Up your space and style by installing an extra row of cabinets
Stacked cabinets add an extra row of cabinets above your existing upper cabinets.
Stacked cabinets boost storage and display space. Since they’re high up, use them for seasonal and display items.
Stacked cabinets offer kitchens a high-end, custom, modern, or contemporary look and look best in lighter shades.
You need at least 1 foot of empty space between the top of your existing upper cabinets and the ceiling.
Stacked kitchen cabinets are smaller-sized cabinets that sit directly above your current, regular-height kitchen cabinets. Stacked cabinets make a great addition if you have at least 9-foot ceilings and a considerable gap between the top of your cabinets and the ceiling.
Stacked cabinets are available with open, glass, and door fronts. They provide additional storage space—and you can even add decorative lighting to showcase your beautiful kitchenware.
Whether you’re planning a complete kitchen remodel or want to upgrade your current cabinets, there are many reasons to add stacked cabinets to your space. Below, we’ll cover nine reasons to invest in stacked cabinets:
Since you don’t have enough room to store kitchen items, your counters are full of clutter. Plus, you’re constantly running to your mudroom, pantry, or basement to pull out your toaster, blender, and serving pieces. Adding height to your kitchen cabinets by installing a row above your uppers will provide you with the room you need.
Just know that—since this extra run will be high up and difficult to access—you’ll want to devote it to items you use less often, like seasonal cookware. Plus, you’ll need a step stool to reach everything. If you need more organization options for your new or existing cabinets, you can also DIY pantry shelving.
Stacked cabinets provide additional height, width, and depth to your existing cabinetry, providing much-needed storage for your valuables. By putting in stacked cabinets, you’ll gain an elegant, contained display area for fine china, silver, crystal, and more. No longer will your collectibles clutter your countertops or shelves. To best highlight your pieces, install beveled or frosted glass doors.
Kitchens tend to look unfinished if there is a gap between the current cabinets and the ceiling. If your kitchen lacks a cohesive design, installing stacking cabinets will help it appear more seamless and high-end. The extra row might even give the appearance of custom rather than stock cabinetry.
Stacked cabinets are often accompanied by elegant crown molding—with some also adding additional trim to give the stacked cabinets a classic, refined look. Stacked cabinets truly lend kitchens a sleek, modern, or contemporary feel. If your home embraces this style, installing this extra row of cabinets will enhance its design.
Stacked cabinets offer an opportunity to add another lighting element to your kitchen—which can really liven up your space. In addition, you can match your cabinet lighting with new or existing pendant lighting or under-cabinet lighting to create a light, bright effect in your kitchen. Hire your local electrician to install interior cabinet lighting to this extra row so you can spotlight your collectibles.
Before you invest in double-stacked cabinets, check if you have the space. Stacked cabinets are ideal in kitchens with at least 1 foot of empty space above the existing top cabinets. For the ideal proportions, make sure the upper row of cabinets is about half as tall as the row beneath it.
If you don’t have enough space for stacked cabinets, you’ll need to solve your storage problem another way. Other kitchen storage solutions include installing space savers (like door racks) inside existing cabinets or devoting a nearby closet to storing kitchenware.
An extra row of cabinets means added expense. Since solid wood kitchen cabinets cost $2,000 to $11,000 (including installation), expect to pay a third or up to half of that cost for another run of cabinetry. To determine whether the cost will work for you, reach out to local cabinet contractors for estimates. Although you might be tempted to DIY, only install cabinets yourself if you’re a skilled carpenter.
One of the biggest considerations for kitchen remodels is the cabinets. There’s a range from budget-friendly thermofoil cabinets to high-end options with solid maple shelving and solid wood doors. Choosing cost-effective cabinets can save up to $20,000 on your total kitchen remodel costs.
Adding another row to cabinets coated in dark stain or paint can make your space look dreary and oppressive. A good rule of thumb is to add an extra row of cabinets in rooms with cabinetry that’s white, off-white, cream, or another light color. Alternatively, you could repaint your existing cabinets with a lighter hue.
By adding to your cabinets, you’re upping your kitchen’s maintenance needs. It’s important to treat stacked cabinets like your existing cabinetry—this way, the upper cabinets won’t lose their shine. You’ll need to access this row and clean it regularly to remove dust and wipe down glass doors. Plus, you’ll need to keep the insides neat and organized for cabinets with glass doors.
The possibilities are endless for what can go inside stacked cabinets, especially if you get cabinets with increased depth. Here are examples of the varieties of items that can go in stacked cabinets:
Elegant dishware
Holiday decor
Kitchen appliances
Family heirlooms
Specialty glassware
Cookbooks
Framed recipes
From a design standpoint, stacked kitchen cabinets work best in kitchens with high ceilings—otherwise, your space can look cramped and dark. So, whether you choose to purchase new stacked cabinets directly from the manufacturer, or build out your own, here are the best ways to design your stacked kitchen cabinets.
Whether you hire a cabinet installation pro or if you’re handy to install new stacked cabinets yourself, you’ll need to ensure that you measure correctly and purchase stacked cabinets that are the right height, width, and depth. And the design aesthetic needs to match your current cabinets. Also, if you’re purchasing pre-painted stacked cabinetry, it’s crucial that you match your kitchen cabinet colors, or it could be very costly to strip, sand, and re-paint all of your kitchen cabinetry.
If you’re handy and have carpentry experience, you can design and build your own stacked cabinetry. With this option, you’ll have more design opportunities. For example, if you’re removing your current cabinet doors and keeping the frames, you’ll only need to build stacked cabinet frames to match. And then you can purchase new cabinet door fronts or glass fronts in any style.
"Working with a designer is definitely the way to go. My pro has so much experience and made so many dreams come true...all the tidbits she shared made all the difference from my having a cookie cutter, big-box store kitchen to one that's a showplace and a dream to work in...at the end of the day I feel I got much more than I paid for. The kitchen is everything I'd hoped for and more...I feel like I have had a knowledgeable friend by my side throughout this entire redo. I had someone who understood how the little things can make one crazy. My pro worked tirelessly to get everything perfect (and so did her crew)."
— Carol H., Baltimore, MD
Kitchen base cabinets are the cabinets that sit on the floor in your kitchen—and yes, you can stack base cabinets. Usually, homeowners stack kitchen base cabinets when building a pantry. Base cabinets come in various styles, with doors, drawers, and glass fronts—so your options for creating stacked base cabinets are endless.
You can stack upper kitchen cabinets, but they may not fit neatly. Because upper kitchen cabinets are typically available in these standard sizes—12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 inches—you can stack various-sized upper cabinets. But, depending on your ceiling height, these standard sizes may not work together. That’s why smaller stacked cabinets are a much more stylish and economical choice.
It depends on your ceiling height. Wall cabinets are typically mounted 54 inches from the floor. So, if you have eight-foot ceilings, you’ll need 42-inch-high wall cabinets to fill the gap. And you’ll need 54-inch cabinets if you have nine-foot ceilings. But standard-sized cabinets don’t come in 54 inches, so you'll need to stack various sizes together. And, if you have ceilings higher than nine feet, it’s a good idea to have custom stacked cabinets made to fill your space.
