Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes. Traditionally, there is a window above the sink to look outside while doing dishes, but what if there’s no window? What should go above a kitchen sink if not a window? This is a design dilemma I pondered for months. Below, I’ve outlined 7 great solutions to help you decorate the space above your kitchen sink if you are window-less like me.
We have a traditional alley kitchen with counters on two parallel sides. The sink side used to border the outside of the house that overlooked the carport. However, when the previous owners enclosed the carport to make a garage they boarded up the window and dry walled the area above the sink on the inside. The previous owners style was more colorful and industrial than mine. She had stainless steel shelves above the sink- I removed them, but took months to decide what should go in there place.
I’m sharing the results of many months of research to given you inspiration and plenty of options if you are in the same boat as me. So often, there is a window in this space. When there’s not, what should you do? I’ve rounded up 7 of the best ideas, and shared what I chose at the end.
1. Lighting Above the Kitchen Sink
I love the idea of focal point lighting in this space above the kitchen sink. More than likely there is a gap in the cabinets, which gives you the opportunity to either hand pendant lighting from the ceiling or accent lighting that comes out from the wall.
No wiring? No problem! Have you heard of the puck light hack? You can purchases these from Amazon, and bring light to the space without hiring an electrician. DIY for the win. This could also be a great renter friendly solution.
2. Glass Cabinets
Depending on your storage needs, you could always continue cabinetry in the space above your kitchen sink. But for some relief from feeling too heavy among the rest of the cabinets, you could add glass door inserts.
I did this affordably when I added the wall cabinets for glassware and wine storage myself. Adding glass door inserts is easier than you think- and you could even choose plexiglass over real glass like I did. See the full step by step tutorial here.
3. Dish Storage Above the Kitchen Sink
Open shelving is definitely trending right now and for good reason. According to Realtor.com, open shelving can make a space feel more open and add style by allowing you to display dishes in an organized way. Did you know the materials and installation for shelving is a more affordable option than wall cabinets?
Some concerns and possible cons for open shelving for dish storage include the possibility of clutter if not well maintained, and the possibility of more frequent washing. But in this case if your dishes are above the sink only and not above the stove there is less chance they will get dirty or greasy from the heat of appliance use. Also, using a “dish rack” with boundaries for each individual dish will keep your dishes looking orderly and evenly spaced.
Enjoying this post? Save it for later on Pinterest to refer back to when you need it.
4. Open Shelving
Although I had shelving that I replaced, I still think this can be a great option if it matches the aesthetic of the rest of your space. To decorate your shelves, you could keep the decor clean and white, or mix in pops of color with pottery or cookbooks. With shelves its always good to add your personality to the mix.
You can do this with florals, greenery, woven baskets, or trays. Add useful kitchen goods to clear canisters such as coffee beans, rice, honey or pasta. Get creative! The possibilities are endless but I’m confident you can style your way to the perfect #shelfie.
5. Art Above the Kitchen Sink
The possibilities here are truly endless.
You can bring color and personal style into your kitchen by hanging art above your sink. Traditionally, still life art comes to mind when thinking about kitchen art. However, more recently I’ve seen more landscapes hung and looking in great in the kitchen.
My personal favorite source for art is Collection Prints. You can buy the downloadable image and print it yourself at a big box store, a local print shop, or somewhere like Shutterfly, or buy the print matted and framed already. They have a great selection that changes seasonally, and even better prices! Check it out here. They are offering a buy one, get one 50% off sale right now.
Don’t have the budget to spend money on art at the moment? No problem! Try your hand at DIY textured art following an easy step by step tutorial I’ve shared here.
6. Mirrors
Mirrors are historically a great way to make a space feel larger. The are possibly the second best option behind a window. They reflect light, and will open up your space. Mirrors are a great idea, especially if you have a smaller kitchen.
7. Rods & Hooks Above the Kitchen Sink
And finally, the solution I chose: black rods and hooks. I’ve been really happy with this solution for almost a year. It’s aesthetically pleasing, pulls in darker colors also found in the cabinet hardware (linked here), and is both decorative and functional. I use the cast iron skillets I have hung up weekly, brought in some life with dried lavender. and added cute white and wooden touches.
These rods and hooks are originally from Ikea- but I could no longer found them sold on Ikea’s website. Here they are on Amazon, which is where I purchased mine from.
So here are 7 solutions to decorate the space above your kitchen sink if you don’t have a window! I hope these are good options for you, and help make your house feel more like home.
