12 Open Kitchen Shelving Ideas That Will Update Your Space

Make your kitchen feel bigger and add personalized displays to your most-used room.

Open kitchen shelving does double the work—it provides easily accessible storage and allows you to display your favorite dishes, cookbooks, and frequently used items. It's also a great way to get creative and introduce unexpected color or fresh design. Besides the aesthetic and practical benefits of open shelves, they come with another valuable advantage—they're a budget-friendly alternative to upper cabinets.

If you're planning a kitchen remodel and looking for areas where you can save money without sacrificing style and function, open shelving is an excellent option. In addition, it's a clever design trick for making a kitchen feel more spacious since it eliminates the bulkiness of upper cabinets. Learn how to incorporate open shelving into your kitchen and follow our tips and tricks for practical yet beautiful wall storage.

Related: 28 Stylish Floating Shelf Ideas for Every Space in the Home

Upper Cabinet Update

Get a quick and inexpensive makeover by turning existing upper cabinets into open kitchen shelving. Simply remove the doors for a brand-new look. To add character, paint the back of the cabinets a different color than the frame. It will instantly spruce up tired cabinets and make them stand out.

Related: 26 DIY Kitchen Cabinet Updates So You Don’t Have to Replace Them

Farmhouse Style

This white farmhouse-style kitchen is bright and spacious thanks to white cabinetry and shiplap walls, glass-globe lighting, and open shelving. Three white shelves span from the countertop to the ceiling to provide ample storage and seamlessly blend in with the rest of the space. Take cues from this kitchen and place everyday items such as drinking glasses and plates on lower open kitchen shelving where they're easy to access, and store more occasional pieces on harder-to-reach upper shelves.

Sleek Glass Shelves

Glass open kitchen shelving with brass brackets are a stylish addition to this sophisticated kitchen. The transparent glass lightens up a wall of glossy black subway tile, while the polished brass accents stand out against the dark backdrop like shiny statement jewelry. The warm metal finish ties in the rest of the kitchen hardware and fixtures, including cabinet pulls and the faucet. When choosing what to store on open shelves, consider what's nearby. In this case, they hang directly above a wine refrigerator, so using them for barware, bottles, and glasses is a practical choice.

Mixed Materials

Wood and metal open kitchen shelving suspended from gray glass-front cabinets add convenient storage space and a stunning design statement. The space boasts tall ceilings, an exposed brick wall, and wood beams that add charming character, emphasized by the unique mixed-material shelves. The wood shelves warm up the surrounding white and gray palette while complementing the stone countertops.

Related: How to Choose a Color Scheme for Interior Brick

Open Kitchen Shelf Styling

These corner shelves prove that open-shelf styling isn't just for your living room bookcase. Use a limited color palette to maintain uniformity and an uncluttered look, then mix materials and textures—such as glass, pottery, and woven baskets—for a unique, organic look. Finish open kitchen shelving with potted herbs or houseplants to liven up this utilitarian kitchen fixture.

Color Contrast

Two-toned cabinets are an easy way to update a kitchen. Try the look with open kitchen shelving. Light wood shelves replace most upper cabinets in this modern kitchen and contrast the rich gray base cabinets and a navy blue island. Along with countertop-to-ceiling subway tile, the open shelving helps lighten up the room. Herringbone hardwood floors and backless stools tie in the wood shelves and add warmth.

Modern Rustic Open Kitchen Shelving

Three floating wood shelves hold a collection of white and blue dishes and bakeware in his modern rustic kitchen. The chunky shelving ties into the dark-stained hardwood floors and beautiful turned-leg island and provides a warm contrast to the white cabinetry and wall tile. To keep your open shelves from looking cluttered, group items by colors, theme, or collections.

Related: 20 Modern Rustic Design Ideas That Combine Simple and Sleek

Calm Minimalism

A single live-edge wood shelf centered above the sink stands out against the hexagonal tile in this minimalist kitchen. Decorated with plates, houseplants, and vases, the open kitchen shelf is illuminated with two white and copper wall sconces. The storage unit ties in with sleek wood cabinets and breaks up the asymmetrical tile design.

Blue Cabinet Makeover

You can't get more classic than blue and white. This open kitchen shelving puts an updated twist on the traditional look and adds dimension to this elegant kitchen. Allow color to shine by refraining from a busy backsplash or small-scale pattern wallpaper. A slab of gorgeous gray marble keeps the countertop and backsplash uncluttered, allowing blue and white cabinetry to shine. Drive the color palette home by continuing it through the dishes you display on the open shelves.

Easy Access

A working kitchen needs to be practical, allowing for quick and easy access to frequently used cooking tools. Two long open shelves hold everyday dishes in this contemporary-style kitchen, while a black metal rail above the stove stores cutting boards and pans. A magnetic knife strip nearby keeps chopping utensils on hand. White walls and mushroom-gray cabinets provide a neutral backdrop for the matte black hardware and lighting that complete the space.

Related: 25 Must-Have Kitchen Features to Add Storage and Style

Bright Open Kitchen Shelving

A herringbone subway tile backsplash forms the backdrop to open kitchen shelving with an eclectic collection of drinking glasses and barware. The shelves complement a wine refrigerator, open storage for bottles, and Shaker base cabinets adorned with brass knobs. A striking black and brass double sconce tops the open shelves and provides ambient light for the perfect finishing touch.

Color Continuity

Three open shelves that extend to the ceiling add function and decorative detail to this cottage kitchen corner. While not large, they provide just enough space to add a bit of color through a collection of pastel pottery that forms a sweet vignette. To break up the look of plain cabinet doors, consider replacing them with glass-front doors or adding open kitchen shelving. To create continuity and help integrate open shelves with the rest of the cabinets, paint them the same color.

Add Style to Your Kitchen with These Ideas

Bring life back to your kitchen if it needs something to make it a place you want to spend time. If your kitchen is small, focus on updated lighting to brighten the space or sneak in a small cart to add a work surface and storage. Wall decor is a quick and easy way to add color, and it's easily changed if you want to update it in the future. For a budget-friendly switch, get some new kitchen towels, placemats, coffee mugs, or dishes to change up your daily meals and kitchen maintenance.

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