Why are you not leaving it empty ?

You could do almost anything up there. I like the idea of plants, that sounds like a great plan! If you want to secure them, you could do something as simple as some brad nails though the planters and into the top, or using command adhesive strips might give you enough security.

How about nothing? IMO, It's important to have space around a visual focal point, and allow the eye to "rest." This is related to the concept of "negative space" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_space),

In this case, allowing for some negative space would provide the illusion of height. Filling the space will visually bring your ceiling lower. I suggest leaving it clean.

NOTHING!!! please leave the space empty... you kill the whole modern built-in look if you junk it up with stuff on top

LED strips to add some ambient light into the room.

nothing. clean and simple. and if you are in earthquake country be sure to strap the units to the wall behind!

I think you'll find that painting the wall will eliminate the need for any additional decorative items. The white shelving against the gray wall will be eye-catching enough.

I have a similar situation in my new apartment -- a row of Expedits with about 8 inches of overhead clearance. I'm planning to with a line of shoebox-sized storage boxes across the top.

You could do baskets or bins, too, because it looks like you've got more space overhead.

If you do want to make a display on top of the units you need to add some visual interest; at the moment it is too 'uniform'. Find one large framed piece of artwork you really like, then add a couple of plants and a few smaller artworks or treasured pieces. Good luck!

We had that same problem. We eventually settle on a row of frames like in this pottery barn image.

I live in a loft, and use my expedit as a wall/divider. I, too, wasn't sure what to put on top and because I need extra storage for books, I removed the basket/containers from inside the cubbies and simply placed them on top.

This looks pretty neat because it extends the unit a little higher, also adds some color. (I have the 4 x 4 cubby unit and some bright blue fabric containers specifically for Expedit from IKEA) I store lighter weight items inside the containers since they are up high.

Another option: You could hang plants from your ceiling to get the same LOOK as setting them on the unit, but without the fear of them toppling off in the event of an earthquake. Hang plants low enough that it appears they are sitting on top. Those ivy type pothos plants would be lovely and as they grow would fill in nicely.

I do agree with the other users as well, though. You could simply leave it empty. Would look lovely with the gray.

If you want to fill that space consider one long object hung horizontally -- an oar -- perhaps not modern enough for the room. Paint a long single thick stripe over it? Christian Liaigre does that in his il de re cottage -- I can't find pictures online. House Beautiful wrote about it in 1998. A long piece of flag bunting? I have a cool one from WWII, used to decorate homes to welcome back soldiers. If you want something up there but still want it to be clean, think long and slender -- really use the space. An obi? (the sash to a kimono). A length of plumbers pipe afixed to the walls with elbow joints and flanges with something decorative hanging off it at regular intervals? I saw a mini version of this using a foosball stick.. the kind with the little men players on it..
pamh
howtorunyourlife.blogspot.com

leave it empty.

I've got a triple ikea stockholm bookshelf unit in my flat and I keep the bottom shelf, top shelf and top empty to frame everything in and make sure everything looks neat and not cluttered.

In my opinion one should always try to avoid putting stuff on top of high storage units, whether they are kitchen cabinets, wardrobes or bookshelves.

I don't know if it would work in your home but... on top of my expidit I have a collection of globes.

They are all different (different makers, different years) but have a cohesive visual presence. They add interest and can hold their own on top of the large expedit.

Of course, I had a collection of globes already (I really like geography) but I am sure you could pick some up at garage sales and second hand stores.

i had the same issue with mine (mine was shorter so leaving it empty on top was not an option). there is actually a flickr album dedicated to photos of how people have used their expedits. there are some great examples on there that i used for inspiration.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/expedit/

hang plants from the ceiling directly above the unit, then run some lights in the corner between the expedit and the wall that will cast interesting shadows from the plants!

I also vote for "Nothing."

Another vote for leaving it empty. If you really wanted to use the top, you could put a row of nice square storage boxes, a la this felt file box from CB2.

http://www.cb2.com/storage/accessories/felt-file-box/f6492

I have a unit like this and I put my collection of globes on top. they are lightweight (except one, which I screwed into the unit for stability) You can pick them up at flea markets, stores, etc. Some of mine are vintage, some are silly (clear and filled with glitter) and some are just COOL looking. Try something thats large but not heavy. Maybe learn how to make balloon animals and put new ones up every week? :)

Yeah, I'm with the 'nothing' group :-)
I have that exact Expedit dividing the living room and kitchen. While I do have my collection of Fenton Milk Glass displayed on top, I have a lot of cubbies that are empty; kind of opposite of what you're doing.

Nothing.

No visual clutter; keep everything contained inside the unit.

an additional row of shelve storage

Nothing! But can you tell me where I can find those curtains?

Nothing. You don't have to fill every possible area of your home with stuff!

I small prints from a local artist vertically (there are six of them above my 1 Expedit unit).

http://underwatercondo.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-camera-new-photos.html

Pamh, I love the way you're thinking!! I hadn't thought along those lines before. At this point I'm thinking I'll ponder the hanging plant idea for awhile and also play with some of pamh's ideas...but keep 'em coming!

I hesitate to keep it blank because the negative space is pretty large and it is THE view from the sofa. I don't really want just massive amounts of books to be what I look at in the living room, but maybe once we paint the wall, I'll think differently.

We just downsized our house (went from renting to owning) so all of our books and electronics which used to be in their own room/den, are now forced to be in the living room - so filing each shelf was necessary (we already purged an equal number of books). I was hoping we'd have some blank display cubes for interesting objects, but we'll have to part with more books for that to happen.

Thanks everyone!

Britwash, I actually made them. I designed the fabric on spoonflower.com and then did a quick hem.

You can buy it through them - unfortunately, its pretty pricy to get the upholstery weight fabric, but I love it and it was cheaper than alternatives that I loved in stores.

http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/537636

nothing

Nothing should be on top. That may be why it is so difficult to find anything. The direction of the eye should be toward what is IN the bookcase.

You could hang groupings of those little glass globes from CB2 from the ceiling with air plants inside of them.

another vote for NOTHING.

hi, Im in New Zealand and we have had (more than) our share of earthquakes lately.
I would be more concerned about the whole thing falling over in an earthquake. You can braket it to the wall. IKEA sells L brackets as do most hardware stores. Im assuming you are in California?
also you can buy rubber sheeting at $2 shop and hardware stores, this really stops things moving around, you could put it under the planters, if you planned to have them on top of the Expedit.
It would be hidden from view anyway as you onkly need it under the base. We are using it here for microwaves and things that could come down in another big quake.
From a balance perspective I also like the idea someone mentioned of hanging plants from the roof, gives you a bit more space for them to grow downwards. SILVER FALLS DICHONDRA is a beautiful silvery creeping plant that seems to grow happily without constant sunlight, you can see a picture of it here http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/annuals/dichondra.html
I have it outside under shelter in the winter and it seems happy in all conditions.
good luck! love the curtains. cheers

Chalk another up for Team Nothing.

It is well bracketed - thanks for everyone's concerns! We have a toddler, so EVERYTHING is tied down :)

long mirror of piece of art to balance the cubbies

You could still go with plants and use museum wax to anchor them. The stuff really works. http://www.aftosa.com/museumwax.html

Don't put anything up there.

BTW, can you share your source for those curtains? Did you make them? Thanks for sharing!

Hi, @Drcourt777, I did make them myself. I couldn't find fabric I loved in those colors for anywhere near an affordable price so I designed it myself on spoonflower. You can buy my design there, or design your own! It wasn't cheap to buy the upholstery fabric ($32 a yard), but I'm really happy with the quality of the fabric and how the print turned out.

My design is here:
http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/537636

i like the idea of plants - you could use museum wax (like stiff silly putty) to fasten them.

Nothing.

Angle your sofa, instead.

Lighting or nothing.

I use an expedit as a room divider in my studio, where I have no over head lighting. I bought some table lamps from Ikea and put them on top of it, and they light up my whole space. I also put up three large visually interesting candle holders. It's sparse, not cluttered and functional.

Watering plants on top of a shelf is a hassle.

nothing!

I like to look at IKEA's website for inspiration and ideas. At their living room page (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/tools/livingroom_rooms_ideas), you see the usual frames/artwork, vases, and boxes on top. I would think white storage boxes (keep your photos up in there?) or keep your framed photos but maybe in different lighter frames. But because the bookcase is very high, maybe just some small vases, or install lights to overlook the books at night?

Paint it the color you want and then paint a design with a glossy version of the wall color?

Nothing is fine. More books with a cute set of bookends would be OK too! Or a couple of elegant desk lamps or library type lamps to give some lighting there.

I think a lovely, not too busy collection would be great. I like the idea of globes, but maybe guitars would be nice, too.