Top 10 Tips for Open Kitchen Shelves
There are many visual reasons for using Open shelves in your kitchen. I thought seeing as its becoming more popular I would explain the top 10 Tips for making Open shelves work for you. Before we get in to it can I tell you 2 things.
Open shelves will work in a Large space to add personality and create a visual viewing point in what can be a sea of cabinetry that can sometime feel never ending.
Open shelving can work in small Kitchens because overhead Cabinetry can feel over powering and heavy.
Now for my tips
1. Use Pigeon hole shelves If you are not naturally talented at design and decor. This will help you keep the space clean lined.
2. Make your Open shelves your wall art and leave air beneath to add a sense of space.
3. Keep your shelves organised in “like” items, this will keep your space from looking cluttered and “messy”
4. Keep your colour pallet simple but add textures for effect.
5. Take your shelf cabinetry to the ceiling to add height. This works best in a large Kitchen space.
6. Make your shelves out of timber if your kitchen colours are all cold and sterile. This will add warmth and texture and bring in that winning natural element.
7. If your not a huge fan of open shelves but think you would like to dip your designer toe in. Make your bottom cabinetry open and see how it works for you. Adding artwork does help give it that designer touch.
8. Consider the top shelf of your shelf stack the “display” shelf. Use it to house your vignette pieces or taller vases and decorative “bits and pieces”. Do not overstock and the placement should be considered.
9. Keep your shelves the same colour as the walls behind for the appearance of your items floating thus making the space feel less busy.
10. Use your shelves sparingly to simply be “usable” rather than decorative.
Lastly, you will have to remember open shelves can catch dust and whatever you place on these shelves needs to be considered as easily removable for cleaning and dusting and you will also never want to overfill your shelves.
I love open shelves but the only downside is when you have unexpected guests, where do you shove all the mess in?? :)
I agree the most annoying thing about open shelves is the dust! I like the pidgeon hole style as you say its easier to style everything in the cubes. I love these kitchens :)
Leave space on the shelves. Who knew? All my life the shelves held all the stuff there was no other place for. Just this month I finished building a log cabin and I put open shelves in and I don’t have stuff to put on them. Lordy. So off to estate sales but buying with restraint I have started the artful approach and now, just what you said, space left over means everything looks purposeful. Who knew? I’m quite excited buy this new look. Love your blog. Ann
It is good to have tips for an open kitchen shelves.
Newer Gold Coast homes whose owners are our clients at some points have lovely open shelves and most of them used the shelves as wall art to make their house look spacious, yet more hip and blends well with the rest of the house.