Decorating Glass Front Kitchen Cabinets
Glass fronted kitchen cabinets lend an airy, open feel to any kitchen. Their transparency spotlights your dinnerware collections and kitchenwares while allowing more light to fill the room. However, the visibility of glass cabinet fronts means your storage system must remain meticulously organized. A bit of clever decorating keeps glass kitchen cabinets looking their best.
With some thoughtful changes, you can create a kitchen space that feels clean, cheerful, and uniquely you.
Prep and Measure Your Glass Kitchen Cabinets
Before decorating, take time to clean interiors, measure your glass cabinet dimensions, and analyze your storage needs. This prep work allows you to select organizational systems and accessories sized perfectly for your kitchen.
Clean Inside Glass Doors and Shelves
Use a glass cleaner to wipe down the inside surface of glass fronts, side glass panels, and any interior glass shelving. Remove all items from cabinets and shelves and wash with mild soap and water before drying completely. This removes grease buildup, food debris, and dust to start fresh.
Take Precise Measurements
Measure the height, width, and depth of your glass door cabinets and drawers. Note the amount of vertical room between shelves and any awkward dimensions around pipes or angles. This allows you to select storage containers that maximize every inch of available space.
Assess Your Storage Needs
Analyze how you use your kitchen and glass front cabinets. What items do you access daily or weekly? What gets used infrequently? Getting a handle on usage habits helps optimize storage efficiency. Place frequently used dinnerware near cabinet fronts while relegating special occasion glassware to higher shelves.
Add Lighting Inside and Under Glass Cabinets
Proper lighting showcases decorative touches behind glass fronts and illuminates hard-to-see corners. Puck lights, LED strips, and decorative fixtures beam from above, beside, and inside your glass kitchen cabinets.
Install Puck Lights
Adhere battery-powered puck lights directly to the top interior of glass cabinets to spotlight dishes, glassware or collectibles. Opt for warm light versions to enhance food displays. Place lights near the back to reduce glare when opening doors.
Add LED Strip Lighting
LED strip lighting comes in convenient rolls with peel-and-stick adhesive backing. Install lengths along the top or bottom interior of glass door cabinets and underneath upper cabinets. Choose bright white light strips to illuminate task areas or multicolor for ambient mood lighting.
Use Decorative Lighting
Display delicate glassware and ornate dishware with decorative lighting fixtures installed inside glass cabinets. Mini chandeliers, vintage bulbs, or custom marquee lettering spell out messages. Wiring requires professional help, so decorative lighting works best for glass cabinets with access to electrical outlets.
Style and Organize Inside Glass Doors
The right organizational products streamline storage while complementing your decor scheme. Spinning "lazy susans" consolidate sauces and spices. Canisters corral bulk foods in countertop-friendly style. Plate stands exhibit your best china vertically to save space. Drawer organizers partition utensils and tools.
Spin Storage and Turntables
Mounted on cabinet floors or shelving, spinning organizers consolidate small jars, bottles, or food boxes in a pie shape. Spin to find cooking oils, spices, condiments, or pet food without disturbing other items. Position towards cabinet fronts for easy access.
Glass Containers and Canisters
Glass storage options allow visibility of contents - perfect for pasta, rice, lentils, cereal, or candy. Airtight glass keeps food fresh while complementing glass cabinet fronts. Label jars using chalkboard spray paint or vinyl stickers. Group canisters together in corners or on countertops.
Plate Stands
Vertical plate stands provide vertical storage real estate within glass door cabinets to neatly store dish sets. Choose solid colors like white and stainless steel to seamlessly blend with your color scheme. Display everyday plates alongside formal chinaware in adjoining stands.
Spice Drawer Organizers
No more rummaging for spices, seasoning packets or loose tea bags! Acrylic or bamboo divider trays organize miniscule items neatly inside drawers. Arrange alphabetically or by cuisine. Group savory herbs and spices separately from sweet mixes and sugars.
Update Outside of Glass Kitchen Cabinets
Fortunately, glass fronts limit the canvas needing updates. Switching hardware, installing new glass doors, painting cabinet boxes or adding trim refresh worn kitchens affordably.
Replace Cabinet Hardware
Swapping outdated hardware dramatically modernizes any kitchen. Sleek black iron pulls contrast nicely with glass fronts. Circular brass knobs add traditional charm. Bar handles create a cottage feel. Install hardware cleanly to avoid marring cabinet surfaces.
Install New Glass Cabinet Doors
Replacing solid wood doors with glass instantly opens up a kitchen. Buy readymade standard sizes or have glass doors custom cut. Ensure glass thickness suits cabinet depth. Hinges, handles and shelf placement may need adjustments during the installation process.
Add Trim Molding
Crisp lines of white, black or stain grade trim draw the eye to glass fronts. Install crown molding across the top of a glass cabinet run. Flank doors with wide vertical side trim. Use ornamental trim pieces like dental molding for extra flair.
Repaint Cabinet Boxes
Over time, painted cabinet frames become scuffed or fade unevenly. Prepping properly and applying fresh paint makes the entire cabinetry installation appear clean and cohesive. Opt for light neutral colors to keep glass doors center stage.
Finish With Glass Cabinet Accessories
Place the finishing touches on your optimized glass kitchen cabinets with frosted window decals, organizational racks, glassware and customized lighting. Continue your design motif with colors and materials used elsewhere in the kitchen.
Window Pane Film
If clear glass feels too exposed, add privacy with removable window pane film kits. The white criss-cross pattern diffuses views without blocking light. Arrange decals vertically on side glass panels or in diamond motifs across cabinet fronts.
Frosted Glass Spray Paint
Following manufacturer's ventilation precautions, apply temporary frosted glass spray paint for a translucent panel effect inside glass cabinet doors. The finish cuts glare and hides clutter while allowing light transmission. Reapply after cleaning to refresh the look.
Glass Cabinet Door Decals
Glass door vinyl decals create the look of leaded or stained glass at a fraction of the cost. Geometric shapes, floral designs, ocean themes and kids' characters apply easily with the included application fluid, adhere securely and remove cleanly. Coordinate colors with your kitchen decor.
After all that effort adjusting your glass kitchen cabinets, display your prettiest glassware, arty bowls, crystal stemware inside. Spinning glass lazy susans keep delicate pieces secure. Dramatic glass vases fill awkward narrow spaces between dishes. Show off glass color and shape variances in wall-mounted plate racks or on acrylic floating glass shelves.
The clean sightlines of glass cabinetry keep kitchens feeling open and breezy. A few organizational upgrades banish clutter and create a backdrop for your cherished dinnerware. With glass fronts downplaying framework, the contents become the focus - so edit ruthlessly and display decoratively!