9 Exciting Modern Kitchen Without Upper Cabinets

FeastHome – A wall built-in kitchen cabinet or also known as an upper kitchen cabinet is one of the most used types of kitchen cabinets.

It is because an upper kitchen cabinet creates more space in a kitchen area. There are also some people ditching upper wall cabinets altogether, but the question remains, can you do a kitchen with no upper cabinets?

If you want to do the same, you can try these inspirations of a modern kitchen without upper kitchen cabinets.

1. Traditional Kitchen

The traditional look in this kitchen comes from the use of the wooden kitchen table, wooden floor, and white brick kitchen walls. Those elements make the traditional style in this kitchen area look strong.

The white color from the bottom kitchen cabinets and brick walls blend prettily with the wood material, creating a beautiful combination.

Besides the bottom kitchen cabinets, some open racks of floating shelves are used to store the tableware instead of an upper kitchen cabinet. The hanging lamps bring a classy style to this kitchen area.

2. Modern Vast Kitchen

The white color which is dominating this kitchen area combined with the large glass windows makes the spacious area looks even more spacious.

The curtains are added to the glass window as protection if the sunlight is too bright. The dominating white color blends perfectly with the wooden countertop and wooden floor.

Moreover, the wood material used for the countertop and floor adds a warm touch to this modern kitchen. A unique blue dining chair and unique stainless steel kitchen faucet make it looks more attractive.

3. Greyish Modern Kitchen

This kitchen area combines some tones of grey. Such as the light grey tone for the marble countertop, the medium grey tone for the kitchen floor, and the dark grey tone for the ceiling.

If you want to use only 1 color for any room in your house, you can follow this idea in order to make the room looks less plain. The middle area of this kitchen is left empty in order to provide a lot of space in the kitchen area.

As you can see, bottom kitchen cabinets are preferred to be used for extra storage instead of upper kitchen cabinets.

4. Fancy & Modern Kitchen

The kitchen in the picture above looks very modern and fancy at the same time. The color combination of black, white, and natural wood color creates those 2 beautiful styles.

The householders differentiate the kitchen table and dining table by using different materials. The wood material is used for the kitchen table which brings a warm touch to the area, while a black solid material is used for the dining table.

The bar-look dining chairs complete the modern style and make the area even more stylish. The attractive open racks are used to place some decorations so that this area looks attractive.

5. Warm Kitchen

This kitchen area looks so warm and natural because of the colors used. 2 long open racks are added as additional storage in order to place the kitchen utensils everyday pots or tableware.

The householders also use the wall-mounted glass kitchen cabinet to save and display the tableware so that the cabinets can also act as the kitchen wall decoration. The grey marble and countertop material is chosen in order to add a modern touch to the area.

6. Wooden Kitchen

The wood material dominates the kitchen in the image above. The kitchen cabinets, floor, dining table, and dining chairs, all of them are made from wood. It brings a farmhouse style to this kitchen.

But the countertop and the top part of the dining table is made from a black solid material in order to add colors to this kitchen area so that it does not look plain.

Some glass windows are also added so that natural sunlight can come into the area and make the air circulation well.

7. Colorful Modern Kitchen

The yellow floor in this kitchen catches the attention of whoever comes to this area. The floor is also able to add a color besides the neutral colors used such as white and grey.

The householders choose an L-shaped kitchen which is one of the most used kinds of kitchen. The middle area is left empty so that the householders are able to freely move. For those who want to have a unique kitchen, you can try this idea.

8. Glass Modern Kitchen

This Kitchen is giving prairie-style architecture vibe the way the outside is flowing in. Are you dreaming of having a kitchen that looks like a greenhouse? Then, you can apply this idea to your kitchen. Glass material is used for the windows and ceiling, making this kitchen area great air circulation.

The glass windows and glass ceiling not only able to allow the sunlight to come through the area, but they can also allow you to enjoy the pretty outside view while doing your cooking activity.

This kind of kitchen is more suitable to be placed in the back part of a house near a backyard. Moreover, the white color matches perfectly with the glass material.

9. Details of the Warm Kitchen

It is the look from another side of a warm kitchen in number 5. As you can see, the patterned kitchen walls are installed so that this kitchen area looks more attractive.

There are 2 sinks so household members can easily wash the dirty dishes and the sink on the kitchen island can be used for handwashing. The hanging lamps add uniqueness to task lighting in this kitchen area.

How To Make Up for Lost Storage Space In Kitchen with No Upper Cabinets

Planning a kitchen without upper cabinets offers an interesting challenge to interior designers and enthusiasts alike. Like everything else in life, it’s all about give and take and it’s no different for a kitchen design without upper cabinets.

What You Can Gain From Ditching Wall Cabinets In Your Kitchen:

An open and spacious feel: The absence of upper cabinets creates an airy vibe in your kitchen and living space. Everything feels larger, brighter, and open.

Enhanced visual appeal: Removing upper cabinets allows you to showcase your personality and give you room to customize the space with your favorite decorative items, artwork, or architectural features on the walls, turning the kitchen into a captivating focal point of the design.

You can go nuts and create the kitchen accent wall of the century havening no wall units.

The lack of an upper cabinet provides better access: With no upper cabinets, there’s no need to reach up or use a step stool to access plates and other kitchen essentials stored at higher levels, simplifying organization and retrieval.

What You Will Give Up In A Kitchen with No Upper Cabinets:

Less Storage Space (Obvious): Removing upper cabinets leaves you with fewer storage options, even more so for a small kitchen. You have to get creative and do a lot of thoughtful planning to come up with alternative extra storage space solutions (We have a few ideas in mind, keep reading).

You may end up with limited counter space (Less Obvious): To compensate for the lack of wall cabinets, you may end up storing items right on the kitchen countertop. That wills in turn leave you will less countertop space to work with in the kitchen.

Get Creative To Organize Your Kitchen without Upper Cabinets:

Use base cabinets and drawers: Maximize storage in lower cabinets and drawers by incorporating pull-out shelves, dividers, and organizers. If You can, opt for deep drawers. 

TIP: Use base cabinets creatively. Consider installing drawers with custom organizers or pull-out racks to efficiently store pots, pans, and other kitchen tools.

Come up with pantry storage: Install a pantry or tall cabinet with adjustable shelves to accommodate dry goods, small appliances, and kitchen essentials.

Incorporate open shelving: Although you’re opting out of upper cabinets, open shelving is still a viable option for wall storage. Wooden shelves never go out of style and would complement most kitchen’s interior design.

With open shelves, they allow for gorgeous displays of dishes, glassware, cookbooks, and decorative items while keeping frequently used items within reach on lower shelves.

Other Wall Space Usage Ideas For a Kitchen without Wall Cabinets

Pegboards or grid systems: Install pegboards or grid systems on the walls for hanging utensils, pots, and pans, providing functionality and an eye-catching display.

Magnetic knife strips: You will find this in virtually every kitchen today. Mount magnetic strips on the wall to hold knives and other metal kitchen tools, saving counter space and providing easy access.

Wall-mounted racks and hooks: Install wall-mounted racks or hooks for hanging mugs, dish towels, or oven mitts

Remember, careful planning and optimization of available storage space are essential when designing a kitchen without upper cabinets.

Those are the ideas of a modern kitchen without any upper kitchen cabinets that you can try. There are many alternatives that you can use instead of using an upper kitchen cabinet, such as an open rack or bottom kitchen cabinet in order to store your collection of tableware or kitchen tools.