How To Style Open Kitchen Shelves?

Open kitchen shelves can be a beautiful and functional addition to your kitchen. Open kitchen shelves are the perfect place to display decorative and functional items. From colorful whisks to pretty patterned bowls, you can easily show off your favorite pieces with open shelving.

Achieve balance by alternating stacked plates or smaller items with larger pieces like pitchers or vases. This helps keep the look clean and uncluttered.

Keep It Simple

Open shelves can make your kitchen look bigger and add a lot of personalities. They are also perfect for showing off your favorite pieces and accessories.

When styling open kitchen shelves, it is important to keep them simple. This is because it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the different items on your shelves.

To avoid this, start by clearing out all the things already on your shelves and then only bring in what you need to style them properly. This can be a difficult task but it is worth it once you see how nice your shelves will look with everything organized and neatly grouped together.

One of the best ways to keep it simple when styling your open kitchen shelves is by using a color scheme that you can easily pull out throughout your entire space. For example, you can group all your dishware in a similar color and then mix that with other colors to create a beautiful, cohesive theme.

You can also create a colorful display by adding a variety of glasses, mugs, and cups with fun designs. These items will add a fun, unique touch to your shelves and make it easier for you to find what you need when cooking or cleaning.

Another way to add a decorative touch to your open shelves is by adding some plants. Lush trailing indoor plants are the perfect addition to your open shelving because they will add a natural element to your space and depth and texture to your shelves.

Another option for a more upscale look is choosing a shelf with decorative brackets in a distinctive finish or accent color. For example, you can opt for copper shelves that feel old and storied, or you can go with stainless steel and gold to add a modern flair.

Keep It Clean

Open shelving looks great in kitchen inspiration photos but can also make a space look messy. If you’re planning to style open shelves in your home, make sure to follow a few tips for keeping them neat and organized.

First, keep it simple. A few framed art prints tucked behind the dishes or a plant (fresh herbs would be most welcome!) are all you need to inject some personality into the space without creating clutter.

Second, think about how you’ll use your shelves. Placing frequently used items on the lower tiers will help you easily get what you need while placing more decorative or special items on higher shelves.

Finally, don’t forget to clean your shelves regularly! Grease, cooking fumes, and condensation from the stove will build up on these surfaces over time.

The best way to combat this is by using a range hood that siphons off these particles before hitting your appliances or kitchen shelves. This will also help to prevent dust and grime from accumulating on the shelf’s surface.

Third, consider storing your most-used dishware on the lower shelves, which will help you avoid dust and grease from gathering. This is especially important if you cook often and use your dishes every day.

Fourth, open shelves are flat surfaces that are particularly vulnerable to dust. Having a regular routine of wiping down your shelves and rotating through your most-used dishes will help to ensure that they won’t accumulate dust or grime over time.

Open shelves are a great way to display your most important kitchen tools, and they’ll help you stay organized by keeping your kitchen counters free from excess clutter. However, you should still be cautious about how much you stack on them.

Keep It Organized

Open kitchen shelves can be a gorgeous addition to your space and provide plenty of storage options. However, they can also get a little messy over time. Therefore, it’s best to keep them organized so they look their best.

First, consider the items that you use regularly. For example, if you typically drink coffee in the morning, you might want to keep your favorite coffee mugs close to you on lower shelves.

Next, if you love decorating your kitchen, try mixing in a few framed art prints and other decorative items. This can help make your shelves feel more personal while keeping them streamlined and clean.

Another option is to add a basket for everyday necessities like pasta, cheese, and bread. This can easily be arranged on your open kitchen shelves, and you’ll always have a place to grab these essentials when you need them.

You can also display decorative pieces, such as a cow butter dish or an owl sculpture. This can help break up the more neutral color palette of your open shelves and create some added character.

Unlike cupboards, open kitchen shelves collect dust and grease quickly, so it’s important to wipe them down frequently. This will keep them looking neat while also reducing the amount of dust that gets on your other surfaces.

According to Fresh Exchange, the most important thing is to focus on the items you use most often and store them at the bottom of your shelves. You can then decorate higher shelves with less-frequently used pieces, such as large serving dishes and vases.

You can also store smaller items, such as small appliances and cutting boards, in the in-cupboard storage area of your kitchen. This will make them easier to store and display, and they won’t blend into the overall look of your open shelving.

Keep It Stylish

If you want your open kitchen shelves to look stylish, you need to carefully curate what goes up on them. Unlike cabinets, open shelving collects dust quickly and needs to be wiped down regularly so make sure you choose items that will stand up to this.

A great way to add style to open shelves is to layer objects. This can be done with smaller objects, like teacups and saucers, or larger ones, like glass or vases.

Another way to style your shelves is to mix and match textures. This can be accomplished by pairing glassware with wooden trays, or ceramics with baskets and other natural items.

Texture and color can also help your shelving stand out from a white palette. For example, try combining a glass bowl with red onions or pears in it to give it more dimension.

Books are another great way to add style to your open shelves. They’re a classic decorating tool that can be sorted by topic, stacked in elegant piles, or organized by publication year.

Bookends and display cases are also good places to put your books. This makes them a focal point on your shelves while keeping them out of the way of the rest of your decor.

If you have a large collection of books, then consider creating a bookcase to house them all. This will keep them off of your kitchen floor and out of the way of daily use.

A zig-zag technique is another key way to bring balance to your shelving, and it’s one that many designers use to curate their beautiful open shelves. This will cause the viewer’s eyes to dart back and forth while taking in your vignette, which can add some visual variety.

Keep It Functional

Open shelves are a great storage solution for a kitchen and make a space look brighter. However, styling them can be tricky at times.

The best way to keep your shelves looking neat is to ensure that you keep them clutter-free and organized. This means avoiding items that aren’t functional or may not fit on the shelves.

Keep your essentials close by and consider storing them on the lower shelves where they can be reached easily without digging. This is especially convenient for guests who might need to grab a coffee mug or water glass, and it can also help prevent dust buildup.

Another thing to think about when arranging your items on the shelves is to group them together accordingly. This is especially helpful if you have a lot of different dishes or utensils that need to be stored in one place.

Stacking items is also a great way to add visual interest and balance to your shelf arrangements. For example, it’s much more attractive to stack small dishes and teacups in slightly tipsy stacks rather than stacked in regimented rows, so experiment with this idea!

To balance the heights of your items, try alternating stacks with larger pieces, like pitchers and vases. This will help the eye dart back and forth, which is a key component of a well-styled vignette.

You can also warm your shelves by adding natural materials and textures or displaying live plants or a vase with flowers. A sconce above can also cast light on the shelves to further enhance their aesthetic.

Here Are Some Tips On How To Style Them:

• Start with a clean slate: Before styling your open kitchen shelves, ensure they are clean and free of clutter. This will give you a fresh canvas to work with.
• Use a mix of textures and materials: To add visual interest to your shelves, use a mix of textures and materials. This can include wood, metal, glass, ceramic, and more.
• Group items in threes: Grouping items in threes is a design trick that can create balance and harmony on your shelves. For example, you can group three white plates together, three mason jars filled with utensils, or three colorful vases.
• Play with height: Varying the height of the items on your shelves can add visual interest and keep the eye moving. You can use stacks of plates or books to add height to your shelves or tall vases or pitchers.
• Use plants: Adding plants to your open kitchen shelves can bring life and color to your space. You can use potted herbs, succulents, or flowers to add a natural touch to your shelves.
• Mix and match with functional items: Your open kitchen shelves can also be functional. You can use them to store your everyday dishes, glasses, and cups. Mix and match your functional items with decorative items to create a cohesive look.
• Keep it organized: To prevent your shelves from looking cluttered, keep them organized. Arrange items by color, size, or function. This will make it easier to find what you need and keep your space neat.

Remember, the key to styling open kitchen shelves is to find a balance between function and beauty. Use a mix of textures, vary the height of items, and keep it organized. By following these tips, you can create a beautiful and functional space in your kitchen.

FAQ’S

What do you put on open shelves in kitchen?

Mix functional objects, such as serving bowls, mugs, and recipe books with decorative items, such as planters, artwork, and a sculpted vase, when deciding what to place on open shelves in a kitchen, for instance.

Is open shelving in kitchen a trend?

The open shelving trend in kitchens has been around for a while, but the truth is that it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It’s not a style that appeals to everyone, but if you want to give your room a fresh, contemporary feel, it can be a terrific option.

Is open shelving in kitchen out of style?

Bo claims that the feature wall trend and the interior design trend go hand in hand, bringing the trend firmly into 2023. Bo notes that there is currently a tendency towards large-scale statement feature walls.

Does open shelving make a kitchen look bigger?

Your kitchen will appear more airy and roomy with open storage. Take a step back and open a few cabinet doors; you’ll see that there is an immediate perception of extra room. Nevertheless, you can only use this approach if your cabinets aren’t already overflowing.

What colors to avoid in kitchen cabinets?

Darker tones of green, blue, red, and purple should be completely avoided because they will cast a shadow on the food and darken the area. She advises against using certain colours in kitchens, such as green and orange.