What Nobody Tells You About Open Kitchen Shelving – And Why You Might Need To Avoid It In Your Design
Open shelving may add personality to kitchens, but it can also look cluttered. Here's how to decide if it's the right choice for your design.
Recent trends have seen a surge in people ditching upper cabinets in favor of open shelving for a more lived-in look. And while it's a look many designers are favoring, it's not without its drawbacks.
The truth is, we often hear about all the wonderful things kitchen shelving offers, but there's no denying that vast open surfaces can quickly start to feel cluttered, disorganized, and a bit of a dust trap. Are they actually any good for adding meaningful kitchen storage?
Article continues belowOpen Kitchen Shelving Pros
There's no denying the appeal of open kitchen shelving – after all, there's a reason we see it so often in the cooking spaces of our house stories. But it also provides a balance of style and function – here are all the benefits designers love.
It Adds Personality To Kitchens While Performing a Function
Open shelving in this colorful kitchen creates a dedicated place to display collected artworks and vintage kitchenware.
Kitchen trends this year are championing a more lived-in look, with soft kitchens being the most coveted aesthetic. And the biggest draw of this open kitchen shelving is its ability to bring that desired character and personality to a design.
'Open shelving is one of the best ways to bring personality and character into the kitchen. I love open shelving that puts a mix of functional and purely pretty pieces on display. Think everyday dinnerware you want to keep within arm’s reach and the cookbooks you have on heavy rotation, plus statement glassware and a handful of collected decorative objects,' explains interior designer Kathy Kuo.
Caroline Levenson of Caroline Levenson Design agrees, adding: 'Open shelving can be a beautiful and practical addition to a home when used thoughtfully. One main benefit is that it allows everyday objects to become part of the visual story of a space.'
And mixing decor with functional kitchenware is key. 'We often use open shelving to display items that are both functional and attractive – stacks of serving platters, glassware, wooden boards, or ceramic bowls. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to layer in art, plants, and small objects so the room feels collected and personal rather than purely utilitarian,' she explains.
Small Kitchens Feel Larger With Open Shelving
In this small scheme, open shelves replace upper cabinets to create a more open, spacious feel.
As far as small kitchen storage ideas go, open shelving is considered one of the best. Walls filled with bulky upper cabinets can create a claustrophobic atmosphere, whereas open shelving mitigates that risk without removing much-needed storage.
'Open shelving is perfect for the person who loves to put their favorite treasures and found objects on display. I also love open shelving as a way to create a sense of space and expansiveness in small kitchens, where upper cabinetry can feel heavy and crowded,' Kathy adds.
And it's not just the main kitchen space where open shelving works well, but also in those dedicated nooks and stations that make a small kitchen feel more luxurious. 'We especially love open shelving in areas like bars or coffee stations where what you’re storing is inherently beautiful – bottles, glassware, and serving pieces. In kitchens, we often recommend a balance of open and closed storage,' says Caroline.
It Makes Finding and Organizing Pantry Items Easier
The pantry is visible from the kitchen in this design, and open shelving makes items easy to access and looks aesthetically organized.
Whether you have a walk-in pantry or a corner in your main kitchen for food storage, open shelving really is king. Deep cupboards always lead to food going to waste because you can't see items stored at the back, but open shelving ensures everything is on display.
'Open shelving can be helpful in spaces like pantries, where having frequently used items visible and accessible makes daily routines easier,' explains Caroline. When a pantry is designed with shelves, you can see everything you have available, avoiding a slew of packets and cans going out of date before you have a chance to use them.
The same applies to storage ideas for kitchens without a pantry, if open shelving is your next best option. Shelves are shallower than cabinets, so you can see exactly what you have in stock, plus it's much easier to reach for items on open shelves as you are cooking and preparing than it is to root through closed cabinets. You'll want to decant food into prettier containers for a more curated look.
The fact that your storage is on display will encourage you to keep everything more organized, too. A win-win! Consider adding a Tiered Can Organizer or a Stackable Shelf Riser, both from Wayfair, to maximize space and visibility.
Open Kitchen Shelving Cons
Open shelving isn't always the best solution for kitchen storage, regardless of how much personality it can add to a space. Here are the drawbacks of this more visible storage approach, and when designers typically avoid it.
Open Storage Can Become Dust Collectors
A more minimalist approach to shelf decor has been used here, making it easy to remove items for cleaning.
As pretty as open shelving is, and how practical the ease of access can be, there's one glaring disadvantage to it that people often discover far too late – open storage will inevitably collect dust.
'Open kitchen shelving is a double-edged sword,' says Kathy, who warns the pretty displays come with a price. 'Dust and grease are real considerations in a kitchen, and keeping open shelves looking their best requires a little more upkeep than a closed cabinet would.'
If you're going to add open kitchen shelving, be prepared to dust and clean them regularly so you don't end up with a build-up of dust, grime, and random stains typical of a working kitchen. You also need to consider the fact that kitchenware displayed but not used for a while will also collect dust, so it will inevitably need extra cleaning.
'It also tends to collect dust more quickly than closed cabinetry,' agrees Caroline. 'For that reason, we encourage homeowners to think carefully about what they realistically want on display before committing to open shelving.' Glazed cabinetry is a great way to get the benefits of both storage styles.
It's Not the Best Choice For High-Functioning Storage
Tall cabinets in this kitchen create plenty of hidden storage, allowing the open shelving to take on a more decorative role.
Open shelving does provide storage, but by no means a replacement for closed kitchen cabinets. For one, shelves are shallower, so you can't fit as much here, plus items are on display, so you are limited on what you can store on them without feeling like an eyesore.
Plates, glassware, and even things like oil cruets look nice, but cereal boxes, crisps, and food packets look really misplaced unless they are beautifully decanted into the glass containers, which doesn't feel practical for a lot of pantry staples.
That's not to say you have to abandon all plans of open shelving, but in these cases, a small section of shelving mixed with closed cabinets will feel much more functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Regular Editing is Required to Avoid a Cluttered Look
The beautifully curated decor is key to the success of this kitchen shelving, mixing decorative items with pretty kitchenware.
If you're not someone who finds joy in organizing and curating kitchen shelves regularly, open storage probably isn't the right choice for you. While the ability to add character to a kitchen with open shelving is widely considered a benefit, it can become another thing to add to the chore list.
'The main drawback of open shelving is that it requires a bit more intentionality. Because everything is visible, items need to be arranged thoughtfully and edited regularly,' Caroline warns.
And Kathy agrees, adding: 'Putting items on display can be a clever design idea, but it also means clutter has nowhere to hide.' Open shelving needs to be curated and carefully edited so it doesn't become overfilled or harbour clutter. If the constant re-working doesn't fill you with joy, it's probably best to avoid.
How To Decide if Open Kitchen Shelving is the Right Choice
Small shelves in this kitchen fill empty wall space that was otherwise unused, adding a touch of vintage style to the scheme.
Deciding whether open kitchen shelving is the right or wrong choice for your space is easier than you might think. You need to consider whether this storage area can be used more decoratively, or if you need the wall space for something more hard-working, and if you are someone who enjoys curating shelves and regular dusting.
'Ask yourself if you want to keep up with the commitment that open shelving requires. Does having more surfaces and objects to clean overwhelm you? Then maybe think twice before installing them. Do you find joy in styling your favorite objects for the world (or at least your family) to see? Amazing, open shelves sound perfect for you,' says Kathy.
And finally, really think about what your shelves will need to be used for. Is it additional 'nice-to-have' storage that can be mainly for prettier kitchenware and collected decor, or do you need this space for more functional storage that will inevitably look better behind closed doors?
'Open shelves can work well for frequently used serving ware, such as platters, bowls, and everyday dishes that are easy to reach and nice to look at. Meanwhile, more utilitarian items like cereal boxes, pantry goods, and small appliances are usually better kept behind cabinet doors so the space doesn’t feel cluttered,' says Caroline.
'When used in the right places and paired with closed storage where needed, open shelving can add warmth, personality, and a sense of ease to a home while still supporting the way people actually live and cook.'
For open shelving to hold glassware, plates, or even your favorite mugs, this dark wood shelf with a brass gallery rail looks elegant and helps to keep everything secure.
For open kitchen shelving that can hold a bit more weight, this design fits the bill. The color pairing fits into any scheme and is perfect for storing pantry staples in view.
Looking for decorative shelving? Look no further than this wooden design from Lulu and Georgia, featuring a subtle wave edge to soften your kitchen scheme.
If you are someone who loves the look of open shelving but don't want to deal with endless cleaning, this hutch with glazed upper cabinets is the perfect alternative.
This shelving unit is a great open storage option for rentals, as you don't have to drill into walls. Perfect for storing your favorite tableware or for use as a chic home bar.
Another hutch option for open shelving behind a glazed door, this design is a bit narrower to fit smaller spaces, as well as a small amount of closed storage.
As with any kitchen feature, there are positives and negatives to open kitchen shelving. Use this designer advice to decide whether it's the right approach for your space and lifestyle, or if it's a kitchen storage mistake waiting to happen.
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