One of the most intriguing new trends in home kitchen design is to forgo upper cabinets in favor of only base cabinets or base cabinets paired with open shelving.
The aesthetic appeal is clear. The look of a “no uppers kitchen” is easy on the eyes, sleek and uncomplicated. But is this minimalist approach to the home’s most utilitarian space practical? Upper and lower kitchen cabinetry has been the standard for years because it maximizes your storage space, allowing you to tuck away all of your cooking and dining ware.
Are there alternatives to compensate for the loss of storage, allowing you to maintain the modern aesthetic without having to compromise on functionality? We’ll explore the advantages of kitchens with no upper cabinets and possible solutions for any potential disadvantages.
Create a More Open-Feeling Kitchen Without Wall Cabinets
Too much cabinetry can leave you feeling cramped inside your own kitchen. Removing the upper cabinets opens up the visual space around the room, creating the appearance of a kitchen that looks and feels much bigger and brighter. This can have an especially transformative effect for homeowners with smaller kitchens.
Removing your upper kitchen cabinets can make a difference in terms of lighting, as well. By casting shadows over your countertops, upper cabinets darken your workspace. Without upper cabinets, it may even feel like you have more counter space with which to work.
Upper cabinets can also be hard to reach. If you have to use a step stool or find yourself climbing on countertops to reach certain shelves, keeping your kitchen cabinets below waist height allows for ease of access. Everything you’d need would be well within reach.
Cutting Down on Kitchen Clutter with No Upper Cabinets
If the prospect of losing your upper kitchen cabinets is one that gives you anxiety, consider performing a mental audit of whatever you are currently storing in that space. Can you remember without looking? If you can, in fact, remember the specific items, can you recall when you used any of them last? Perhaps you rarely even use what is up there.
Take it as an opportunity to take stock of your inventory and purge what you don’t use. It might not be a lack of storage space that is your problem, but rather an excess of rarely used items. By cleaning out your cabinets, you may find you have a surplus of storage after all. You’d be surprised by some of the unnecessary items you’ve accumulated over the years.
Removing the upper cabinets from your kitchen can be perceived as reducing storage space or, rather, an invitation to be more conscientious of how you utilize your storage space.
Get Creative with Your Kitchen Cabinet Organization
Removing the upper cabinets in your kitchen is an opportunity to rethink how you organize the space in your lower cabinets. Enhanced drawer organization in your base cabinets can allow for more efficient and effective storage of plates, bowls, utensils, etc. Find a new home for the items and appliances you might normally store in upper kitchen cabinets.
Before you start haphazardly cramming things into drawers and cabinets, consider creative new ways of organizing them. Drawer dividers are especially popular for organizing smaller items in drawers of small or uncommon sizes. Metal shelves can maximize the vertical space in your base cabinets, essentially doubling the amount of storage space you can utilize. Roll-out shelves stacked one on top of the other can also achieve the same effect.
If you are remodeling your base kitchen cabinets, a smaller hidden drawer within a larger drawer can create more storage space. Pull-out drawers beneath the counter can serve as a pantry where you can store your cans, spices, and boxed goods all in one place.
Bertch’s Base Super Organizer shown empty.
Keep Your Kitchen Light & Airy with Open Shelving
Even before homeowners were ditching upper cabinets in their kitchens, floating shelves were gathering steam as a popular design trend. They stand out as a distinctive alternative to traditional shelving, allowing you to incorporate more storage and display space into your kitchen that brings both style and function to the space.
True to their name, floating shelves create the illusion of being suspended in the air with no visible signs of support. This is ideal for bringing a light and airy feel to your kitchen, especially if you are tight on space and desire a clean and minimalist aesthetic.
In addition to the extra storage space they provide, floating kitchen shelves are also appealing because of their simplistic design and the ease with which they can be installed.
A Modern Kitchen Island Can Add a New Element
If you have more floor space to work with than wall space in your kitchen, the addition of an island could be the key to securing adequate storage space without having to give up the clean minimalism and modern aesthetic afforded by removing your upper cabinets. The impact in terms of style and design can be significant.
Considered the “heart” of the kitchen, the kitchen island stands alone, bearing no physical connection to the cabinetry and appliances that surround it. They are versatile in terms of functionality. More than storage space, kitchen islands can also provide open counter space for food preparation or can be used as a gathering place with comfortable seating.
Maximize Function with a Modern Butler’s Pantry
If you love the look of a kitchen without upper cabinets but still need ample storage, a butler’s pantry offers the best of both worlds. Originally used for storing silverware, fine china, and serving dishes, the modern butler’s pantry has evolved into a versatile secondary kitchen space. It’s the perfect spot to store small appliances, bulk pantry items, or even to prep meals out of sight—freeing your main kitchen from clutter while preserving that clean, minimalist feel.
This hidden gem can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be. Even a small walk-in space or built-in nook off the kitchen can be transformed into a functional pantry with custom base cabinetry, floating shelves, and task lighting.
With the right layout, your butler’s pantry can become an organizational powerhouse that complements your no-uppers kitchen beautifully
Key Takeaways: The Appeal of Kitchens Without Upper Cabinets
- Open Up Your Kitchen Design: Removing upper cabinets creates a brighter, more spacious feel, perfect for small or modern kitchens.
- Streamline Storage with Smarter Solutions: Maximize lower cabinet space with drawer organizers, pull-outs, and Bertch’s Base Super Organizer.
- Minimize Clutter, Maximize Style: Cutting upper cabinets encourages thoughtful storage habits and a cleaner, minimalist kitchen aesthetic.
- Incorporate Floating Shelves for Style and Function: Open shelving adds airiness while offering accessible, design-forward storage.
- Add a Kitchen Island or Butler’s Pantry for Extra Storage: Balance your design with functional additions that preserve modern style.
- Customize with Bertch Cabinetry: Explore our tailored base cabinets, islands, and floating shelves to bring your no-uppers kitchen to life.
See How Bertch’s Custom Cabinets Can Transform Your Kitchen
Removing the upper cabinets in your kitchen is ultimately a matter of your desired aesthetic and how you want to best utilize the space available to you.
Whether you’re reimagining your entire kitchen or just exploring new ways to elevate the look, our Bertch showrooms are a great place to start. Come in to see design ideas up close, explore material options, and connect with a designer who can help bring your vision to life
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