Yes, Open Shelving in a Kitchen Can Be Stylish and Functional
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Ah, open kitchen shelving: It's what our fills our Pinterest boards with beauty and our more organizational-minded readers with dread. We here at Country Living firmly believe that open shelving in the kitchen can be both stylish AND functional—you just have to find the right shelves for you. Below, we’ve gathered up 22 of our favorite ways to install and style open shelving in the kitchen. From small galley kitchens to grand gathering spaces, we guarantee you’ll find a set up that works for your space. And once you’ve decided on what kind of shelves you want, be sure to check out our 100 Best Kitchen Design Ideas to solidify the rest of your plan.
For More Kitchen Design Inspiration:
• 70 Best Kitchen Island Ideas for Kitchens Large and Small
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• 46 Best Kitchen Paint Colors Ideas to Update Your Space
Work with Your Tile
High-impact tile from designer Anthony D'Argenzio sets the stage for this simple open shelving setup. Happy pink dinnerware adds colorful contrast, while an aged oil painting brings in a much-needed layer of texture.
RELATED: See how Anthony transformed a Hudson Valley home with paint!
Wrap the Room
Photographer Helen Norman lined her kitchen with three levels of open shelving. This layered look is perfect for the maximalist with a ceramic collection that just keeps growing! Be sure to pull out and measure your tallest pieces to ensure you’ll have enough room between shelves.
RELATED: Our 15 Favorite Green Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
Pretty Up a Petite Space
While kitchen-spanning shelving is great in theory, it’s not always feasible. If your layout doesn’t allow for yards of shelves, you don't have to abandon the style all together. Instead, opt for a petite pair to showcase your favorite vintage pieces, as homeowner Katie Barnes did here in her lakeside cabin.
RELATED: This Lakeside Cabin Has All the Charm of an Old School Summer Camp
Go with Barely-There Brackets
Take a cue from designer Claire Zinnicker and keep things simple with barely-there brackets and quaint wood planking as she did in her Texas farmhouse. If you’re the herb and houseplant type, simple shelves such as these make for a great display spot and can free up precious counter space.
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Go Moody
Don't shy away from moodier tones when painting your open shelving, especially if you live in a historic home. While bright and airy white shelves might be your first thought, shapely wooden shelves in a dark hue (these are painted black to match the trim) add age-appropriate architectural interest.
Elevate Your Basics
In a petite kitchen without any upper cabinets, open shelving becomes a stylish necessity. Here, designer Hadley Wiggins shows off her collection of spices, classic cookbooks, and simple white dinnerware. Elevated basics such as these lend gravitas when tight on space.
RELATED: See more of this Long Island farmhouse.
Add a Rail
If you run out of vertical room for shelving, try adding a hanging rail for your pots and pans. Here, homeowner Kay Stanley went with a simple iron rail to match the cabinet hardware in her mountain cabin.
Get the Look:
Iron Kitchen Rail: Forged Iron Rod with S-Hooks
Wicker Demijohn: Anjelita Decorative Bottle
Go Between Windows
If your kitchen has multiple windows (lucky you!), try installing sets of shelves between each window. The repetition creates pleasing cohesiveness and leaves you with a lot of practical storage.
Opt for Floating Shelves
Streamline your open shelving look by ditching the brackets all together. Just be sure to double-check with your builder on the weight limit for this set-up. How much weight they will hold depends on the material used and how it was attached to the wall. As a general rule, good quality shelves attached to studs can usually hold about 50 pounds.
Go All-In on White
If you want to channel the classic cottage aesthetic, try going all-in on white. Shapely antique ironstone adds texture with ease in this all-white kitchen. Consider bringing in crusty cutting boards to help ground the space.
RELATED: The Collector's Guide to Ironstone Pottery
Lean Into the Industrial Look
If wood shelves don’t fit your kitchen aesthetic, have no fear: Metal shelving looks just as chic! Galvanized steel is the preferred shelving material in many industrial cooking spaces because it doesn’t rust. Just be sure to clean regularly with stainless steel cleaner.
Get Creative with Placement
Open shelving is a great way to break up a bank of upper cabinets. You can bring your favorite pieces front and center while still keeping your more utilitarian (aka, less stylish but ultimately necessary) pieces close at hand behind doors.
RELATED: See more of this charming Michigan farmhouse.
Channel Your Favorite Bistro
Bistro shelving made from glass and brass feels most at home in a kitchen with clean lines, especially when paired with classic subway tile and dark cabinetry. Channel French bistro culture by filling the shelves with aged copper and your favorite antique oil paintings, and add a dose of country charm with worn cutting boards.
Mix Pretty and Practical
No matter how big your space is, storage in a kitchen will always be precious. That’s why you've got to think practically when planning your open shelving display. Here, everyday dinnerware is just below eye-level while more decorative items such as an unframed oil painting and pair of antique jugs find a home on the top shelf. This way, pretty (and sometimes fragile antique) items can stay out of reach while still looking stylish.
Float Your Shelves Over the Window
Conversely, if your kitchen only has one large window such as this one here, don't be afraid to span your shelving right over it. Layering in clear or colorful glass over the portion that crosses the window will allow natural light to filter through.
RELATED: 21 Brilliant Ideas for Painted Floors
Try Brass-Strapped Shelves
From faucets to knobs, brass is perhaps the most popular finish in kitchens these days. So, extending it to shelving feels like a no-brainer. (Get the look by attaching brass strips to the front of wood shelves using epoxy.) But, perfectionists be warned: Unlacquered brass ages naturally over time with daily use as it comes into contact with finger prints. Keep patinated shelves clean with a simple mix of water and dish soap, or polish regularly with your favorite brass polish.
Install Corner Shelves
Traditional upper cabinetry can feel heavy when it spans the entire length of kitchen. Instead, opt for uppers on one side and open shelving on the other. Opening up the space like this works especially well in kitchens with little natural light and/or darker finishes. Be sure to save some of your pretty antique bowls to anchor the corner and stack smaller plates and cups on the outer edges.
DIY Shelves
Open shelving doesn't have to be fancy. While there are plenty of ready-to-install shelving kits on the market, they are also easy to install yourself. And, you don’t need any special materials! Raw-edge wood foraged from the farm and sanded down or simple planks picked up at your local hardware store will do the trick. (Just be sure to install shelves into studs so they won’t come crashing down!)
RELATED: See more of this storybook Virginia cottage.
Work with Low Ceilings
If you have low-ceilings, work with your favorite handyman to perfect the height of your open shelving. Aim for at least 12-inches between each shelf. Deeper shelves will also help you maximize the space. Search for smaller-scale appliances for the counter to give you more space up top. White ceramic or clear glass pieces will keep them from feeling too cramped.
Go for Slim Shelves
In a kitchen with wallpaper, thinner shelves will keep visual clutter at bay and allow for your pieces to take center stage. Opt for shelves made from stone such as marble so you can pile on your favorite things without having to worry about wood sagging.
RELATED: See more of this Kentucky farmhouse makeover.
Mount Them From the Ceiling
In this cabin, an open shelving unit was mounted onto the ceiling instead of the wall to preserve the architectural integrity of the wood beams. Open sides and thin shelves keep the space feeling airy.
Reuse + Recycle!
If your kitchen is new and in need of some soul, hit up your local architectural salvage yard to see what you can repurpose into shelves. Here, homeowners and brothers Seth and Chad Gilbert turned shelving from a nearby shop into open cabinetry. Leave them unpainted for added rustic texture, or pick your favorite paint color to freshen them up.
RELATED: The 46 Best Kitchen Paint Colors of 2024
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