Open shelving helps homeowners store dishes, decor, and other frequently used items in an airy space. The furniture is stylish and functional, and offers an opportunity to expand on your kitchen’s existing design scheme. Learn how open shelving can benefit your home below so that you can enrich your everyday cooking experience.
Show Off Kitchen Shelving
Open shelving in the kitchen is more than just a storage solution. It’s an opportunity to display your personality and style, whether you’re showcasing elegant glassware or simple, functional pieces. Ask yourself the questions below to determine whether open shelving is right for you:
- Am I naturally tidy and organized?
- Am I willing to maintain a curated look?
- Do I enjoy displaying my kitchenware?
If you answered yes, This Old House design editor Tisha Leung says you’re ready to invest in open shelving. “It’s a really big step visually, and your whole lifestyle changes,” she says.
1. Ease Into the Style
When you’re transitioning to open shelving, start small and adapt gradually. Leung recommends that homeowners first remove cabinet doors from your kitchen cabinets. This approach allows you to do the following:
- Assess how well you maintain the exposed area
- Determine if the style suits your kitchen’s overall look
- Experience the look and feel of open shelving without a full commitment
This trial period can help you decide whether to expand the open shelving concept throughout your kitchen.
Homeowner Insight: Mikaela Randolph of Los Angeles, who swapped upper cabinets for floating shelves in her kitchen, found an unexpected benefit: “Open shelving means you have accountability—it keeps you from letting things get cluttered.”
2. Avoid a White Background
White kitchens are an enduring trend, but stark white is not the best choice for the space around open shelving. Consider alternatives that add depth and interest to your shelving display, such as the following options:
- Beadboard for a classic, textured look
- Colored walls that complement your kitchen’s color scheme
- Visually interesting textured tiles that you can easily clean
Consider how any potential background will showcase your items and how easily you can clean them. A colored or textured background hides dust more successfully than a white background and provides a beautiful backdrop for your displayed items.
Pro Tip: Deborah Baldwin, writing in This Old House Magazine, notes that “controlled blasts of color at the back, and maybe on the sides too, can be an ideal way to make collectibles and other display items come alive.” Options range from intense jolts of color to soothing neutrals—the key is to keep the rest of the space in mind, whether the goal is to create an accent wall, tie together furnishings, or provide a needed contrast.
3. Fill Bottom Shelves With Functional Items
You should combine function and visual appeal when organizing your shelves. Place the items you use most frequently on the bottom shelves and the more decorative items higher up. This strategy allows you to easily access items you frequently use and prevents clutter.
Open shelving encourages better organization because you can’t cram items into empty space like you might with cabinets. This visibility promotes a more intentional kitchen storage approach.
Pro Tip: Barry Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers, recommends a similar approach: “Store things nearest their point of use; cooking gear should be near the stove, dishes and glasses near the dishwasher.” He also advises placing things you use every day within easy reach and putting less-used items at the back of shelves or in top cupboards.
4. Mix Functional and Decorative Items
Open shelving allows you to blend practical storage solutions with your personal style. Leung encourages a balanced approach. “They don’t all have to be functional pieces,” she says. “Mix functional with an antique find, like a soup tureen or a vintage canister that has a great shape or silhouette. “
To create an engaging display, consider incorporating the following items:
- Cookbooks that feature attractive spines or covers
- Decorative bowls or platters that complement your kitchen’s style
- Everyday kitchenware in attractive colors or patterns
- Small potted herbs or plants
- Vintage or antique kitchen items that add character
5. Tell a Cohesive Design Story
Create a cohesive look that ties into your existing kitchen design but still offers something new. Leung suggests using your favorite items or dishware collections as inspiration for your design story.
Follow the steps below to create a cohesive design story:
- Choose a color theme based on your favorite dinnerware or kitchen accessories.
- Incorporate neutral elements to balance bold colors or patterns.
- Use shapes, colors, or materials repetitively to create visual harmony.
- Consider the overall style of your kitchen when you’re selecting display items.
- Rotate items seasonally to keep the display fresh and interesting.
Implementing Open Shelving in Your Kitchen
When it comes to shelf depth, professional organizers favor shelves no deeper than 14 inches to keep everything front and center, according to This Old House Magazine. This prevents items from getting lost in the back and makes your displays easier to maintain and rearrange.
Once you’ve considered the rules of successful open shelving, you can incorporate this design into your kitchen space. Consider testing the method out with wall-mounted shelves or floating shelves to add open storage without the need for significant renovation.
Keep the following factors in mind when you’re selecting shelves:
- Compatibility with your kitchen’s style
- Ease of installation and maintenance
- Flexibility so that you can easily make adjustments
- Your shelves’ weight capacities
Pro Tip: Annie Mathot, an architect in Staunton, Virginia, endorses the aesthetic appeal of open shelving: “I like the look of kitchen things. They add color and texture.” That said, be prepared to edit your collections and rotate items often, since anything that sits too long on an open shelf tends to collect dust — a reality that’s less of an issue in high-turnover restaurant kitchens than it is at home.
