Open Shelving Kitchen Ideas to Display Your Cooking Equipment
Show off your kitchen gadgets and decor.
You might think that closed cabinets and drawers are the best way to keep your kitchen looking neat, but would you believe there are plenty of open shelving kitchen ideas that work just as well? Keep reading to find the inspo you need to say goodbye to cabinet doors and hello to displaying your cookware style.
1. Make It Match
Use the space on either side of your sink and mount two matching tiered wall shelves to create a pleasantly balanced display. For effortless flow, try to utilize shelf materials that coordinate with nearby fixtures and cabinets and be sure to keep the contents more muted and minimalist. In the image above, the gold shelf frame complements the sink, while the white shelves pair well with the marble countertops – all working harmoniously with the pink wall tiles.
Keep your open shelves bright and illuminated with wall sconces. You'll make the kitchen feel larger while chasing away any shadows found in those nooks and crannies. It will also bring an extra visual element that adds to the excitement of the space. Opt for wall sconces that complement your open shelving setup. In the image above, the three strategically placed gold sconces add warmth to the crisp white shelving and blue tile backsplash.
Try pairing rustic wood picture ledge shelves with a white subway tile for a modern farmhouse aesthetic. In this image, the picture ledge shelves are used to display not only framed art but also small planters, kitchen utensils, and dinnerware. The raised edge also helps to slightly obscure the shelf contents, creating a more limited and neater view.
Speaking of plant life, there is a way for you to show off your green thumb without overwhelming your kitchen. When you extend your shelves across the corner of two walls, you are taking advantage of unused space that is just waiting to display your favorite grows. You can also use these alcoved shelves to stash lesser-used kitchen gadgets and items so they are out of the way but still accessible.
Blend floating shelves with closed cabinets for a more varied aesthetic. The alternating blue cabinets and the wood shelves in this image create a smooth design as each one flows into the next. The combination of open and closed storage allows you to choose which items you want to display and which items you’d prefer to store, helping you cut down on visual clutter and maintain a well-organized kitchen.
If your shelves are going to be more on the maximalist side, try to group similar objects for a harmonious feel. Things like glassware, cutting boards, and dinnerware can all be stored in separate spots along the different shelves. You can also display your cookbooks and even create an open pantry of sorts – just be sure to place your essentials and most-used objects on the lower shelves where they are within easy reach. Since your open shelving takes a maximalist approach, the shelves themselves should be simple. Opt for a streamlined design like wood floating shelves to create a neutral foundation and bring extra warmth into the kitchen.
In a small kitchen, storage space is invaluable – with open shelves providing the most budget-friendly, low-effort, and streamlined option. If you need to store a fair amount of your kitchen essentials on the shelves, you might want to consider using the walls as a decorative feature. Something like the blue patterned wallpaper above is dynamic and eye-catching, making simple white shelves and their contents are secondary to this dramatic addition.
You don't need to stick to shelves alone! Combine your open shelf kitchen storage with a pot rack or rail to hang your pans from too. The kitchen above benefits from the use of stylish containers to store essentials on nearby shelves and a pot rail to hang pans and utensils above the stove. Together, they create practical yet stylish storage against the white subway tile, working to show off your collection of cookware and keep it within close reach.
Your open shelves don't need to be strictly utilitarian. Have a little fun with them and try something like in this image. The six short shelves offer plenty of space to display kitchen items like the red canisters, large bread box, and colorful dinnerware options. When you're styling your shelves, there are a number of things you can do for a more visually appealing effect. Start by grouping items together (sets of three usually works), then varying heights and textures of the objects, and finally, try keeping the color palette vibrant with bright pops here and there.
Not quite ready to install too many open shelves? Start small with a couple of spice racks above your cooking station. To make for an even more aesthetic addition, decant your spices into matching glass jars instead. To make life even more simple, why not opt for a spice rack and jar set to get everything you need in one go?
If you have a blank corner in need of some personality, consider mounting two tiny shelves for decorative purposes only. In this image, the pair of shelves are placed in the top corner of the kitchen and are embellished with books, artwork, and a couple of other purely ornamental touches. This is the perfect place to display that vintage tea set or precious China you'd rather not use. Whatever you prefer, take this chance to showcase your own style!
To bring brightness into your kitchen, try using items with bold, punchy tones for the most dramatic effect. Pick a primary color or two based off of items that are already in your kitchen and play around that. In this image, the three primary colors are used for a color blocking effect. The red bar stool matches thered plates and canisters on the shelves, while the yellow fridge matches the salt and pepper mills and colander. Blue dinnerware and cookbooks are clustered in the corner to balance the warmer hues. Everything else is kept to a bright white tone, which grounds the space and makes for a curated display.
There is no need for an entire revamp when you are adding open shelving to your kitchen. In fact, you will do just fine with one or two small shelves mounted above your food prep area. Not only will you be able to stash at least one space-hogging piece of cookware up there, but you can also display a beautiful dish, vase, or glass of your liking for a personalized touch.
Use open kitchen shelves to make the most of small, awkward, and unused spaces. The wall between fixtures or the area above the refrigerator are both good examples of this, as seen in the above image. You can store anything from cookware to bakeware to standard dinnerware in these spots that would otherwise be wasted.
Recessed and built-in shelves offer a streamlined appearance that blends in seamlessly with your kitchen. If you don't want to go for a full install, you can also mimic this look by installing cubby-like shelves below your upper cabinets. This addition creates a useful spot to store cookbooks, decor, and other small objects.
Tip!
If you need any help with clearing up your cabinets, read Declutter Your Life: How to Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets.
