Accessorize Your Kitchen in Minutes with Open Shelving

If your kitchen could use a mini makeover but you don't have the time or budget for a full remodel, open shelving just might be the perfect solution. Ditching those cabinet doors for a set of floating shelves or open cabinets provides an easy way to instantly enhance your kitchen's style and storage.

Exposed shelving creates visual interest, allows you to display your best cookware and serveware, and enables everything to be right at your fingertips. No rummaging through cabinets to find what you need! Read on to discover why open shelving is ideal for accessorizing your kitchen and how to pull off this trending look.

Pros of Open Shelving for Accessorizing

Visual Appeal

One of the biggest perks of open shelving is the aesthetic appeal. Removing those cabinet doors creates a lighter, airier look in your kitchen. The items on display add personality and dimension to the wall space. Open shelving has a casual, rustic vibe perfect for farmhouse style kitchens. Or go for an industrial modern feel with iron pipe brackets and reclaimed wood.

Since your best wares are visible, it's the ideal chance to showcase pretty dishes, gleaming glassware, and colorful cookware. If you have collections of vintage kitchenware or charming ceramic pieces, open shelving lets you exhibit these so they can be appreciated.

Convenient Accessibility

No more fumbling to open and close cabinet doors every time you need a mixing bowl or spatula. Open shelving means everything is instantly within arm's reach. Simply glance at your organized shelving unit and grab what you need. This saves time spent hunting through cabinets and drawer. Open shelving also enables you to arrange items based on frequency of use.

The flexibility of open shelving means you can customize your storage system any way you like. Adjust shelves to fit large platters and pots or make narrow shelves for spices. This convenience is especially helpful for those with disabilities limiting their mobility.

Storage and Organization

While it may seem counterintuitive, open shelving can actually increase your storage capacity. You can fit more dishes and cookware when they're creatively stacked and arranged. Going doorless also eliminates wasted space between cabinets. This gives you more real estate to work with for maximizing every inch.

The visual nature of open shelving also promotes better organization. When everything is out in the open, you're motivated to keep items neatly grouped and tidy. Utilize baskets, bins, or containers to corral small goods like spices, packets, and baking supplies. Think outside the cabinet and get creative with your storage solutions.

Tips for Styling Open Shelves

Choose Items Wisely

When styling open shelving, be selective about what you display. Reserve these shelves for your prettiest and most frequently used dishware, glassware, and cookware. Everyday plates, bowls, mugs, and pans are ideal. Stow away any chipped or outdated items.

Use coordinating baskets, bins, jars, or other organizers to corral loose items like utensils, spices, or packaged goods. This keeps things tidy. A mix of open and enclosed storage looks most cohesive.

Collections, cookbooks, and decorative items also make excellent shelf candy. Just be sure to curate the items so your shelves don't become cluttered.

Arrange with Purpose

Carefully arrange your open shelves according to usage, size, or visual theme. Place items you use most often at the front and items used less frequently toward the back. Group like items together - mug collections, mixing bowls, baking pans.

Create mini vignettes by displaying a pretty teapot next to coordinating mugs or stacking dishes and bowls. Picture how you'd style a shelf if you were photographing your kitchen for a magazine - keep things coordinated yet casual.

Alternate open shelving with sections of closed cabinetry for a balanced look. Glass doors on wall cabinets enable you to still display special pieces without exposing everything.

Edit Ruthlessly

When deciding what to place on open shelves, be utterly choosy. Only display your best and most beautiful items. Anything that's chipped, cracked, rusted, or an eyesore should be hidden away in enclosed storage.

While it may be tempting to use all that open space, don't clutter your shelves. Pare down to the essentials so items can be appreciated individually. Remember: less is more. Aim for an uncrowded, curated look.

DIY Open Shelving Ideas

One of the best aspects of open shelving is that it can often be done as an easy DIY project. If you're willing to roll up your sleeves, there are many budget-friendly ways to add open shelving without the high cost of a kitchen remodel.

Shelving Units

Freestanding units are one of the simplest options. Choose ready-made shelf units or floating wall-mounted shelves from stores like IKEA. For a custom look, have shelves cut to size from reclaimed wood or stained planks.

Get creative using found items like retro wooden crates, galvanized tins, or even salvaged ladders. Iron pipe shelving made from plumbing pipe and fittings is a hot trend. Or try industrial wire storage units featuring crisscrossed metal.

Placement Tips

Flexible shelving units can be situated in various spots to best suit your space. Look for gaps between existing cabinetry you can fill in. Place floating shelves high on walls above countertops or low near the stove for spices. An island or peninsula is ideal for open shelving to define the area.

Near a window is perfect to illuminate your pretty dishware. Just be mindful that sunlight can fade items over time. Also avoid placing open shelves right above the sink or range where they'll get grimy.

Budget-Friendly Hacks

If new shelving isn't in your budget, get the open look by removing doors from existing cabinetry. For a partial update, take off just one or two lower cabinet doors near the stove or sink.

DIY your own "faux" open shelves using decorative contact paper made to look like woodgrain. Cut to size and adhere directly onto cabinet surfaces. Peel off whenever you feel like a change!

Even a few strategic changes like removing a couple cabinet doors or adding floating shelves can make a noticeable impact. Take small steps to gradually incorporate open shelving in your kitchen.

Open shelving allows you to instantly access, organize, and display your most used and beautiful kitchen items. Ditching those cabinet doors creates visual appeal and a lighter, airier look. Arranging your wares on open shelves makes accessorizing your kitchen a breeze.

Open shelving keeps your space tidy. This doorless cabinet solution can also maximize storage capacity through creative use of vertical space. Ready for an instant mini kitchen makeover? Install open shelving to access and showcase your favorite kitchen accessories in minutes.