24 Stylish & Functional: Open Shelving Ideas for Your Kitchen

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Many people are hesitant to install open shelving in the kitchen, fearing it will end up looking cluttered. But you can make your kitchen feel more open, airy, and updated by replacing some or all of your upper cabinets with open shelving that can be just as functional with the right organization and maintenance.

When designing your kitchen storage, choose open shelving in a similar material or color as base cabinets or countertops, or add contrast with a different finish. Style open shelving with essential items such as glassware, dishes, and tableware or cookware, moving lesser used items into base cabinets or pantry. Mix in decorative items like plants or display-worthy serving bowls or to turn your open shelving into an eye-catching display space.

Whether you’re planning a full-scale remodel or a small makeover, check out these open shelving kitchen ideas that will breathe new life into your space.

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    Embrace Rustic Wood

    rustic farmhouse kitchen with open shelving
    Becca Interiors

    Floating shelves in a farmhouse-style kitchen are often made from stained or reclaimed wood, which looks great in most spaces. These wooden shelves are given some additional rustic flair with wire hooks supporting each shelf, ultimately supported by the exposed wooden beam ceiling above.

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    Accent With Open Shelving

    open shelving kitchen
    Tyler Karu Design

    In many instances, open shelving surrounds a range hood evenly on both sides so the entire look feels symmetrical and balanced. However, consider switching up your kitchen storage by instead opposing some open shelving with hanging storage.

  • 03of 24

     

    Create an Open Pantry

    kitchen island with open shelving
    Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

    If you have spare space in your kitchen—whether that be a wall or even a kitchen island–but no pantry, install open shelving to make your space more functional. This project will help you keep a more organized pantry, and the visibility will help you know exactly how much you have left of certain dry goods.

    43 Kitchen Pantry Ideas For Smarter Storage
  • 04of 24

     

    Remove Cabinet Doors

    open shelving kitchen
    Arbor & Co.

    The easiest way to update your kitchen without going through an entire remodel is to remove the doors from existing cabinets. To add more of a wow factor, consider painting the interior of your cabinets in a different color.

    25 Painted Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
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    Embrace Symmetry

    modern open shelving kitchen ideas
    Calimia Home

    A pair of chunky wood open shelves on either side of the kitchen sink is a convenient place to keep everyday dishware visible and accessible. Calimia Home created a symmetrical arrangement on opposite sides of the window above the sink, hanging wall sconces above the shelving to provide an extra layer of lighting. The natural wood shelves adds warmth against the bright white backsplash tile.

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    Create a Coffee Bar

    open shelving coffee bar in kitchen
    Becca Interiors

    If you wake up every morning in need of a cup of coffee, consider using open shelving to create a coffee bar in your kitchen. This project can be as simple as adding a couple of open shelves above the coffee pot or espresso machine at the end of the main countertop or in a niche as seen here.

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    Pair Glass and Brass

    glass open shelves with brass hardware
    Jessica Nelson Design

    Open shelving isn’t limited to farmhouse style. There are numerous ways you can design shelves to fit in with your aesthetic. For a more modern look, consider gold and brass finishes in more geometric patterns, and opt for glass instead of wooden shelves to lighten up the look.

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    Maximize Open Shelf Space

    floating shelves with blue kitchen cabinets
    Studio Peake

    In most traditional kitchen layouts, there is a shorter cabinet placed above the sink. To create a more airy feel, remove that cabinet and opt for a couple of well-placed shelves instead. This area can be an ideal storage space for dish soaps and anything you don’t mind being exposed to moisture from the sink. It can also work in your favor to set shelves higher up to store glasses, mugs, and other decor that you want to display. Many houseplants will thrive in this location.

  • 09of 24

     

    Install Corner Shelves

    open shelving retro kitchen
    Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

    It’s easy enough to run open shelving along an entire wall and stop it at the end. Instead, consider creating a right angle and making use of the corner space, too. Since most corners are relatively hidden from view, you can use this space for microwaves and other less attractive kitchen appliances and gadgets. You can also opt for items that aren’t used as often, to keep those corners covered.

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    Play With Styling

    Kitchen shelf styling
    Cathie Hong

    Perhaps the most fun and challenging part about open shelving is the styling. Once you get the hang of how items group together, styling becomes easier and more enjoyable. Keep your color palette simple for a more streamlined look. Add in greenery using houseplants with differing textures for a mood-boosting dose of greenery.

    When styling open kitchen shelves, use items of varying heights so that your eye is drawn across the entire shelf.

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    Fill Gaps With Open Shelves

    small kitchenette with floating shelves
    Arbor & Co.

    When working with a small kitchen or kitchenette space, open shelving can do wonders to add much-needed storage options—especially in the form of wooden shelves that take up far less space than bulky cabinets. This works especially well with uniquely shaped spaces, like a slanted roof or half-wall.

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    Back Shelves With Wallpaper

    floating wooden shelves with decorative wallpaper behind
    Casa Watkins Living

    While minimalist styles and color schemes certainly have their place, there isn’t anything wrong with adding plenty of color and pattern into the mix. Open shelving placed against a radiant backdrop, like this bright wallpaper, is a simple way to add a burst of color to your kitchen, while also displaying all the items that you need.

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    Contrast Dark and Light

    symmetrical floating shelves in kitchen
    Ashley Montgomery Design

    Pair dark painted walls and base cabinets with light wood open shelving to create contrast. Accent with white and use symmetry to tie the design together.

  • 14of 24

     

    Vary Open Shelving Options

    green kitchen with small island and open shelving
    Burchard Design Co.

    Open shelving can mean anything from doorless cabinets to wall-mounted floating shelves to open shelving on a hutch, china cabinet, bookshelf, or kitchen island. Mix open and closed throughout your kitchen to keep it interesting.

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    Try a Standalone Shelf

    open freestanding shelf kitchen
    House of Chais

    A stand-alone shelf is a flexible way to add extra space to showcase decorative items, as well as smaller essentials like coffee cups and salt and pepper shakers. It’s an affordable solution for renters, too.

  • 16of 24

     

    Mix Open Shelf Styles

    kitchen with wooden drawers and open shelves
    Jules Interiors

    Don’t feel the need to limit the types of shelving in your kitchen—there are so many options to choose from. Pairing a floating shelf with open door shelving, like this marble kitchen, is a great way to make the most of your space without sticking to just one concept.

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    Create Unity

    black and white open shelving kitchen
    Leclair Decor

    Open shelves are a great way to create symmetry and balance in your space. Additionally, they can work exceptionally well in creating unity in multiple spaces throughout your kitchen. The set of six floating wooden shelves shown in this kitchen already provides plenty of storage and looks great in the process. Using the same floating shelves on the home bar creates cohesion.

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    Maximize Open Shelf Space

    open shelving farmhouse kitchen ideas
    M Starr Design

    Rather than spacing out your open shelves, keeping them close together creates a cozy atmosphere while keeping everything you need within reach. Opting for smaller shelves to fill smaller areas, while having wraparound options for those corner spaces, keeps everything looking sleek and cohesive.

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    Pair Open Shelves With Tile

    floating shelves with white tile kitchen
    Margaret Wright Interior + Lifestyle Photography

    From a decorating perspective, floating shelves work well with essentially any theme. For a clean modern look, try pairing wooden shelves with white tile.

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    Let Open Shelves Blend In

    black and gray kitchen with open shelving
    Margaret Wright Interiors + Lifestyle Photography

    For an understated look, try matching your shelving to the color of your walls. This deep charcoal kitchen has floating shelves on one end that virtually fade into the background.

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    Pair With Hanging Storage

    orange kitchen pots hanging from ceiling
    Mary Patton Design

    Use open shelving to store small items like dishware, cookbooks, and small decor items. Hang your collection of pots and pans from a central hanging rack to free up cabinet and shelving space while creating a unique focal point.

    What Is Behind Drywall: Guide to Wall Studs and Framing
  • 22of 24

     

    Style With Neutrals

    minimalist open shelving kitchen ideas
    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

    Style open shelving with dishware and objects in neutral tones to create a soothing and uncluttered feel. Soften a minimalist kitchen by adding a vase of flowers or a small stack of cookbooks to the counter below, and add a mini vase on the shelves to tie it together, like this space from Cathie Hong Interiors.

    Group similar items in clusters of three for a harmonious look.

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    Accent With Black

    open shelving modern kitchen
    Alvin Wayne

    In this bright kitchen from interior designer Alvin Wayne, chunky wood floating shelves are paired with white kitchen base cabinets. A few black accents on the floating shelves echo the black kitchen cabinetry hardware and window frames for a cohesive feel.

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    Try Rounded Open Shelves

    open shelving with rounded corners kitchen
    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

    Maximize an empty sliver of space at the end of kitchen cabinetry with open shelving. Cathie Hong Interiors installed open shelving with rounded corners that creates an elegant transition between the cabinets and the window. The shelves are made from the same wood as the cabinets for a polished feel.

 

Is open shelving in the kitchen a good idea? 

Open shelving is a good idea in the kitchen for those who want to keep everyday items visible and accessible or to display decorative objects. You can make a kitchen feel more open and airy by skipping upper cabinetry and installing floating shelves instead.

While open shelving is a good idea for those who are neat and tidy and enjoy styling them, open shelving can lead to clutter for those who lack organizational skills. Also keep in mind that open shelving will need to be dusted and cleaned more frequently than closed cabinetry that is protected from dust and grime by cabinet doors.

 

Do open shelves get greasy? 

Open shelves can get greasy, dirty, and dusty without regular maintenance. You will have to wipe them clean more often than closed shelving protected by a cabinet door in order to keep your kitchen sparkling clean. Installing a powerful range hood will help prevent grease build-up but not eliminate it entirely.

 

Which is more affordable, open shelves or kitchen cabinets?

Open shelves are typically more cost-effective than kitchen cabinets. While open shelving requires fewer materials and is simpler to install, it demands more maintenance to keep it clean and dust-free, and generally provides less storage capacity than cabinets.

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