21 kitchen shelving ideas that maximize your design potential

install a hidden shelf

If you can't decide between exposed shelves and the sleek look of cabinetry, take inspiration from this design that offers the best of both aesthetics. To increase the functionality of this kitchen, her Becky Shea of ​​Becky Shea Design incorporated walnut shelves that can optionally be hidden behind the cabinet doors.

“Walnut is one of the better wood choices for such applications due to its exquisite grain pattern. I usually highlight it with a deep natural stain similar to the one featured here. ” says Shea. “The contrast with the white cabinetry makes it an ideal canvas for displaying decorative items or storing visually appealing containers.”

Utilize the corner

Don't overlook any corner of your kitchen. Shea says these are great places to install floating shelves to store additional tableware or decorative displays. In this kitchen, she used walnut shelving as an opportunity to blend form and function, and used ceramic plates, mugs, cutting boards, and vases to enliven the kitchen design.

Create a focal point

Use open shelving to draw the eye and create a focal point in your kitchen. That's what Laura Tribbett, president and founder of Outline Interiors, did with this kitchen. “Our intention was to designate the range wall as the focal point of the kitchen's décor, complementing the sea of ​​closed cabinetry,” she said. “We installed an entire wall of creamy ceramic tile backsplash, a custom stucco finish hood with metal bands and rivets, ceiling mounts, and brass to incorporate sculptural decorative elements. I requested a hanging shelf and a glass shelf.

put a shelf on the side of the sink

Choosing floating shelves instead of cabinets will make your kitchen feel more open. “When I stand in front of the sink, I often feel a little cramped because the upper cabinets are firmly set on either side, so I decided to install this floating shelf as a buffer,” says Shea. says. “Her dual purpose is to provide space for additional dishes and another space to display her favorite decorations and fresh flowers.”

bind and decorate

Kitchen shelving is practical and can be used for storage, but if you put too much stuff in it, it will look more cluttered than stylized. To avoid this, Shea recommends measuring the appliances you want to keep out of sight and making sure you have space inside the cabinet to store them before choosing open shelving. I am. If you have space for shelves, decorate them with only your most beautiful tableware and glassware.

add a shelf above the oven

Make your kitchen more functional by adding floating shelves above your oven wall backsplash. “The key is to place it at the right height and depth to avoid oil splashes and smoke exposure,” says Shea. “In this example, a height of 36 inches from the counter and a depth of 6 inches worked perfectly. I'm impressed with what you're bringing.”

Work with existing layouts

When designing shelves, keep your kitchen's existing layout in mind. In this kitchen, Shea left the shelves open and unobstructed when looking toward the window. “Not only does this preserve the view and allow light to penetrate the space, but it also helps improve the spaciousness of the room,” she says.

choose oak wood

Not sure what material to use for your floating shelves? If you want to achieve a natural and bright aesthetic, oak is the best option. “We installed oak floating shelves on either side of this hood to enhance the space and introduce airiness,” says Lerner. “This breaks up the heavy-duty cabinetry and provides a lightweight storage option.”

decorate with antiques

Your kitchen shelves are the perfect opportunity to show off your personality. Display eclectic treasures like Joshua Smith of Joshua Smith Inc. did in this kitchen. Antique artwork, brass candle holders, and a collection of flatware add character to the all-white kitchen.

Maintain continuity with the material

Installing shelves made of the same material as your kitchen cabinets will create a unified look. In this kitchen, the designers at Maestri His Studio chose wooden floating shelves to complement the enclosed wooden cabinets and create a sense of dimension without straying from the kitchen's color palette.

Add a shelf next to the stove

Increase the functionality of your kitchen by placing appliances such as a range hood on both sides with open shelves. “This provides convenient storage for frequently used items while creating a cohesive look and ensuring that everything you need is always within reach,” says former ASID National Board Member said Committee Chair Kerrie Kelly, FASID, NKBA.

Install shelves for wine bottles

Create shelves designed to store wine and other bottles, like Kelly did in this kitchen. “This elegant storage solution not only saves space, but also allows you to display your favorite beverages in style, making them easily accessible for impromptu gatherings,” she says.

Make the most of bottom storage

Neglected spaces under and behind cabinets are ideal places to install shelving, says Melinda O'Connor, principal designer at Melinda Kelson O'Connor Architecture & Interiors. “Line wood shelving with open lower cabinets to add warmth and depth to an underutilized and obscure space,” she says.

Build a recessed shelf in your backsplash

Maximize space and efficiency in your kitchen by creating recessed shelves in the backsplash behind the cooktop. “This clever design feature streamlines the cooking process by keeping the ingredients and utensils you need close at hand,” says Kelly.

Achieve a Rustic Look with Plumbing Fixtures

These shelves are suspended by plumbing fixtures, giving them a rustic look. “These are just another example of how open shelving can beautifully display fine tableware and objects if you have enough storage space in your cabinets,” says Shea. “It also provides an opportunity to introduce new materials into the design, in this example matching the leather cabinet hardware with the reed barn door on the right.”

choose a glass cabinet

If open shelving isn't your thing, glass cabinets provide an elegant way to keep shelves on display without leaving them completely exposed. O'Connor enhanced the home's built-in glass cabinets by adding lighting and styling them with simple plates and cups to complement the warm layered wood backdrop.

Add a pop of color

Style your kitchen shelves with brightly colored decorations and glassware to give your space a more inviting feel. This is what his man Bryan Yates of Yates Desygn did in this kitchen. “The goal of this project was to utilize shelving to transform the client's once dark and outdated kitchen into a cheerful Southern space with easy access to everyday glassware,” he says. . To realize his vision, Yates decorated the shelves with white and blue bowls, colorful glassware, and fruit bowls filled with bright green apples.

reuse antique cabinets

Repurpose historic cabinets as shelves to blend vintage and new elements in a sophisticated way. “This shelf was in the original house, but we painstakingly restored it and integrated it into the kitchen with a new place for glassware,” says O'Connor.

Create a curated look

Your kitchen should be functional above all else, but it should also reflect the aesthetics of the rest of your home, and shelving is the perfect opportunity to do that. “By adding and layering art and accessories, you can achieve a visually interesting, well-chosen designer look,” says Tracee Murphy of Trade Mark Interiors.

Disassemble home appliances

Divide up large kitchen appliances by installing shelves between them. “His two refrigeration units, separated by open shelving, provide a beautiful and functional space to display tableware and everyday items,” says cabinetmaker O'Brien Harris. “Shelves float above a stone countertop that breaks up the cabinet height and adds visual interest and provides a practical area for preparing items from the refrigeration unit.”

choose a small shelf

Even small kitchen shelves can pack a big design punch, as evidenced by this design by NAVYBLACK Studio and PROjECT.interiors. For this tableau, I created a small shelf made from honed Calacatta Lincoln that is perfect for holding small decorative items such as artwork or taper candles.