The Best Places to Locate Open Shelves in Your Kitchen
Consider these spots for your kitchen's open shelving to let in natural light, deal with tricky corners and add storage
tidgboutique
30 January 2020
Toronto Interior Design Group is a trusted one-stop-shop residential interior design concierge boutique-style firm crafting timeless interiors.
Toronto Interior Design Group is a trusted one-stop-shop residential interior design... More
Open shelving in the kitchen is a bit of a love-it-or-leave-it idea, and whether it’s practical or not largely comes down to how you use your kitchen. But if you do want to incorporate floating or open shelves, a question emerges: where should you hang them? There are many great places to put open shelves, and this guide will help you determine the best spot in your kitchen.
Around a window
With natural light so highly sought after, it’s important to maximise whatever window real estate your kitchen has. Bulky upper cabinets can box in your windows, blocking light from entering the space as fully as it could. Floating shelves, however, allow light to pour in through your windows into the space at all angles.
Need expert help in designing your kitchen floor plan? Find a specialised kitchen designer and renovator on Houzz near you
With natural light so highly sought after, it’s important to maximise whatever window real estate your kitchen has. Bulky upper cabinets can box in your windows, blocking light from entering the space as fully as it could. Floating shelves, however, allow light to pour in through your windows into the space at all angles.
Need expert help in designing your kitchen floor plan? Find a specialised kitchen designer and renovator on Houzz near you
This means you can put storage tight to the window (rather than leaving a big gap around the sides) without blocking the light. For maximum openness, choose a roller blind on or in the window frame rather than a hanging curtain.
You can also add under-cabinet lighting to maximise the glow coming from the area even at night.
Budget Kitchen Hack: Remove Doors on Cabinets for Instant Open Shelving
You can also add under-cabinet lighting to maximise the glow coming from the area even at night.
Budget Kitchen Hack: Remove Doors on Cabinets for Instant Open Shelving
This around-the-window strategy is especially useful if your window is placed in a corner of the room or another awkward spot, which can happen in older buildings that have been converted or in kitchens where the windows are not where one would usually expect. Giving it some breathing room will make the best of the window you have, and you can let another element be the feature.
Frame the range hood
Some people like to see a range hood hidden away in a cabinet. Others like to make it a visual feature. If you like a beautiful exposed hood, surrounding it with shelves can complete the look to make a true feature wall. This approach also leaves the range hood visible from more angles (as opposed to surrounding it with cabinets, much like the previous tip).
Best of the Week: 25 Range Hoods With Wow Factor
Some people like to see a range hood hidden away in a cabinet. Others like to make it a visual feature. If you like a beautiful exposed hood, surrounding it with shelves can complete the look to make a true feature wall. This approach also leaves the range hood visible from more angles (as opposed to surrounding it with cabinets, much like the previous tip).
Best of the Week: 25 Range Hoods With Wow Factor
For those who spend a lot of time at the stove, it can also be nicer to spend time facing into an airy area of shelves rather than having a lot of cabinetry in your face.
It can also be very practical to have open shelving here for the convenience of being able to quickly grab some spices or kitchen utensils with one hand rather than having to fish through your cabinets.
It can also be very practical to have open shelving here for the convenience of being able to quickly grab some spices or kitchen utensils with one hand rather than having to fish through your cabinets.
Above the sink
The sink is another area where a lot of time is spent in the kitchen. If you don’t have a window above your sink, breaking up the cabinets with a small stretch of shelves can make this area feel more open. When you’re peeling vegetables or hand-washing a large pot, you’ll appreciate having some attractive accents displayed in front of you rather than a solid stretch of cabinets centimetres from your face.
The sink is another area where a lot of time is spent in the kitchen. If you don’t have a window above your sink, breaking up the cabinets with a small stretch of shelves can make this area feel more open. When you’re peeling vegetables or hand-washing a large pot, you’ll appreciate having some attractive accents displayed in front of you rather than a solid stretch of cabinets centimetres from your face.
Around a complex corner
Homes often have odd ‘complex’ corners, shifts in the wall caused by structural posts or other architectural elements that make the walls change direction multiple times. This is especially common in apartments.
In this example you can see the blue-painted area was transformed into a feature shelf. It’s much easier to have simple shelves cut to follow a complex shape than to try to have cabinets custom fitted, and the result shows the personality of your space instead of covering it up.
Kitchen Conundrum: Upper Cabinets, Open Shelves or Space?
Homes often have odd ‘complex’ corners, shifts in the wall caused by structural posts or other architectural elements that make the walls change direction multiple times. This is especially common in apartments.
In this example you can see the blue-painted area was transformed into a feature shelf. It’s much easier to have simple shelves cut to follow a complex shape than to try to have cabinets custom fitted, and the result shows the personality of your space instead of covering it up.
Kitchen Conundrum: Upper Cabinets, Open Shelves or Space?
At the end of the kitchen
When using standard-sized cabinets, it can be difficult to perfectly fill the available wall space (which is often an arbitrary number of centimetres and not standard cabinet width) with cabinetry.
One smart solution is to fill the last few centimetres of space (say, a 25-centimetre gap at the end of a beautiful row of matching 60-centimetre wide cabinets) with open shelves in a contrasting finish or material to create an attractive accent that anchors the edge like a bookend. Splurging on this add-on can make a kitchen with stock cabinets feel completely custom.
When using standard-sized cabinets, it can be difficult to perfectly fill the available wall space (which is often an arbitrary number of centimetres and not standard cabinet width) with cabinetry.
One smart solution is to fill the last few centimetres of space (say, a 25-centimetre gap at the end of a beautiful row of matching 60-centimetre wide cabinets) with open shelves in a contrasting finish or material to create an attractive accent that anchors the edge like a bookend. Splurging on this add-on can make a kitchen with stock cabinets feel completely custom.
Above the island
Who says shelves have to be anchored to a wall? Hanging shelves from the ceiling over your island puts storage in a handy spot for those who do a lot of cooking or food-preparation work at the island.
If you hang them just above eye level, they’ll still be reachable without crowding your view.
This is also a great place to put dishes or glassware so they can easily be grabbed by a guest who otherwise may not know which cabinet to look in, and without even having to set foot in your cooking space.
The Best Things to Store on Open Kitchen Shelves
Who says shelves have to be anchored to a wall? Hanging shelves from the ceiling over your island puts storage in a handy spot for those who do a lot of cooking or food-preparation work at the island.
If you hang them just above eye level, they’ll still be reachable without crowding your view.
This is also a great place to put dishes or glassware so they can easily be grabbed by a guest who otherwise may not know which cabinet to look in, and without even having to set foot in your cooking space.
The Best Things to Store on Open Kitchen Shelves
At the end of a peninsula
If you have a peninsula bench, you can also consider putting shelves along this wall to serve a similar function without cutting off any sightlines.
This can be a great place to mix some storage (for mugs, cups, and other beverage supplies) with art or family photos and mementos to create a functional and decorative display space in the central hub of a busy home.
If you have a peninsula bench, you can also consider putting shelves along this wall to serve a similar function without cutting off any sightlines.
This can be a great place to mix some storage (for mugs, cups, and other beverage supplies) with art or family photos and mementos to create a functional and decorative display space in the central hub of a busy home.
Below an angled ceiling
Have a low or slanted ceiling to contend with? This is another area where it can be tough and expensive to fit in a cabinet, but a breeze to add a few shelves.
Shelves already look great when sized to different widths, as in this example, so they’re a perfect fit for angled areas. Notice how this composition uses a framed photo on one end to continue the visual triangle, following the shape of the ceiling even higher for a casually elegant effect.
Have a low or slanted ceiling to contend with? This is another area where it can be tough and expensive to fit in a cabinet, but a breeze to add a few shelves.
Shelves already look great when sized to different widths, as in this example, so they’re a perfect fit for angled areas. Notice how this composition uses a framed photo on one end to continue the visual triangle, following the shape of the ceiling even higher for a casually elegant effect.
Across a window
This idea will be controversial for some people, but if you ask me, it’s a beautiful one. If you have windows that let in great natural light but may not have the most exciting view (such as of a building next door), stretching shelving across the windows changes the whole look without losing the light.
This idea will be controversial for some people, but if you ask me, it’s a beautiful one. If you have windows that let in great natural light but may not have the most exciting view (such as of a building next door), stretching shelving across the windows changes the whole look without losing the light.
It’s a cool look for modern spaces but also works in more traditional homes. Just make sure your window will still be operable with the shelving in place. This can be a smart solution to dress a window that might otherwise always be hidden behind a curtain.
To keep as much light as possible, use these shelves to stack items such as clear glassware or serving dishes, which will refract the view but let the light pour in.
To keep as much light as possible, use these shelves to stack items such as clear glassware or serving dishes, which will refract the view but let the light pour in.
In a corner
Wondering what to do with a corner of an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen? Corner cabinets can sometimes be hard to access, but an L-shaped shelf lets you see and grab anything stashed away, even the items tucked right into the corner itself. No more searching in a deep corner cabinet, and no need for fancy pull-out systems. Just a little cutting and seaming to get a shelf that fits just right.
Wondering what to do with a corner of an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen? Corner cabinets can sometimes be hard to access, but an L-shaped shelf lets you see and grab anything stashed away, even the items tucked right into the corner itself. No more searching in a deep corner cabinet, and no need for fancy pull-out systems. Just a little cutting and seaming to get a shelf that fits just right.
Above a small station
Sometimes all you need (or want) is just a few short shelves to store some basics, while most of your kitchen storage remains behind closed cupboard doors. What better place to hang these shelves than over a single station in the kitchen, such as a coffee station, snack bar or breakfast nook?
Shelves like these with exposed hardware can go up in a snap with just a few screws, and while they may not be able to hold up a heavy mixer, they can hold a few mugs and bowls for just the right dash of casual style.
Your turn
How have you made open shelving work in your kitchen? Spill your secrets in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen inspiration? Read up on 7 Ways to Bring a Natural Feel Into Your Kitchen
Sometimes all you need (or want) is just a few short shelves to store some basics, while most of your kitchen storage remains behind closed cupboard doors. What better place to hang these shelves than over a single station in the kitchen, such as a coffee station, snack bar or breakfast nook?
Shelves like these with exposed hardware can go up in a snap with just a few screws, and while they may not be able to hold up a heavy mixer, they can hold a few mugs and bowls for just the right dash of casual style.
Your turn
How have you made open shelving work in your kitchen? Spill your secrets in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen inspiration? Read up on 7 Ways to Bring a Natural Feel Into Your Kitchen
Related Stories
Most Popular
Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen Designer
The right designer can bring your dream kitchen to life – three kitchen designers reveal where to look and what to ask
Full Story
Kitchen Expert Advice
7 Common Kitchen Design Challenges & How Experts Get Around Them
From bad layouts to poor storage, here are seven issues pros come up against (and overcome) in clients' kitchen renos
Full Story
Kitchens
A Good Fit: 10 Questions to Ask a Potential Kitchen Designer
By lwkkitchens
A good designer knows which questions to ask about your kitchen project. But what should you ask them before you sign?
Full Story
Most Popular
8 Dos and Don'ts for a Well-Functioning Butler's Pantry
Having a little help behind the scenes is key to a pristine kitchen – here's how to create a functional butler's pantry
Full Story
Most Popular
Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
By Anne Ellard
Discover the correctly proportioned kitchen island bench dimensions so your space works as well as it can
Full Story
Kitchen Renovations
10 Times You Should Hire a Kitchen Designer
These specialists can solve layout issues, save costs, update an older space and create custom design details
Full Story
Popular Houzz Series
How Practical Is... Handleless Joinery?
Handleless joinery is popular in modern homes. But how suitable are cupboards that can only be opened with a touch?
Full Story
Renovation Guides
Room by Room: Experts on Ways to Avoid Common Renovation Blunders
From the kitchen to the garden, and all areas in between, experts identify common mistakes and share priceless insights
Full Story
Most Popular
From Planning to Pendants: Kitchen Lighting Essentials
By Joanna Tovia
This valuable guide will give you all you need to know about choosing kitchen lighting for fabulous form and function
Full Story
Kitchen Renovations
A Kitchen That Uses Special Elements to Punch Above Its Weight
This couple wanted a well-designed kitchen that incorporated their pre-bought furniture; this designer delivered
Full Story
I adore open shelves. So easy. Just make sure everything is lined up and that they aren't too high that you can't reach them. Mine line up with the range hood and the top of the fridge.
Would have loved the ”cover“ picture if only they had been more generous with the splash back
Thanks but no thanks! Grease and dust!