On Display: 10 Stylish (and Tidy) Ways to Arrange Open Kitchen Shelves
Transform your open kitchen shelving from chaotic to neat and thoroughly chic, with these simple styling and organisation ideas
Open kitchen shelves can enhance the visual appeal and practicality of any cooking zone, but their good looks and functionality fade when clutter takes over, resulting in storage that’s disorganised and a downright eyesore. The key to making open shelving work in your kitchen is to carefully select the items you wish to display, and then arrange them in a way that suits the space, adds visual interest, and looks neat but not necessarily overly structured.
Thinking about incorporating open shelving into your kitchen or sprucing up your current shelf set-up? Take inspiration from these inspiring ideas, and see how they stack up in your space.
Thinking about incorporating open shelving into your kitchen or sprucing up your current shelf set-up? Take inspiration from these inspiring ideas, and see how they stack up in your space.
2. Keep everyday items within easy reach
Do you have a large collection of items you wish to store on your open shelves? Place everyday essentials (plates, mugs, bowls and tumblers) in a spot that’s practical and easy to reach, while items you only use occasionally (serving platters, mixing bowls and stemware) should be placed on shelves that are higher up and out of the way.
Do you have a large collection of items you wish to store on your open shelves? Place everyday essentials (plates, mugs, bowls and tumblers) in a spot that’s practical and easy to reach, while items you only use occasionally (serving platters, mixing bowls and stemware) should be placed on shelves that are higher up and out of the way.
3. Strive for symmetry
If you desire a look that’s clean and balanced, opt for a simple yet stylish symmetrical arrangement. An easy (and obvious) way to create a harmonious mirror-image set-up is to place identical kitchen items on opposite sides of the same shelf, or on separate shelves that are positioned at the same height on the same wall.
Want to mix things up a little? Incorporate items that are different in style but are of a similar shape and size into your display – this will create a balanced, loosely symmetrical look, but one with an extra layer of visual interest. This elegant cooking zone uses both of these simple yet effective styling tricks.
If you desire a look that’s clean and balanced, opt for a simple yet stylish symmetrical arrangement. An easy (and obvious) way to create a harmonious mirror-image set-up is to place identical kitchen items on opposite sides of the same shelf, or on separate shelves that are positioned at the same height on the same wall.
Want to mix things up a little? Incorporate items that are different in style but are of a similar shape and size into your display – this will create a balanced, loosely symmetrical look, but one with an extra layer of visual interest. This elegant cooking zone uses both of these simple yet effective styling tricks.
4. Keep it simple
Worried that open shelving will make your kitchen look cluttered and chaotic? The easiest solution is to carefully curate a small selection of kitchen essentials you’d like to display, rather than putting everything you own on show. Once you’ve made your final edit, spread the items across the length of the shelves (with plenty of space in-between) for a clean, sparse look.
Worried that open shelving will make your kitchen look cluttered and chaotic? The easiest solution is to carefully curate a small selection of kitchen essentials you’d like to display, rather than putting everything you own on show. Once you’ve made your final edit, spread the items across the length of the shelves (with plenty of space in-between) for a clean, sparse look.
5. Mix it up
Want your open shelves to offer practical storage but inject your kitchen with personality and visual appeal, too? Fill your shelves with everyday items that should be easily accessible, along with eye-catching accents that add character to the arrangement.
This fresh shelving set-up is a study in how to mix fun and functional items together. Here, an eclectic combination of decorative accents (such as the retro-style radio, sculptural vases and small exotic trinkets), are strategically scattered across the shelves to lift the otherwise ordinary display of everyday kitchen essentials.
Want your open shelves to offer practical storage but inject your kitchen with personality and visual appeal, too? Fill your shelves with everyday items that should be easily accessible, along with eye-catching accents that add character to the arrangement.
This fresh shelving set-up is a study in how to mix fun and functional items together. Here, an eclectic combination of decorative accents (such as the retro-style radio, sculptural vases and small exotic trinkets), are strategically scattered across the shelves to lift the otherwise ordinary display of everyday kitchen essentials.
6. Stack 'em up
You really can’t go wrong if you stick with a simple stacked arrangement. A stylish and practical scheme like this will work in any kitchen (especially smaller ones), as it’s space saving, adds character and visual interest, and ensures plates, bowls and any other items on display remain beautifully organised and easily accessible.
While there’s no right or wrong way to do it, avoid the temptation to create piles that are sky high, otherwise your carefully styled stacks may just come toppling down!
You really can’t go wrong if you stick with a simple stacked arrangement. A stylish and practical scheme like this will work in any kitchen (especially smaller ones), as it’s space saving, adds character and visual interest, and ensures plates, bowls and any other items on display remain beautifully organised and easily accessible.
While there’s no right or wrong way to do it, avoid the temptation to create piles that are sky high, otherwise your carefully styled stacks may just come toppling down!
7. Group like items together
You store similar items together in your cupboards, so why not follow the same rule of thumb when arranging your open shelving? This neat idea will make your open shelves look clean and well organised, plus it makes for a more efficient and practical space.
Notice how in this streamlined kitchen pots and pans are stored on a shelf above a large expanse of benchtop space and within easy reach of the stove, while dinnerware and other dining essentials are conveniently positioned on a shelf next to the sink and across from an island that doubles as a casual meals zone.
You store similar items together in your cupboards, so why not follow the same rule of thumb when arranging your open shelving? This neat idea will make your open shelves look clean and well organised, plus it makes for a more efficient and practical space.
Notice how in this streamlined kitchen pots and pans are stored on a shelf above a large expanse of benchtop space and within easy reach of the stove, while dinnerware and other dining essentials are conveniently positioned on a shelf next to the sink and across from an island that doubles as a casual meals zone.
8. Add layers
Want to make your open shelving the focal point of your kitchen? Then simply stacking bowls and plates sky high, or lining up your collection of cups and mugs in a neat row won’t cut it – a little more creativity is required if you want to create a display that really wows.
The secret to this charming arrangement’s success is the use of different layers to add depth and visual intrigue. A selection of decorative plates and photo frames are propped up against the wall to draw the eye in and punctuate the display, while larger, more robust pieces (such as the mixing bowls, teapots and marble cake stand) anchor the striking arrangement. Small stacks of crockery are casually scattered along the lower shelves to introduce different levels and create interest. Take note of how vintage-style decor (such as bud vases, candle holders and assorted serving ware) has been artfully arranged to fill any glaring gaps and tie the look together.
Want to make your open shelving the focal point of your kitchen? Then simply stacking bowls and plates sky high, or lining up your collection of cups and mugs in a neat row won’t cut it – a little more creativity is required if you want to create a display that really wows.
The secret to this charming arrangement’s success is the use of different layers to add depth and visual intrigue. A selection of decorative plates and photo frames are propped up against the wall to draw the eye in and punctuate the display, while larger, more robust pieces (such as the mixing bowls, teapots and marble cake stand) anchor the striking arrangement. Small stacks of crockery are casually scattered along the lower shelves to introduce different levels and create interest. Take note of how vintage-style decor (such as bud vases, candle holders and assorted serving ware) has been artfully arranged to fill any glaring gaps and tie the look together.
10. Create order with baskets and canisters
If you love the idea of open shelving but worry it will ruin your kitchen’s immaculate appearance, use baskets to keep loose items (like cutlery and kitchen utensils) together, and tip dry goods (such as flour, rice and cereal) into stylish jars and other storage containers, rather than keeping them in their original (and not very appealing) packaging.
TELL US
Is there a specific way you like to style and organise your open kitchen shelves? Share your tips and photos of your arrangement in the comments section below.
ANOTHER IDEABOOK
Stylish Shelving: Show-Stopping Shelving Suggestions
Kitchen Capers: Nifty Tricks to Store Just About Anything
How to Organise Your Kitchen Cupboards
If you love the idea of open shelving but worry it will ruin your kitchen’s immaculate appearance, use baskets to keep loose items (like cutlery and kitchen utensils) together, and tip dry goods (such as flour, rice and cereal) into stylish jars and other storage containers, rather than keeping them in their original (and not very appealing) packaging.
TELL US
Is there a specific way you like to style and organise your open kitchen shelves? Share your tips and photos of your arrangement in the comments section below.
ANOTHER IDEABOOK
Stylish Shelving: Show-Stopping Shelving Suggestions
Kitchen Capers: Nifty Tricks to Store Just About Anything
How to Organise Your Kitchen Cupboards
For a casual open-shelving look, group items together in artfully arranged clusters, rather than opting for streamlined stacks or perfectly aligned rows of plates, bowls and other kitchen essentials. An unstructured display doesn’t have to look sloppy – the key is to avoid cramming your shelves with too many items and to leave some space between each of the clusters so the overall effect isn’t too fussy.
This arrangement shows how it’s done – notice how it lends character, a carefree look and a lived-in feel to this Scandinavian-inspired cooking zone.