One inescapable feature of kitchen wall cabinets: the long, open soffits that run across the tops of the cabinets. Cabinet soffits are, at best, dark spaces that need aesthetic attention. At worst, open cabinet soffits eat up valuable storage space.
The soffits problem begins with ceilings: most are 8 feet high, minimum. Some homes are fortunate enough to come with generously elevated 10-foot ceilings. High ceilings and humans do not mix. Comfortable height for most people to reach items in cabinets is between 5 and 6 feet. Beyond 6 feet, the stretch becomes more uncomfortable. Most shorter people simply cannot reach that top shelf without the help of a stool or a grabbing device.
By comparison, cabinet soffits hover in the stratosphere. Their height begins at 6 1/2 feet or 7 feet, too high to be usable for most people. As a result, cabinets soffits get overlooked. Ignored soffits collect dust, cobwebs, insects, and even vermin. What can be done to turn this dead zone into an area that better integrates with the rest of the cabinetry and the rest of the kitchen as a whole?
Source: The Spruce
