Open Shelving Kitchen Organization: Stylish Solutions

The Revolution of Open Shelving

Simply put, open shelving is just shelving without any hidden cabinets or doors. However, it goes much beyond simple open storage. It’s a statement piece of design that may completely alter the appearance and atmosphere of your kitchen.

Advantages of Open Shelving

Open Shelving has many benefits:

• It adds charm and personality to your kitchen.
• The open feel can make tiny kitchens appear larger.
• You can use it to showcase your favorite dishes and decor.
• It is quicker and easier to get to commonly used items.

Cozy Farmhouse Kitchen with Open Shelving

As an example, we can use a light-filled, spacious kitchen featuring white walls and a big farmhouse sink. Two rows of reclaimed wood shelves surround the sides of the sink, holding an assortment of antique white bowls and pitchers. One shelf is lined with mason jars containing dry goods, and another is stacked with a combination of wooden cutting boards, jars and white bowls. This easy yet stylish usage of open shelves instantly exemplifies a rustic, chic aesthic by creating a cozy and welcoming space.

Creative Ideas for the Open Shelving in Your Kitchen

Material Matters

The type of material that you decide on for your shelves can set the style of your kitchen. Below are some popular options:

1. Wood: Wood works well for a warm, rustic feel or even a minimal look. Think reclaimed barn wood or sleek maple. For example, in a modern farmhouse kitchen, thick pine shelves with a dark stain create a striking contrast against white subway tiles.

Related Article: Elevate Your Style with Roman Shades for Kitchens 

2. White: White is an option for a modern, minimalist look. It looks great for smaller kitchens as it doesn’t visually weigh down the space and blends in more with the background. A modern kitchen would look great with floating white shelves. You can showcase a collection of colorful of dishes. This can add pops of color to an otherwise neutral space. Or keep it neutral and monotone.

3. Metal: Metal can give you that industrial look. Stainless steel or wrought iron can add an edgy touch. For example, in a loft-style kitchen, black iron pipes and fittings support wooden planks, creating an industrial inspired shelving system that can hold anything from dishes, to cookbooks, to potted herbs.

4. Marble: For a touch of luxury, marble shelving might work for you. It’s particularly striking in traditional or high-end contemporary kitchens. A single slab of white marble can serve as an open shelf above a kitchen’s coffee station, holding espresso cups and a vintage coffee grinder.

Styling Open Shelving

Now that you have decided on your shelves, it makes an impact on your kitchen to style them a bit.  Below are some tips to keep in mind:

• Combine related pieces for a cohesive look.
• To prevent visual clutter, stick to a limited color palette.
• Combine ornamental and practical items.
• Include some greenery by using succulents or little potted herbs.
• For a unique touch, put cookbooks or framed artwork on display.
• Employ a range of sizes and heights to produce visual interest.
• Add bins or baskets to hold smaller items.

Arranging Your Items on the Shelves

Arranging your items can seem challenging.  Begin by, sorting your items that you would like to place by size. Then, take a look at your biggest items.  Try to place these first as anchor pieces on your shelves. Next, add the medium sized items to the shelves.  Use medium sized items to fill in the gaps between the large items. Lastly, place your small accessories.  The small accessories can be used to add color and texture to the display.  Make sure that you step back and take a look from a distance. Look at your shelves from different angles and make adjustments as needed.

Themed Displays: Stylish and Practical

Create some cute little sections on your shelves for added functionality and decoration:

• Coffee Corner: group mugs, a french press and coffee beans to make your space feel cafe inspired.

A coffee corner can be as simple as a rustic wooden shelf that holds a variety of antique coffee cups, a simple espresso machine and glass jars with different beans to prepare. You can add a light hearted, small-framed chalkboard that describes popular coffee drinks.

• Baking Central: store your kitchenaid mixer, measuring cups and favorite cook books in one spot.

A baking area could be white shelves with kitchenware, including a stand mixer, measuring spoons and cups, as well as glass canisters holding flour and sugar. Books filled with recipes for baking can be placed there, held up by stylish bookends.

• Tea Time: Create a vignette using different teas, a teapot and some dainty cups.

A glass front cabinet can be turned into open shelving for display of a set of vintage teapots, bone china cups, saucers and small tins containing loose leaf tea is perfect for tea needs. The lower shelf is perfect for tea party storage, complete with a silver tray.

• Pasta Station: Dedicated pasta prep storage for the Italian food lover.

Tall glass vessels can fill a wooden shelves, each harboring distinct pastas from around Italy — and also, the most essential tools for making fresh pesto (a marble mortar and pestle). The rest of the shelving can store smaller pretty jars of dried herbs and a pasta machine as well.

Practical Considerations for Open Shelving Success

Since the shelving is open, safety should also be considered.  Use sturdy brackets and anchors that will fully hold the items on the shelves.  Be careful placing items and try to place heavier items on lower shelves to prevent accidents when taking them down. Ensure items are stable when placing them on the shelving. In earthquake prone areas, you can use museum putty to secure valuables.  If you place items carefully, open shelving can be both practical and visually appealing.

Since everyone will see all the items on the shelves, you will want to keep them really clean. Add cleaning the shelving to your routine. First, wipe down shelves and items on them weekly to remove dust. If it is not noticeable, you can try using shelf liners to make cleaning easier. Also, rotating your items can help with dust accumulation. Be wary of where the shelves are in relation to where you cook to minimize grease buildup and staining.

If you dedicate 15 minutes to cleaning your shelves weekly, they will stay fresh and clean.  You should remove all items once a week and clean each shelf well.  Then, rearrange the items when you place them back.  This will keep your display constantly changing fresh and fun.

Optimizing Storage in a Small Kitchen

Don’t think you can’t add open shelving in a smaller kitchen.  Look for empty nooks and crannies where you can add a small open shelf.  User corners and take advantage of awkward spaces.  Look up and take advantage of vertical space.  Consider standalone open shelving.

Small Kitchen Success Story

Tiny urban apartment kitchens can benefit from open shelving installation.  You can take out upper cabinets.  Then replace them with a series of open shelves.  You can mix the depths the shelves. 

Create a functional area for your different items. You can use clear glass containers for easy access. Try to maintain a color scheme with your items to keep the space feeling aligned. The open shelving will make a tiny space feel twice as large.

Combine Open and Closed Storage in the Kitchen

A mix of both open and closed storage often works the best for most kitchens. Try to create a focal point with the open shelving because it is more of a display. To decide which items to place where, keep everyday items on open shelves for easy access. Use your closed cabinets for less attractive essentials and appliances that you occasionally use.

A good rule of thumb is to aim for about 60% closed storage and 40% open shelving. This balance usually will cover you for all of you kitchen storage items. It allows you to hide away less sightly items while still enjoying the benefits of open shelving.

A great example would be a kitchen with standard lower cabinets. This provides you with your closed storage. You can pick the color of your choice: navy blue, gray or white. Above the countertops, instead of cabinets, install open wood shelving.

This can be used to display everyday dishes, glassware and decorative items. This easy combination creates a space that is both highly functional and looks great too.

Seasonal Items on Open Shelving

One of the great things about open shelving is the ability to change the look of your entire kitchen by just changing out the items on your shelves. You can swap out the dishes with the seasons. For the holidays, you can display festive items on your shelves. Artwork and photos on the shelving can also be changed and added to.

There are so many items that reflect the season that would be perfect for kitchen open shelving. In spring, incorporate pastel dishes, fresh potted herbs or a vase of tulips. Colorful enamelware, mason jars or a bowl of lemons ar some ideas for summer. In fall, bring in warm tones and copper accents. Display amber glassware, small pumpkins and gourds. To bring a cozy feel for winter use white dishes, pine cones in glass jars and even a string of soft lights.

DIY Open Shelving Projects

You can also create your own open shelves with a few materials. A few ideas are below.

1. Floating Wood Shelves ~ Materials needed: Solid wood planks, floating shelf brackets and screws.~ Time: 2-3 hours. ~ Difficulty: Moderate
2. Industrial Pipe Shelving ~ Materials needed: Iron pipes and fittings, wood planks and screws.~ Time: 4-5 hours ~ Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

3. Upcycled Ladder Shelf ~ Materials needed: Old wooden ladder, wood planks, paint or stain, nails, and sandpaper. ~ Time: 2-3 hours (plus drying time) ~Difficulty: Easy

Try to always prioritize safety and proper installation, especially when dealing with heavy items or complex mounting systems.

Overcoming Common Open Shelving Challenges

There are challenges when it comes to open shelving. Dust accumulation can be tough to combat, but using placemats or runners on shelves can simplify cleaning, and making sure that you dust regularly will make sure your shelves look their best. To avoid a cluttered look, you can try to stay in the same color scheme and use matching containers for a more organized aesthetic.

Since the shelves are open, privacy can be a concern. For this, you can store items in your closed cabinets or use decorative baskets on your open shelves to hide items that you would rather not display. The weight of items on the shelves is also something that you need to keep in mind. If you are careful with installation, use sturdy materials, distribute weight evenly, and place heavier items on lower shelves, this should not be a concern.

Finally, losing upper cabinet space can be mitigated by maximizing lower cabinet storage with pull out organizers and lazy Susans, or by adding a pantry cabinet or kitchen island for additional storage options. By implementing these solutions, you can enjoy the benefits of open shelving while managing the drawbacks.

Try Open Shelving

Open shelving is more than just a storage solution.  Open shelving can help you express your personal style and add some character to your kitchen.  You can really make your kitchen feel like you while not eliminating much needed storage.  There is no one approach to open shelving. Experiment, have fun, and don’t be afraid to make it your own. Start small with one or two shelves if you’re unsure, and gradually expand as you become more comfortable with the look.

Whether you’re going for a modern look, cozy farmhouse, or something entirely your own, open shelving can help you add your personal touch to your kitchen. With just few tools and a bit of styling, your kitchen can take advantage of open shelving too!