–yet how much counter real estate are they genuinely worth? From stand mixers and bread makers to juicers and cake pop machines, storing small appliances out of sight in stacked wall cabinets keeps prep space clear for actual recipe work. Bonus tip: Group all like appliances together for ease of access. So when you’re ready to pull out the ice cream maker, you know just where to reach!
Extra Kitchen Prep Items
Take advantage of the depth stacked wall cabinets afford by storing those extra prep helpers that somehow never have a place. We’re looking at you, overflow plastic cutting boards, pot lid organizer, and one too many colanders. Now everything has a home, keeping counters clean but essentials nearby.
Designing Your Stacked Wall Cabinet Area
Installing a second row of wall cabinets present fresh design opportunities to enhance your new storage Instituting lighting or a statement color elevates any kitchen. But in a stacked wall layout specifically, draws the eye upwards to appreciate the full architectural detail.
Lighting Above the Cabinets
Don’t just increase storage with your additional cabinet row–highlight the piece de resistance with lighting built right in. Consider dazzling yet subtle LED strip lights concealed under cabinet overhangs or eye-catching pendant fixtures descending from the epicenter.
Glass-Front Cabinets
Draw further attention to prized dish collections or holiday glassware displays with transparent glass-front cabinet doors. The see-through panels contrast beautifully with more traditional solid cabinet face structures.
Complementary Paint or Finish
Whether matching existing cabinet colors and finishes or purposely making stacked wall cabinets a bold focal point, smart paint and finish selections meld old with new. Maintain kitchen flow with coordinated cabinet colors. Or contrast against darker wood below with an airy, light stacked cabinet color choice.
Streamlined Storage for Every Kitchen
In today’s open floor plan centered homes, kitchens act as centralized hubs for not just culinary activity but household hangouts, workspaces, and beyond. Adding storage wherever plausible keeps peace and order amidst the controlled family chaos!
Stacked kitchen wall cabinets proffer supplemental storage capacity without demanding a full kitchen overhaul or renovation. Tuck lesser used gadgets and dishware overhead, opening floors and counters for what matters most–family and the everyday meals that nourish us.
Attain that high-end, custom look as you infuse smart organizational solutions. Say goodbye to kitchen clutter and welcome unencumbered meal prep freedom.
Energy Efficiency
With more demand for eco-friendly homes, energy-efficient stacked cabinets have become increasingly popular. These airtight cabinets prevent air leaks and reduce energy consumption. Installing stacked cabinets with energy-efficient features like LED lighting, double-paned glass doors, and insulated cabinet boxes can significantly lower utility bills while contributing to sustainable living.
Customization Options
Beyond efficient, stacked cabinets enable further personalization over traditional cabinet rows. With abundant sizes, materials like wood or metal, glass fronts, and hardware finishes available, it’s simple to create a one-of-a-kind kitchen design that still functions for you. Choose an on-trend color that energizes or go neutral to keep the focus on gorgeous grains in the cabinetry itself.
Increased Storage Capacity
The prime advantage stacked cabinets confer is their ability to double your usable storage space sans expanding the kitchen’s physical footprint. Make the most of vertical real estate to neatly tuck away lesser used kitchen tools overhead. This condenses regular meal prep items into prime access points–like lower cabinets and drawers–for daily efficiency.
While stacked cabinets increase storage capacity, installs at higher heights can impede accessibility for some groups like children or those less able-bodied. If ease of access is imperative, consider lower stacked cabinets or specialty pull-down cabinetry 16 to 48 inches off your existing floor.
