Many homeowners are rather strange about open shelves. Traditionally, it is believed that shelves should be closed so that the chaos and clutter of your kitchen can be shielded from public eyes. But what if you could expose the chaos while still having a stunning design to showcase?
Open Shelving Design Ideas To Transform Your Kitchen
With the right containment, open shelves can look great and pass for one of the most contemporary and chic design ideas you can use in your kitchen.
At the core, open shelves are used to add space to a rather squeezed kitchen. The openness creates an airy feel, creating the illusion of space and light in the kitchen.
Besides, with an open shelf design, accessing kitchenware and appliances within the kitchen is far easier compared to closed shelves that force you to battle your way through a door before you can get what you want.
This makes open shelves one of the most practical options in a small kitchen layout. But that does not mean they are limited to that place only.
You can take inspiration from a shelf design and use it in almost every other kitchen design you wish to experiment with. And in this piece, we’ll show you a couple that will make your kitchen stand out from the rest.
1. Minimalist Shelves
Minimalism has been a trending kitchen design topic, especially for the modern kitchen. As far as open shelves are concerned, minimalist open shelves are one design you should try.
Minimalist open shelves are based on using little clutter to create a unique open shelves design. Instead of numerous plates, cups, silverware, or anything else that looks busy and squeezed, the minimalist open shelves design uses neatly arranged cups, spoons, and cutlery to create a chic layout for the kitchen.
The rest of the kitchenware can be stored in closed shelving at the bottom. For those shelves, you can experiment with recessed pulls that amplify the minimalism effect you seek in the kitchen.
If you’re going for a country-style kitchen or want to tone down the bold colors you’ve predominantly used in your kitchen design, you should choose rustic open shelves.
These shelves add a rustic touch to a modern or traditional country kitchen.
For instance, if you’re working with a striking contrast of gold, black, and navy, you can install a patterned backsplash with rustic open shelves at the top.
The great thing about this design is that despite toning down the bold contrasts, it still doesn’t distract the view from the original design. Rather, it makes it more unified.
3. Half Shelves
If space is limited, try half shelves as a neat, open-shelving design option. Half shelves work well in a small kitchen with limited space. You can have the shelves installed next to the stove or kitchen hood to store supplies you use while cooking daily.
Does that mean this is a no-no for larger kitchens?
Not really. Half shelves are also meant for homeowners not yet ready to commit to an open shelf design. Thus, you can choose one wall section to install a few rows of half units before fully committing to everything in the open.
4. Glass and Gold Open Shelves
If you want something unique that blends in with the rest of the kitchen hardware simultaneously, you should try out glass and gold open shelves.
Glass and gold open shelves feature glass shelving supported by gold brackets. However, these shelves don’t stand alone. For most of the kitchen, the hardware should carry the same gold tone used in the shelf brackets. This can be the cabinet pulls, hinges, or stove handles.
Overall, this design shines best in a traditional kitchen with subtle contemporary touches. For instance, the stove can be antique, and the glassware and cutlery on the shelves can also be antique.
Pops of color or contrasting colors can add a unique contemporary touch to the kitchen, blending well with the glass shelves.
5. Wood Cubbies
The basic design for most open shelves is a flat board at the bottom supported by wooden or metallic brackets. But why not try something different?
That’s where wood cubbies come in. Wood cubbies are simply cubed shelves with no doors attached. Thus, they inherently have the basic box design of closed shelves, albeit without doors.
These cubbies look amazing in an all-white kitchen with modern, flush cabinetry at the top and bottom.
Wait, you can use closed shelves at the top, too? Yes. Wood cubbies usually serve as extra storage, which you can put on top of your current top shelving.
6. Wood Shelves with Rails
If cubbies don’t look that unique, open shelves with rails might do the trick. These open shelves carry the basic design of common open shelves, albeit with added metallic or wooden rails.
Plus, instead of glaring brackets, most wood shelves with rails feature a floating design, which makes them look chic. They’re also characterized by clean lines and extreme minimalism, making them perfect for a minimalist, modern kitchen.
This design of open shelves is usually used to store glassware and cups. Thus, they’ll commonly be installed next to kitchen sinks, with a matching color tone for the backsplash and the kitchen walls.
7. Light Wooden Panels
If you’re working with limited space in a one-wall small kitchen layout, you should try light wooden panels as an open shelves design option. Unlike regular open shelves, light wooden panels use the wall on both sides of the kitchen to create space for open shelves.
The shelves are creatively installed in an alternating pattern that adds a chic look to the entire setup. The floating shelves are also installed in various lengths to provide visual cues of what you can store on each panel of the shelves.
You can support this design by including a column of closed shelves on both sides of the open shelf panels. This cabinetry can have flush pulls to fully complement the minimalist design the light wooden panels promote.
8. Farmhouse Charm
This open shelving design should be your go-to choice if you’re going for the full farmhouse kitchen experience. The farmhouse charm lets you add a chic charm to your farmhouse kitchen and display the best vintage kitchenware and appliances you have.
These open shelves combine function and flair to create a stunning look. By being open, they create extra room for storage and display, enhancing the décor.
For instance, you can have a striking white and wood-tone kitchen design, with pure white open shelves supported by white wooden brackets. The open space allows you to fit the best of your kitchenware and appliances alongside artwork that will add a bit of décor to the entire layout.
9. Live-Edge Shelves
Most homeowners opt for reclaimed or stained wood to add a rustic touch to most open-shelf designs. But what if you could take this a notch higher and get an even more authentic rustic feel for your kitchen?
That’s where live-edge shelves come in.
Instead of stained or reclaimed wood, live-edge shelves use slabs with visible bark. This creates a rustic feel that can blend nicely with an authentic farmhouse kitchen.
The only downside to this design is that live-edge shelves tend to cost more than reclaimed or stained wood. However, the investment is worth the final look and authenticity these open shelves add to your kitchen.
