What to Display on Open Kitchen Shelving

Open kitchen shelves offer homeowners stylish storage and display options to showcase their favorite dishware, cookbooks, and decor. But with so many choices, what should you put on open shelves? We share ideas to help you decorate open kitchen shelves based on your lifestyle, storage needs, and overall design.

Everyday Dishes and Glassware

Stacking plates, bowls, mugs, and glasses on open shelves keeps essential items within arm's reach. Opt for your most frequently used dishware to avoid constantly opening cabinets.

• Display stacks of white plates and bowls for an airy, neutral look.
• Add pops of color with vibrant glassware or patterned mugs.
• Install extra shelving to separate dishware categories.
• Place items low enough for easy access but high enough to avoid messy counters.

Some dwellers ditch upper cabinets entirely for more openness and light. While this looks great, make sure to carefully curate shelf contents to prevent clutter.

Strategic Organization

getGrouping similar dishes together keeps shelves tidy. Place dinner plates and bowls on separate shelves from drinkware. Or try designating shelves by meal type with one for breakfast items, one for dinnerware, etc.

For households with little ones, consider displaying plastic plates and cups on lower shelves for easy self-serve while keeping glass and ceramic pieces up higher.

Mixing Materials

Beyond function, open shelves allow you to highlight beautiful kitchenware. Mix and match textures and colors for a collected look. Try bamboo plates next to pottery bowls and copper mugs alongside clear glassware.

Decorative Dishes

Collections, vintage finds, or handmade pottery can transform open shelves from strictly utilitarian to uniquely you. Designate one shelf to showcase special pieces as artwork. Here are creative ways to display decorative dishes:

• Hang plates or bowls using wall mounts, plate racks, or floating shelves.
• Prop up with plate stands, mini easels, or risers.
• Arrange collections in neat rows using shelf dividers.
• Add warmth with touches of wood, woven baskets, or neutral linens.

Editing Collections

When displaying collections on open shelves, carefully edit pieces to avoid a cluttered look. Find the highlights that fit your color scheme, keep them dust-free, and frequently rotate items.

Everyday Meets Heirloom

Incorporate decorative dishes into everyday use to enjoy their beauty regularly. Designate a shelf for holiday dishes to easily rotate. Or keep favorite handmade pieces handy for serving salads, baked goods, and more.

Cookbooks

Cookbook shelves bring frequently used recipes within reach, literally. Organizing by cuisine or diet makes finding the perfect dish even easier. Here's how to creatively display cookbooks:

• Categorize by diet, cuisine type, or frequency of use.
• Style alongside fruit bowls, potted herbs, or related kitchen tools.
• Prop upright with bookends for easy scanning.
• Hide inside baskets or bins and label for a clean look.

Creative Storage Solutions

Incorporate vertical space above shelves with mounted rails or shelf ledges to store more books. Or ditch the shelf altogether and cover one wall with wire storage cubes to nicely corral cookbooks.

Digital Integration

Reduce book clutter without losing recipes. Load favorites onto tablets housed in mounted charging stations or shelving cubbies. Use QR code stickers to link physical books to digital copies.

Fruit Bowls

Fruit bowls conveniently store fresh produce while adding a pop of color. Style hollowed-out pineapples or woven baskets overflowing with lemons and limes. Double up form and function with serving bowls pulling double duty.

• Choose materials like ceramic, glass, or wood that won't ruin produce.
• Include small paring knives or grape scissors for easy snacking.
• Layer fruits and vegetables by size in hanging racks.
• Refresh bowls weekly as produce changes with the season.

Get Creative

Take fruit bowls beyond the usual apples and bananas. Display pomegranates, fresh figs, or seasonal stone fruits for unique styling.

Faux Finishes

Fake florals, berries, lemons, limes, and other produce replicate the bright pops of color without the upkeep. They're perfect for the snack-averse or homes prone to fruit flies.

Plants and Herbs

Houseplants infuse open shelves with life and freshness. Potted herbs bring added function for easy seasoning while cooking. Consider these tips for stylish plant displays:

• Choose low-light varieties like Pothos or Snake Plants.
• Include self-watering pots or reservoirs.
• Incorporate complementary ceramic planters or woven baskets.
• Display freshly snipped herbs in glasses or bottles.

Get Strategic

Place plants and herbs close to their end use, like near the stove for cooking. Install mounted rails above shelves to hang trailing ivy or small planters.

The Green Thumb

Appoint one family member the "plant mom" or "plant dad" to ensure watering and care. Consider fake plants if you lack a green thumb!

Small Appliances

Stashing small appliances behind closed cabinet doors wastes prime countertop real estate. Show off your gadgets! Blenders, stand mixers, and food processors become kitchen decor when openly displayed.

• Store bulky items on lower shelves and smaller gadgets up higher.
• Consider finish and color to coordinate appliances with your style.
• Keep appliances plugged in to keep charged and ready for use.
• Wrap cords neatly with ties, wraps, or clips.

Maximize Functionality

Install electrical outlets inside lower cabinets to cleanly integrate appliances. Dedicate one shelf to small appliances used weekly like coffee machines or immersion blenders.

Edit Your Collection

Resist the urge to display every gadget. Edit down to the appliances you use most. Store specialty and infrequently used items like dehydrators or ice cream makers elsewhere.

Organizing and Styling Approaches

With open shelving, everything is on display. Follow these guiding principles when organizing shelves:

• Group by usage: Cluster similar items, like drinking glasses or spice jars.
• Coordinate colors: Stick to one dominant palette with pops of contrasting colors.
• Vary heights: Create dimension using risers, stands, or wall mounts.
• Highlight favorites: Use bookends or platforms to showcase special pieces.
• Freshen for seasons: Rotate summer linens, fruit bowls, or holiday serveware.

Curation Over Clutter

Carefully curate items for open shelves rather than cramming them full. Style meaningfully, not abundantly. Avoid "blind filling" shelves simply to take up space.

Try, Tweak, Repeat

Perfectly styled open shelves rarely happen overnight. Embrace an iterative process of trying new arrangements, tweaking, and reassessing.

Storage Solutions

While open shelves optimize display potential, storage challenges remain. Baskets, racks, and organizers introduce compartmentalization to prevent a jumbled look.

• Baskets: Woven baskets corral like items and conceal clutter.
• Risers: Lifted shelves, platforms, and stands add dimension.
• Organizers: Insert removable dividers to compartmentalize shelves.
• Hooks: Wall-mounted rails and ledges maximize vertical storage.
• Lazy susans: Spinning organizers efficiently use corner shelves.

Edit Before Adding Storage

Resist the urge to over stuff open shelves, even with added compartments. Thoughtfully edit down items first before incorporating any new storage elements.

Conceal Seasonally

Rotate bulky serveware or infrequently used items to interior cabinets seasonally. Transfer summer dishware to winter storage to refresh shelves.

Maintenance

The openness we love in shelving also leaves items more exposed. Minimize dust and grime with these maintenance tips:

• Frequently dust shelves, ledges, and items using microfiber cloths or dusters.
• Rearrange pieces regularly for cleaning and an updated look.
• Check for chipping or damage from everyday use.
• Clean shelves themselves with a degreasing spray and towel.

Simplify Cleaning

Opt for easy-wipe materials like glass, metal, and finished wood whenever possible. Skip open-backed shelves that allow dust to settle on walls.

Prevent Chips

Add felt pad protectors to shelf edges and use nonslip mats. These precautions guard delicate dishware against chipping if bumped.

Open shelves not only store essentials with style but also allow you to highlight favorite dishware, cookbooks, and decor. Keep the everyday necessities handy for regular use while showcasing special pieces. Thoughtfully curate, creatively organize, and properly maintain open shelves so this stylish storage solution can be enjoyed beautiful and functionally for years to come.