7 of the Best Kitchen Open Shelving Ideas
Cabinetry has long been the go-to for storing and concealing cookware and glassware. But increasingly, open shelves are gaining popularity in the kitchen, and they’re one of the simplest ways to add colour, texture, and personality into a room that is often just a practical space.
There’s no such thing as too much storage in the kitchen. The never-ending accessories, pots, pans and recipe books easily fill up every nook and cranny. So, it’s good to have a mixture of options that make the space functional to use; eye-level cupboards are ideal for dinnerware and glassware, smaller drawers for cutlery and deep drawers for large pots, pans and woks. But have you considered open shelving in your kitchen?
It’s a new storage trend we’re seeing (or rather, a resurgence of a traditional one) in many modern kitchens. Whether it’s a wall of shelving, a corner nook or floating shelves, people are choosing to incorporate open shelving into their kitchen design for both functional and aesthetic reasons. We’ve put together 7 of the best open shelving ideas to inspire you.
1. Repurpose your existing cabinets
A good way to sustainably integrate open shelving in the kitchen is to utilise some of the cabinets you already have. Simply remove the doors and hardware, and then give the interior a fresh coat of paint. You could choose a contrasting colour to your walls to add depth and interest. Dark colours will make the crockery inside pop.
2. Make a statement with hanging shelves
Open shelving needs to always be hung against the wall. Hanging shelves can create a focal point in the room and are a good solution in a kitchen that has limited wall space – they allow you to add storage in area that normally wouldn’t allow for it, without obstructing the view. If you’re the type of person that wants to feature your culinary heroes front and centre, then consider building a book nook!
3. Go retro with plate racks
A popular choice in kitchens across the globe in the 80’s, plate racks are having something of a moment. Not only do they improve the overall functionality and work-flow of your kitchen, they’re a great way to display your favourite plates and make serving food for large gatherings a breeze.
4. Use kitchen shelving to zone a space
If you have an open plan kitchen but are struggling to define the layout, then shelves could be the perfect solution. To divide up a cooking/living space you could opt for tall, freestanding shelves. They are easy to install and add storage that can easily be accessed from both sides. Shelving could also be built into the side of a kitchen island to maximise space. This works well with an open plan kitchen where you want to create a neat line of sight and can be strengthened with the NEFF vented cooktop in the centre of your island, removing the need for an overhead cooktop.
5. Create a shelving feature wall
Feeling bold? Take the plunge and go for floor to ceiling shelving that puts all your wares on display. You could fill them with a mix of items for an uncurated look that adds to the colour and texture of the room – think candles, accessories, plants and even mugs. Or, for a minimalist approach, select one or two colours that complement your overall colour school and display select items. If your collection is more sizeable, allocate a corner and opt for built in book nook to store your books.
6. Add shelves to the bottom of your cabinets
It may sound a little strange but attaching open shelving to the bottom of your upper cabinets is an interesting way to use space that’s often ignored. While this idea is dependent on how much room you have, it’s a great way to draw the eye to an unexpected focal point. Place them near (but not too close) to the cooktop and use them to store items that you usually find yourself reaching for when cooking up a storm. And if you’re look to upgrade your cooktop, NEFF induction cooktops are also well-equipped with child safety locks for extra comfort. Plus, they’re easy to clean and heats the contents of your pan almost instantly, saving you time!
7. Blend shelving into the walls
If you’d rather not draw the eye to shelving but want some extra storage space, you could paint your shelves in the same shade as your walls. That way, the shelves and their contents will be less noticeable while still providing a useful way to store items. If your cookbook collection is on the smaller side, you could consider adding a floating shelf somewhere around your cupboards.
About NEFF
NEFF is a German-engineered kitchen appliance brand, with a product range that includes ovens, cooktops, rangehoods, coffee machines and dishwashers designed to make life in the kitchen a daily pleasure. For people who love to cook, NEFF gives you the tools to creative meaningful connections, express your creativity and make memories. Because real life happens in the kitchen.
Learn more about NEFF here.
$25k worth of prizes? Well, that takes the cake. Enter the NEFF Moment Making Bakes Competition now for your chance to win some special products and prizes. Hurry, ends 20th May!
