10 Brilliant Ways to Use Floating Shelves in Your Kitchen
Floating shelves are a popular storage and decor option for today's kitchens. Mounted directly onto walls without visible brackets, these shelves seem to "float" in place to create a clean, modern look. Floating shelves allow you to creatively maximize vertical space while organizing, displaying, and storing kitchen items with style.
From open shelving to tiered displays, floating shelves are a versatile solution for any kitchen. Read on for 10 brilliant ways to incorporate floating shelves into your cooking space.
Open Shelving for Pantry Items
Turn a blank kitchen wall into a functional feature with floating shelves. Use them to neatly store and display pantry staples like oils, spices, packaged foods, and more. Keep items visible and within easy reach while maintaining a tidy look. For a cohesive aesthetic, store items in matching containers in a consistent style and color scheme.
Keep It Organized
Label clear containers to identify contents at a glance. Organize shelves from largest to smallest items so nothing gets lost behind larger jars or boxes.
Maximize Space
Maximize vertical storage space by utilizing shelf risers. These raise jars and containers to create a second tier for additional items.
Dish Storage and Display
Floating shelves are perfect for neatly storing dishes, bowls, and mugs. Opt for deeper shelves to accommodate plates and bowls without them sliding out. Stack dishes by size with larger platters and bowls on lower shelves and smaller items above.
Alternating open and closed shelf styles creates an attractive dish display. Enclosed shelf cabinets can hide less aesthetically pleasing items while open shelves showcase beautiful dish sets and serveware.
Double Your Storage
Use double height shelves to store taller drinkware and vessels that may not fit on standard depth shelves.
Add Lighting
Install floating shelves with built-in LED lighting to beautifully illuminate prized dish collections. The ambient glow becomes a focal point in the kitchen.
Maximizing Corner Space
Take advantage of often underutilized corner areas by installing floating shelves. Corner shelves neatly tuck into 90-degree angles to optimize triangular spaces left empty. Their angled design fits seamlessly into corners.
Use corner floating shelves to store cookbooks, spices, small appliances like a coffee maker or toaster, or frequently used items like knives. The convenient access makes cooking tasks simpler.
Alternate Sizes and Heights
Stagger shelves at different heights in corner areas to maximize vertical storage potential. Vary shelf depths for large and small items.
Add Greenery
Plant succulents, cacti, or herbs on corner floating shelves to bring natural elements into the kitchen. The greenery softens hard lines and adds life.
Mixing Decor and Function
While floating shelves excel at storage, they also provide the perfect platform for displaying decor. For the ultimate kitchen shelves, artfully blend functional everyday items with decorative accents.
Fill shelves with an eclectic mix of cookbooks, plants, artwork, vases, candles, and more. The combination of practicality and style creates an eye-catching focal point.
Add Pops of Color
Brightly colored or patterned jars, containers, and dishware inject personality. Intersperse these vivid accent pieces between neutral kitchenware.
Style It Up
Elevate ordinary jars of spices, oils, and foodstuffs with high-end finishes like bamboo stoppers, fabric tied lids, or custom labels.
Tiered Shelving for Height
Maximize vertical storage and create an interesting focal point using tiered or stacked floating shelves. Risers elevate a second shelf to double the storage and display capacity.
Stagger floating shelves at varying heights, widths, and depths for a dynamic look. Angling shelves attractively displays more items than a flat horizontal line.
Optical Illusions
Using floating shelves of alternating depths adds visual interest and makes walls appear larger. Deeper shelves seem to recede further into the wall space.
Divide by Height
Designate shelf heights for specific items. Use lower shelves for heavier cookware and upper shelves for lighter items or decor.
Open Pot Rack Shelving
Pots, pans, and lids can take up precious cabinet space. Floating shelves provide open storage ideal for large cookware. Mount shelves at varying heights specifically suited to different size pots and pans.
An open rack system makes items easily visible and accessible. Displaying shiny cookware also adds eye-catching metallic accents.
Add Hooks
Incorporate hooks into floating pot rack shelves for hanging utensils. Options like S-hooks allow quick and easy tool storage.
Get Creative
Use a pegboard backsplash and attach floating shelves. The combination adds function and allows you to get creative in designing personalized pot, pan, and utensil storage.
Wall-Mounted Spice Racks
Floating shelves are the perfect foundation for building a spices and seasonings rack. Use them to neatly organize and display your herb and spice collection.
Wall-mounted shelves keep seasoning within arm's reach while cooking. Labeled clear jars make finding the right spice easy.
Match Container Style
Select canisters, jars, or bottles of the same size and color for a cohesive look. This helps the spice rack visually blend into your kitchen's style.
Incorporate Ventilation
Perforated shelf backing allows airflow and prevents moisture buildup that can cause spices to clump.
Breakfast Nook Shelves
Create a dedicated space for mugs, spoons, fruit, and coffee with floating shelves. Install them in a breakfast nook or corner to neatly organize your morning routine essentials.
Floating shelves add quick access storage and allow you to add a personal touch with favorite mugs or decorative accents.
Charging Station
Include outlets or USB ports in breakfast nook floating shelves. They become handy charging stations for phones and other devices.
Get Creative
Incorporate unique materials like chalkboard sheeting or word tiles to allow customized messages each morning.
Floating Ledge for Mail and Keys
Utilize a slim floating shelf installed near the entryway to help keep mail and other items neatly contained. Use it as a landing spot for mail, keys, sunglasses, and anything else coming through the front door.
This catchall shelf prevents clutter from building up and contains it conveniently in one place.
Add Hooks
Incorporate hooks on the edge of the floating entryway shelf for hanging keys, leashes, reusable shopping bags, or hats.
Get Creative
Mount the shelf higher and use wall hooks below for hanging coats, bags, and scarves to keep the entryway organized.
Kids' Rooms for Books and Toys
Incorporate floating shelves into kids' spaces to neatly display books or store toys. Fun colors and playful shapes create shelving that suits a child's room.
Floating shelves prevent clutter on the floor and make cleaning faster. Kids can also easily access books, stuffed animals, and toys on their own.
Display Collections
Give kids a dedicated space to proudly display their treasures. Floating shelves allow them to showcase rocks, shells, trophies, and art.
Get Creative
Paint or decorate basic floating shelves to match the room. Add LED lighting for added fun.
Floating shelves are an exceptional way to maximize space while adding style to your kitchen or any room. Take advantage of vertical wall areas with these creative shelving ideas. Mix and match materials, shapes, sizes and configurations to design storage solutions tailored to your space and needs.
Floating shelves offer the versatility to organize items, provide decor inspiration, and display your favorite things. With endless possibilities, what will you create with your floating shelf design?