Open Shelving Kitchen Display Kitchenware without Trying Too Hard

Open shelving in kitchens has become a popular design trend in recent years. The minimalist, industrial look of exposed shelves offers both form and function in kitchen spaces. Open shelving provides easy access to dishes, cookware, and pantry items while also creating an aesthetically pleasing focal point in the kitchen. However, open shelving requires a bit more effort than traditional cabinetry when it comes to keeping things looking neat and organized. With some tips and tricks, you can effortlessly display your favorite kitchenware on open shelves without trying too hard.

Choose Coordinating Materials and Finishes

When designing an open shelving kitchen, make sure to choose materials and finishes that coordinate well together. Mixing metal shelves with wood countertops can create an eclectic look, while opting for matching metal or wood shelving and counters will be more cohesive. Also consider the look you want to achieve – matte black shelves and hardware paired with marble countertops make for an elegant, modern kitchen, while rough-hewn wood shelves with butcher block countertops produce a rustic cottage feel. Select materials and finishes intentionally to create a pulled-together look.

Style Shelves in Advantageous Ways

Styling open shelves successfully relies heavily on taking advantage of vertical space. This requires some forethought and intentionality when displaying kitchenware. Placing all dishes and glasses in neat stacks directly on the shelves can feel cluttered and visually unappealing. Instead, utilize a combination of upright containers, hanging utensil racks, shelf risers, and small floor baskets to add dimension.

Use Containers in Various Heights

Clear upright containers are perfect for holding bulk food items like flour, sugar, and oats. Opt for canisters in a range of heights to add visual interest to the shelf. Intersperse some shorter spice jars as well. The clear containers allow the food items to be visible as part of the overall design. For a touch of greenery, use glass canisters to display fresh herbs growing hydroponically.

Hang Utensils from Under Shelf Racks

Install slim utensil racks or hanging wire baskets underneath shelves to make use of vertical space. Keep cooking spoons, spatulas, and ladles within easy reach while also clearing shelf space. Stagger racks at different heights for a layered look. Wood and metal racks complement most open shelving kitchens.

Incorporate Shelf Risers

Shelf risers instantly add extra space for displaying kitchenware. Risers come in a sleek metal finish in various heights. Layer dishes and glasses on the raised portion, using the lower space for things like cookbooks. The staggered height makes for a pleasing aesthetic. For a unique touch, look for quirky vintage risers.

Use Baskets Artfully

Wicker, metal, or wood floor baskets work wonderfully for corralling items like potatoes, onions, and fruit. Keeping produce in open baskets enhances the fresh, farmhouse appeal. Baskets also allow for displaying dishes or linens folded neatly. Place a few baskets artfully along the shelves at different heights rather than lining up several in a row. This helps keep things looking streamlined.

Strategically Organize Kitchenware

Carefully organizing kitchenware on open shelves is crucial to maintaining the clean, minimalist look. Avoid simply lining up all plates, bowls, and mugs – this looks monotonous and cluttered. Instead, thoughtfully group similar pieces together and use bookends and dividers to create separation.

Group Items Together

Placing matching or coordinating dishes together in small groups makes for a cohesive display. Try clustering 3-5 plates or bowls rather than stacking large piles. Group items with similar shapes, colors, or patterns. For example, display white porcelain dishes on one shelf, blue glassware together on another shelf, and woven baskets on a lower shelf. The grouped items become decorative focal points.

Incorporate Bookends

Strategically placing bookends along shelves helps divide up space and prevent items from looking jumbled. Opt for sleek metal or natural wood bookends that match the overall kitchen aesthetic. Use bookends to contain plates and bowls on each end, while displaying decorative vases or cookbooks in between. The divided shelf appears neat and organized.

Use Shelf Dividers

For a more defined separation between types of kitchenware, add removable shelf dividers. These come in materials like wood, marble, or acrylic and can be positioned horizontally or vertically. Use dividers to separate drinking glasses from dishes or to divide a shelf into baking essentials on one side and teacups on the other. The dividers create distinct zones.

Minimize Clutter With Careful Editing

Open shelves will inevitably reveal all, so carefully edit kitchen items before putting them on display. Minimizing clutter helps maintain an effortlessly chic look and avoids a crowded appearance.

Store Less Essential Items Elsewhere

Be selective about which dishes, cookware, and pantry items to keep out on display. Store those used only occasionally or seasonal items in cabinets to avoid overloading shelves. Display favorite everyday dishes and decorative pots and pans, but contain the overflow neatly away from sight. Aim to fill only about two-thirds of shelf space.

Put Excess in Closed Cabinets

Designate some closed cabinets for hiding small appliances and other kitchen necessities not meant for open display. Keep excess mugs, extra cooking utensils, and random odds and ends concealed behind doors to prevent clutter. Use cabinets for items that would make shelves appear disorganized or messy if in constant view.

Limit Kitchen Decor

While a few cherished decorative items can enhance open shelves, limiting these accessories is key. A couple of rustic ceramic vases or antique cake stands sprinkled in add charm. However, putting out too many personalized knickknacks and photos tends to look cluttered. Edit accessories severely and choose only those that complement your dishes.

Maintain Neatness and Organization

The key to open shelves looking casually chic rather than sloppy lies in consistent tidying and organizational upkeep. Make maintaining the attractive style a regular quick routine.

Wipe Down Shelves Weekly

Dust and drips can accumulate on open shelves, making things appear dirty and dingy. Get into the habit of wiping shelves and containers down weekly using a natural cleaner and soft cloth. This keeps the space looking cared for.

Check for Order Daily

Spend a minute each morning or evening scanning shelves and making sure everything is orderly. Move any dishes that are out of place back into neat groupings. Refill canisters that are running low. Doing a quick visual check daily means you can fix anything amiss quickly.

Do a Deep Organizing Session Monthly

Do a thorough edit every month or so by taking everything off the open shelves. Wipe down the shelves themselves before assessing each item. Make sure you are displaying only the dishes and accessories that you love and use regularly in a thoughtfully organized way. Pack away excess in cabinets.

Key Takeaways for Organized Open Shelving

The secret to displaying kitchenware perfectly on open shelves comes down to choosing complementary materials, utilizing vertical space wisely, organizing strategically, minimizing clutter, and maintaining tidiness. Follow these tips for pulled-together open shelving that appears curated yet effortless:

Select shelving materials like metal or wood that coordinate well with counters and other finishes
Incorporate upright canisters, hanging racks, risers, and baskets to add dimension
Group like items together and use dividers and bookends to separate pieces
Edit down clutter by storing less-used items out of sight
Maintain organization with regular dusting, straightening, and decluttering

With the right combination of thoughtful shelving design and consistent upkeep, open shelving can offer beautiful yet functional storage space for cherished kitchenware. Display your dishes, cookware, and pantry items in style without trying too hard. A little strategic planning and regular organizing goes a long way toward achieving a casually chic aesthetic with open kitchen shelving.

Styling Open Shelves in Kitchens FAQs

Open shelving may look effortlessly chic, but creating that style actually requires some strategy and maintenance. If you’re considering adding open shelving in your kitchen or want tips for improving existing shelves, explore these frequently asked questions.

What items should not be stored on open shelves?

While open shelves are wonderful for display, some items are better kept out of constant view in cabinet storage. Overly cluttered shelves lose that breezy, minimalist look. Stow away excess dishware, infrequently used appliances and cookware, pet food and bowls, cleaning supplies, random knickknacks, and personal paperwork in closed cabinets.

How do I prevent dust on open shelves?

Dust accumulation can make open shelves appear dirty and dingy. Wipe down all shelves and containers weekly using a microfiber cloth and natural cleaner. For slick surfaces like glass and metal, a spritz of vinegar in water works well. For wooden shelves, use a little lemon-scented oil. Prevent everyday dust buildup by running your hand across shelves daily to catch crumbs and particles before they settle.

Should I install extra lighting for open shelves?

Proper lighting definitely accentuates open shelving and highlights all your beautiful dishes and cookware. Under cabinet lighting or mini pendant lights over shelves help illuminate the space. Aim for a mix of ambient overhead light and directed task lighting. Extra lighting isn’t usually essential, but it does enhance the visual appeal significantly.

What’s the best way to edit items for open shelves?

The key when curating items for open display is minimalism. Focus on your daily-use dishes and glassware along with favorite decorative accessories. Store extras out of sight. Group like items together – plates with plates, mugs with mugs. Use bookends, dividers, and containers to create neat sections. Edit severely and take out anything that doesn’t complement your overall aesthetic or organizational scheme.

Should I use any closed cabinets if I have open shelves?

Yes, even with open shelving, some closed storage is useful. Stash away infrequently used items and appliances. Hide clutter-prone supplies like plastic containers, foils, cleaning products, and paper towels behind doors. Closed cabinets allow you to contain excess items that would make shelves appear overstuffed. Minimize visual clutter while keeping essentials easily accessible.

Incorporating Open Shelving in Kitchens with Style

Open kitchen shelving introduces an attractive, minimalist aesthetic along with convenient access to dishes and cookware. But making the most of open storage means utilizing smart styling strategies. Follow these tips for beautifully designed and organized open shelves:

Complement the Entire Kitchen Design

Choose open shelving materials like metal brackets or wood planks that coordinate well with the sinks, hardware, counters, appliances and other finishes in the kitchen. The shelving should feel cohesive with the overall design, whether you prefer an urban, modern look or rustic farmhouse motif.

Illuminate Shelves Properly

Draw attention to beautiful open shelves with sufficient lighting. Under cabinet lights, mini pendants centered over the shelves, and general overhead lighting all help showcase the dishes and objects on display. Careful lighting prevents open shelves from feeling dark or gloomy.

Incorporate Greenery

Fresh greens liven up open shelves pleasantly. Display air plants or succulents in mini planters to add organic texture. Herb plants look lovely in glass canisters, while also providing fresh flavor for cooking. Drape ivy or philodendrons in hanging pots above shelves for a cascade of greenery.

Use Unexpected Accessories

Part of achieving effortless style involves avoiding boring dish displays. Incorporate unexpected accessories like antique cake stands, colored glass bottles, or unique serving trays. Hold cookbooks upright with bookends to add color and dimension. Display colorful enamel cookware rather than standard pots and pans.

Change Things Up Seasonally

Adjust shelf styling throughout the year for fresh appeal. Rotate heavyweight stoneware and darker colors for winter, with lighter dishes and glassware in summer. Use natural elements like woven baskets, wood crates, and ceramic vases to reflect the season. Let shelves evolve with changing tastes and styles.

Maintain Minimalism

Clutter is the enemy of cool when it comes to open shelves. Visually edit each shelf, removing excess and non-essentials. Group like items together in “vignettes” separated by bookends or dividers. Leave negative space between groupings rather than cramming. Aim for an organized, curated look by weeding out unnecessary pieces.

Clean and Organize Routinely

Never let dust or grime accumulate or let things become disordered. Wipe down all surfaces weekly. Place items back properly each evening if needed. Do a deep cleanse monthly to purge unused items and thoroughly reorganize. Proper upkeep is crucial for open shelves to maintain a polished, intentional look.

Embracing the open shelving trend allows you to display dishware beautifully while also admiring the functional wood or metal architectural elements. With the right amount of thoughtful planning and routine organization, your open kitchen shelves can feel welcoming and put-together, not chaotic. Incorporate these styling strategies to exhibit your chic style – effortlessly!

Maximizing Storage and Organization with Open Shelving

While the minimalist aesthetic of open shelving is visually appealing, it can also offer smart storage solutions for the kitchen. Follow these ideas to get organized:

Use baskets – Hide clutter prone items like plastic containers, aluminum foil boxes or cleaning supplies attractively in woven baskets placed on shelves. The items remain handy but out of sight.
Try shelf dividers – Acrylic or wood dividers keep plates, bowls and glasses neatly separated into organized zones. Dividers can be positioned horizontally or vertically.
Stagger heights – Vary shelf contents using risers and different height canisters and baskets to add dimension. It keeps things from looking too linear and flat.
Display cookbooks – Utilize bookends to neatly arrange colorful cookbooks on their sides. This takes up shelf space decoratively while keeping favorite recipes visible.
Use wall space – Install wall rails or ledges above shelves for additional vertical storage. Hang utensils and pans that aren’t quite as visually appealing.
Organize food supplies – Clear glass or stainless steel canisters are ideal for storing bulk ingredients like flour, beans, pasta and more. The contents remain visible.
Install extra lighting – Lighting enhances visibility so locating items is easier. Illuminated shelves also become a lovely design focal point.
Edit constantly – Routinely purge unused items taking up coveted shelf space. Keep only essentials and favorite pieces you actually use to prevent clutter.

With a bit of creativity, open shelves can function just as well as enclosed cabinetry when it comes to kitchen storage. Maximize every inch using a combination of stylish baskets and containers, vertically staggered items, and smart organization tools. Proper editing and lighting also helps optimize open shelving utility.

Achieving an Effortless Open Shelving Aesthetic

Displaying dishes, cookware and pantry items on open shelves appears casually chic when done right. To nail the effortless style, keep these tips in mind:

Opt for Simplicity

Too many pieces creates visual clutter. Practice restraint by keeping only essential cookware and dishes on display. Store less frequently used items elsewhere. Give the eye room to appreciate each object.

Organize Intentionally

Thoughtfully group like items together – muted tones together, matching dishes together. Divide shelves purposefully using books, bookends, baskets or dividers. Arrangement should feel purposeful, not random.

Vary Heights and Depths

Avoid simply lining up pieces along a shelf. Stack canisters and stagger taller jars and shorter spice bottles to add dimension. Use risers and hanging racks to layer items.

Incorporate Natural Elements

Handmade ceramics, woven baskets, wood accents, and greenery help achieve an organic look. Mix in pieces that feel collected over time for charm.

Display Meaningfully

Curate shelves with favorite everyday dishes you love along with special vintage finds. The eclectic and personalized mix feels personal. For added meaning, display inherited or handmade pieces.

Maintain Tidiness

Clutter, dust and disorganization destroy the effortless vibe. Wipe down weekly, rearrange stray pieces nightly, remove unused items regularly. A tidy, well-edited space exudes casual sophistication.

Creating an artfully styled yet unfussy open shelving kitchen requiresrestraint and routine maintenance. Limit items to essentials, organize intelligently, incorporate natural materials, display meaningfully chosen pieces and maintain tidiness for that elusive “effortless” look.

Designing a Functional, Organized Pantry with Open Shelving

The minimalist appeal of open shelving works wonderfully in the kitchen pantry. Keeping supplies visible ensures items don’t get lost or expire unused. An organized open pantry also maintains the clean aesthetic. Follow these tips:

Edit ruthlessly – Only keep essential cooking, baking and meal supplies. Donate or toss excess. Clutter is the enemy!
Categorize methodically – Group similar ingredients and supplies together – oils and vinegars, baking ingredients, dry goods, etc.
Label attractively – Use chalkboard labels, pretty jars, or shelf dividers to identify categories clearly. Make it easy to find things.
Use stacking – Take advantage of vertical space by storing cans, jars and boxes on risers or tiered shelves and platforms.
Try clear canisters – Use glass, acrylic or stainless steel canisters to store flour, sugar, pasta, coffee, etc. The contents remain visible.
Incorporate baskets – Hide less aesthetically appealing items like boxes of plastic wrap in woven baskets or bins with lids. Keep handy but out of sight.
Add lighting – Illuminate darker pantry corners with battery powered or plug-in puck lights. Lighting makes locating ingredients simpler.
Do weekly maintenance – Check expiration dates weekly. Toss expired items and wipe down shelves, jars, canisters and baskets to keep space looking fresh.

An open pantry requires extra commitment to constant editing and cleaning, but results in an organized space for easy access and a tidy appearance. Make your pantry as functional and decluttered as it is beautiful.