How to Decorate Open Shelves
Learn how to decorate open shelves that stay neat and beautiful, while also being functional—the open shelf trifecta!
Photo: Amber Tysl
When redesigning the kitchen in our foreclosure, it's no secret we were down to very little money! Since we knew a) we had an awkward layout and b) we were on a super tight budget, we opted for open shelves rather than upper cabinets. It was obvious cabinets wouldn't fit so even though money was tight, we really didn't have much choice. It took us an entire year to get around to installing two open shelves (but it was very easy using stair treads), and the difference amazed me.
I had heard horror storeys about open shelves looking messy and gathering dust, so I wanted to combat that a bit with some tips on how we make it work for us on a daily basis!
1
GO NEUTRAL
We use all white china and pops of colour for accents. Using white china is versatile and allows for an easy colour change should I want to swap out some of the mint pieces for something new.
Photo: Amber Tysl
Tip! Try this alternative: paint the wall behind the shelves for a bold way to add colour. This will highlight your shelves and create a focal point in the kitchen.
2
Use Everyday Pieces
The plates, bowls, and serving pieces on the shelves are items I use daily! That means there's really no time for dishes to gather dust. Storing coffee mugs here helps break the flat lines of stacked plates and they're another item I reach for every morning.
Tip! Now is the time to purge the items that you never use! The beauty of open shelves is that you can showcase (and access!) the serveware and dishes that you use on a regular basis.
3
Position Within Reach
All of my oft-used pieces are placed at, or right above, eye level, so they're easy to get to when I'm preparing food and serving meals. This also means I'm not climbing all over the place.
Photo: Amber Tysl
Tip! Open shelves remind us of what we already have. How many times have you wondered where that festive platter or antique creamer set ended up? Showcase those items, either year-round or for certain holidays.
https://www.wayfair.ca/dining/pdp/rosanna-decor-bon-bon-cake-stand-rpo1349.html
4
ADD DECOR
On the top shelf there are a few items that serve more as decor. I do tend to reach up there to water the plant or grab a pitcher for water, but it's not every day, which makes this a perfect place to store beautiful additions to the shelves that aren't functional.
Tip! Notice, no large items were placed on top so that if they do happen to get dusty (hasn't been a problem yet), I'm able to easily grab them and rinse them off quickly. It's that simple! These tricks make open shelving beautiful and functional all at once.
Photo: Amber Tysl
