Goodbye Cabinets, Hello Open Kitchen Shelves (and Easy Access!)

Is your vintage cookware hidden away in your closed kitchen cabinets? Are you spending long hours hunting for dishes, cutlery, and spices?

If so, then open kitchen shelves are for you! From ornate spice jars to prized porcelain serveware, open shelving ideas in the kitchen let you proudly display your coveted cookware.

Not just that, open shelving gives you easy access to all of your kitchen essentials. There is also more room for creativity and personalisation since they’re the perfect place to display your non-kitchen items.

We’ve put together some inspiration to show you how you can work with open kitchen shelves!

The odd number-tiered open kitchen shelf

Odd numbers work best for most design elements, and that includes shelves. Create a focal point using rows of three or five open shelves and use them to display patterned crockery, glassware or even framed photographs.

White open shelves make kitchens brighter

White is a great colour for open shelves since it creates the illusion of a larger space. If you’re worried about dust and clutter, get open shelves in place of upper cabinets to make a smaller kitchen look visually appealing.

A splash of yellow sunshine

Preppy colours can always revive a space with their vibrancy and cheer. This lively kitchen features white open shelves set against a bright yellow kitchen backsplash that elevates the mood of the space. Give your open shelves a bright backdrop with primary colours and instantly create a focal point.

Closed vs. open?

If you are unable to let go of closed cabinetry, you can always incorporate them along with open kitchen shelves. In fact, the synergy of closed cabinetry and open shelving ideas in the kitchen can look great. Tuck away heavy kitchenware inside the cabinets and save those colourful spices and condiments for the open kitchen shelves.

Shelfie it loud with a bold hue!

If a monotonous colour scheme of open and closed kitchen shelves seems overwhelming, you can always colour the open shelves a bright/contrasting colour to break the visual monotony.

Windowside open kitchen shelves steal the show

Closed cabinetry often blocks natural light, resulting in heavy claustrophobic spaces. Stick with cabinetry around the stove and have open kitchen shelves next to the window. This way, you can have a clear view of the outdoors while the natural light will make your crockery look good.

Brilliant boxed open kitchen shelf design

Instead of plain wooden planks or open kitchen wall cabinets, you can opt for free-standing box shelves above your countertop. Place them at different heights to create a staggered arrangement for a dynamic, playful composition. You can even paint each box in various colours for an ultra-peppy look.

The shelf & railing combo you need

We love love love this open kitchen shelf design! It takes you back to those terrace railing designs in European houses from the Victorian era.

Hanging shelves are the way to go!

These versatile open kitchen shelves can be mounted directly on walls or even suspended from the ceiling. Just remember to be practical: hang them low for easy access or higher up to avoid any surprise bumps.

Also Read: 15+ Smart Kitchen Storage Ideas to Solve Design Problems

For the connoisseurs of plates

This open kitchen shelf is the ONLY thing a connoisseur of decorative plates needs to have. It’s an effortless way to display your collections and a functional way to store your washed plates if placed right above the sink.

Also Read: 44 Creative Wall Decor Ideas for Your Favourite Wall

Double storage and double functionality

Arrange the shelves in a staggered pattern, where one shelf sits slightly forward or backwards compared to the other. This creates a more dynamic look and allows for the display of taller items on the back shelf.

Conquer upper cabinet corners

Corner shelves are your ally when it comes to kitchen space-saving ideas. Utilise unused corner areas with under-shelf lighting to illuminate your displayed items.

Also Read: Sensational Corner Shelf Design Ideas You’ll Love

L is for love (of open shelving): Corner edition!

Not a fan of upper kitchen cabinets? Fix L-shaped ledges made of any material that suits your kitchen design. You can opt for a slightly rounded design on the L-shaped ledge for a softer look instead of sharp corners.

Open kitchen, open bar

Stunning and sleek, this open kitchen shelf design on the island can double as your home bar storage. The wooden fruit baskets beside the kitchen tall unit are another clever open storage idea in this kitchen.

Also Read: 40 Unbelievable Island Kitchen Designs You Can Easily Take Inspiration From

Reclaimed-industrial fusion style

Reclaimed wooden shelving for kitchens comes with natural imperfections, weathered texture, and rich grain patterns bringing a whiff of rustic charm into your kitchen. This open kitchen shelf can create a cohesive and authentic farmhouse look when paired with vintage canisters, mismatched mugs, and woven baskets.

The wood wonder that wows kitchens

Walnut wood’s rich, dark tones create a warm and inviting contrast against lighter-coloured kitchen backsplashes or sink materials (white ceramic, stainless steel) adding visual interest. Depending on the overall design of your kitchen, walnut shelves can complement both modern and classic styles:

• Pair the walnut shelf with clean lines, minimalist hardware, and light-coloured countertops for a sleek and modern open shelving kitchen
• Combine the walnut shelf with traditional cabinet styles, decorative hardware, and warmer-toned countertops for a classic and timeless feel

Underlighting for the win

Underlighting casts a warm glow on your displayed items, highlighting their colours, textures, and shapes. This also adds depth and dimension to your shelves, making them appear less flat and one-dimensional.

Also Read: 20+ Classy Home Lighting Design Ideas to Beautify Your House By Livspace

Go for the float

The absence of visible brackets in floating shelves eliminates bulkiness, making the space feel lighter and more open. Remember have weight limitations, so choose the appropriate material and thickness based on what you plan to store.

Why upper cabinets are so last season

Replacing upper cabinets with open kitchen shelves can be a great way to transform your kitchen’s look and feel. They visually break up wall space, making your kitchen feel more spacious and less closed-in. This is especially beneficial for smaller kitchens.

Also Read: 20+ Simple Designs for Small Kitchens That Will Take Your Breath Away

Wanna make your small kitchen even more brighter and spacious? Opt for light-coloured open shelves, countertop material and kitchen tile designs.

The hob edition of the open kitchen shelf design

The wall space beside the hobs is usually unused which means installing open shelves there can be a great space-saving, functional and aesthetic solution. The biggest concern here is heat exposure so make sure the stove is not right under the shelves.

Also Read: Built-in Hob vs Freestanding Gas Stove Design: Choosing the Right Cooktop

A fusion of wood & chrome

The natural wood tones and imperfections of the rustic ledges reflect a connection to nature while the sleek chrome finish of the support rods introduces a touch of industrial chic. The contrast between the warm wood and the cool metal creates a visually interesting focal point.

A gallery of open kitchen shelves

Describe a luxurious kitchen with an image? It’s this royal green kitchen with golden accents.

Here are some rustic vibes with a hint of modernity (cue: warm wooden tones)

Underlighting is so useful when it comes to traditional rustic wooden shelving for kitchens with exposed brick backsplash because the all-wood accents may decrease the kitchen’s brightness.

Which is your pick: A Victorian modern open shelving kitchen or an industrial open shelf?

How can Livspace help you?

Livspace offers 3D visualisation tools that allow you to see how different open-shelf designs would look in your specific kitchen space. You can personalise your open shelves to perfectly match your existing kitchen design. We offer

• 20 lakh+ catalogue products
• A flat 10-year warranty*
• Easy EMIs
• 146 quality checks

Visit your nearest experience centre to find your dream kitchens! Book a consultation NOW!

*For select finishes on modular products. For full scope of warranty, please visit zonemlb.com/in/service

Disclaimer: All contents of the story are specific to the time of publication. Mentions of costs, budget, materials, finishes, and products from the Livspace catalogue can vary with reference to current rates. Talk to our designer for more details on pricing and availability. The Pinterest images used in this blog are solely for illustrative purposes. We do not claim ownership of these images, and all rights belong to their respective owners. If you are the owner of any image and would like it to be removed or credited differently, please contact us.