26 Open Shelving Ideas for Your Kitchen

Whether you choose to display your dishes, glassware or artwork, these images will make you want to rip out your cabinets and opt for open shelving.

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By: Felicia Feaster

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Open Shelving Makes Sense in a Contemporary Open Plan Kitchen

White paneled walls make a blank canvas backdrop for this lovely kitchen's crisp black trim and open shelving. Pretty patterned barstools and a rug layer in additional textures.

A Chic and Simple Display

In this just-a-hint-more-formal dining room, a wide country-style table makes up to 10 comfortable. The decor is simple and fun: open shelves display collections of glass bottles, teacups and pretty dishware.

From: Katherine Carter Design

Open Lower Storage

Pine that was stained a dark walnut creates the open storage shelves below the counter in the baking center. The shelves resemble a freestanding piece of furniture, with display storage for a bread box, dessert stands, mixing bowls, glass cannisters for flour and sugar and a marble rolling pin. A new window above peeks out to an alluring water view.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

An Open Shelving Coffee Bar Puts Your Java Passion Front and Center

Open shelving in the midcentury modern living room creates an easily accessible coffee bar for entertaining and display space for showcasing the homeowners' personality.

From: Urbanology Designs

Warm, Rustic Open Shelving

The open wood shelving in the white, modern farmhouse kitchen adds stylish storage to the space, while also bringing a warm, rustic element to the design.

From: Blissful Design Studio

A Tiny Space Gets Big Impact With Bold Blue Shelving

This tiny house is big on style. We enter into the kitchen and are immediately struck by the simple yet bold palette of cobalt blue, crisp white and gray. Its contemporary vibe is grounded by the use of classic rustic elements. The brass details, chunky shelves, cantilevered tables and the tufted sofa help to create an undeniably elevated look in this tiny home.

Edgy Shelves in Stainless

Wooden accessories like this cutting board, plate and vase soften the starkness of this kitchen's stainless steel shelves and clean, white subway tile backsplash. The houseplant is a fresh, organic touch.

From: Suzanne Childress

Keep it Simple With Shelving

Open shelving creates a stylish storage space in this kitchen.

From: Brooke Wagner

Edit Your Shelving Accessories

The key to open shelves looking pretty instead of like clutter catchers? Don't overstuff them. Here, this kitchen uses an edited mix of houseplants, tchotchkes and practical items.

From: Stefani Stein

Rustic Neutral Shelves Work in Tandem With a Brick Backsplash

A rustic neutral kitchen with a brown brick backsplash benefits from simple wooden shelves accessorized with complementary white accessories.

On Trend Brass Shelving

The redesigned kitchen blends the warmth of hardwood floors with the sharp contrast of the black cabinetry and white granite countertops. The distinctive wood wallpaper has gold flecks that create a subtle tie-in with the brass shelving and kitchen hardware.

Brass Shelving Below

Highlights in the kitchen include custom black cabinetry and vent hood, apron-front sink, white marble countertops and backsplash and open shelving.

Antiques Work Well With Open Shelves

White tiles make a blank canvas of a backdrop for this fun collection of kitchen antiques which are beautifully highlighted on these open shelves.

From: reThink Interiors

Industrial-Style Shelves

As a barrier between the modern staircase and the kitchen space, a glass wall serves as an anchor for the industrial shelves that have the appearance of simply floating in the air.

From: Design 4 Corners

Thick Floating Shelves in All-White Kitchen

Not all open shelves have to be dainty. These thick wooden shelves add drama to this kitchen.

Shelves Give a Boho Collected Look

This DIY kitchen shelving made with reclaimed wood is the perfect place to house this family's collection of ceramic dishware. A space was also added to hang pots to dry. The genius design allows water from the pots to drip right into plants in the kitchen.

Functional Repurposed Open Shelving

Rather than upper cabinets for wall storage, designers opted for open shelving that was crafted out of materials that were repurposed from the home's original kitchen.

From: Leanne Ford

Bar Cabinet With Patterned Backsplash

Wallpaper or tile with a pretty or punchy pattern makes a chic backdrop behind shelving and cabinets.

From: Rebecca Zajac

The Drama of Wood Floating Shelves

A graphic-patterned rug adds bright color to this contemporary kitchen. A large center island adds extra prep space, as well as more storage and a wine refrigerator.

From: Natalie Myers

Kids' Room With Gallery Wall Shelf

Choose a hero piece as the focal point for your room, like a bold upholstery pattern for the sofa. Then use a mix of quieter neutrals for the remaining furniture and walls to keep the space feeling light and open.

Open Shelving Adds Storage to Communal Kitchen

Open shelving on either side of the stove adds plenty of storage for mugs and spices.

From: Noz Nozawa

Custom White-Gloss Cabinets in Midcentury Modern Kitchen

Designers blended custom, sleek, white-gloss cabinets with the warm, mahogany paneling to create a space that felt both new and original.

From: Leanne Ford

Farmhouse-Style Cabinets and Shelving

A detail of this charming farmhouse kitchen shows off its open shelving and green marble countertop, details that blend seamlessly and characterize the home's updated take on farmhouse style. Brass hardware and green-painted trim are crisp and on-trend. The designers expanded the kitchen footprint and opened up the home's floor plan to create a family-friendly space.

From: Hendricks Churchill LLC

The Extra Appeal of Gold Brackets

Rustic elements like the exposed beams, farmhouse sink and open wood shelving make this kitchen feel casual and friendly though the gold brackets add a little something extra. The dark blue cabinets are a pretty way to add depth and richness.

From: Alison Jennison

Gray Open Shelving

To add color to this neutral room as well as create a focal point, patterned tile was added to the accent wall behind the sink. To add a bit of storage and contrast, open shelving was added to the design.

From: Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

Black and Glass Shelving Accents a Window Seat

Instead of bringing the counters straight across, the designers of this lovely kitchen made a fun window seat. The red leather cushion and geometric pillows add a graphic punch.

From: Duet Design Group