Good news! There’s plenty of room to show off you favorite collection. Better news! It’s also a way to get large pieces off of your countertop or out of storage. Best news! It’s right under your no—oh wait. Actually? It’s right above your cabinets and it’s the perfect spot for creating a bright, personal setting that really warms up your entire kitchen. Need some help? Pull up a step-stool and read on. Because this is going to be fun.

• First Accent Piece: The Tape Measure
• Big Ideas & Big Helpers
• Our Soffit Side

It always helps to measure the space from cabinet-top to the ceiling so you know what will fit.

If you have something taller than that space, maybe it can be tilted against the wall. If you have small pieces that will look dwarfed in that space, you have an excuse to go shopping. We, of course, recommend checking out Pier 1 for trays, serving bowls, chargers, vases and other oversized décor—you’ll find something to fit in perfectly.

Also, stock up on plate easels for all the dishes you want to display. Guess what? Pier 1 has those too.

When we asked our own designers to decorate above a cabinet, they took the assignment in three different directions—fresh & fruity, beach house natural and tropical color. Even though each look is different, you can see the tricks that work for all three displays:

Cool & Collected: This is the place for your favorite collection. Is it novelty plates? Antique cookie jars? Mouth-blown glass bottles? Hand-woven baskets? Put it out there. Your collection is the theme for your display. It’s what makes it special. Best of all, you can fill in any gaps with new purchases. Sounding good already, huh?

Pull it all together: Maybe your theme is a color or material that gets repeated throughout your display. Spots of red unify our tropical vignette. Natural fibers like rattan and wood are repeated in the beach house setting. Or you can arrange garland or ivy along the length of the cabinet top to visually link everything.

Create focal points: Remember, everything will be viewed from a distance so it’s important to have a few bold, oversized items. (Or do what we did: set a tray on end to create height.) Tall items will draw the eye up and become natural focal points. Then you can set smaller pieces in front for an artful arrangement that avoids looking random or too formal.

Make it easy on yourself: For naturally colorful touches, use silk florals and sculptured fruit instead of fresh. This will keep you from having to climb a step stool every couple of days.

In season: We know people who change their entire display with each season. But if you have everything just the way you like it, simply add a few things for an instant update. It could be as easy as mixing in a summer garden lantern, then replacing it with a harvest wreath for autumn. And with Pier 1 holiday décor, you can always find pieces to make your display sparkle.

Click each photo to enlarge.

If you live in an older home, chances are you have soffits—filled-in areas between the tops of cabinets and the ceiling. We think this is no excuse to not decorate. In fact, we think you’re in possession of prime display space.

With some wire plate hangers from the hardware store, you can show off a collection of hand-painted plates or blue & white porcelain. Mix in a wall clock or a small, wrought-iron accent piece. Really, the options are wide open here. Look around Pier 1’s wall décor collection and you’ll get a few new ideas in no time.

Need more tips? Visit your nearby Pier 1, where we’ve got enough helpful hints to fill a basket. Or tray. Or serving bowl. Or a cabinet top.