Open Shelving in the Kitchen: Yay or Nay?

Open vs. Closed Shelving

With remodels and customization of homes come choices. What to do with the pantry and tableware? Granted, probably few people want to display a packet of rice, so closed shelving makes the most sense when it comes to the pantry. Now, for those who have invested in beautiful plates, bowls, and glasses, open shelving gives the possibility of admiring beauty on the daily. However, the naysayers argue that it’s not as hygienic. Read on to make the decision for yourself.

The “Yay” Argument (The Pros)

• It makes small kitchens feel massive. Traditional upper cabinets are bulky and can make a tight kitchen feel dark and claustrophobic. Open shelves break up the heavy woodwork, allowing light to pass through and giving the illusion of a much larger, airier space.

• Ultimate convenience. If you are constantly cooking, having your most-used items—like daily coffee mugs, dinner plates, and salt cellars—within arm’s reach without opening and closing cabinet doors is incredibly efficient.

• Design personality. It gives you a beautiful canvas to display unique ceramics, glassware, copper pots, or indoor plants. It turns functional kitchen tools into dynamic decor.

• Cost-Effective. Floating wooden shelves or metal brackets are significantly less expensive to buy and install than custom upper cabinetry.

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The “Nay” Argument (The Cons)

• The “grease and dust” factor. This is the biggest dealbreaker. Kitchen air is filled with microscopic airborne grease from cooking. Over time, that grease settles onto the open shelves and mixes with normal house dust, creating a sticky film. If you don’t use the items frequently, you will find yourself washing a plate before you can eat off of it.
• Visual clutter. Open shelves demand strict organization. If you have mismatched plastic kids’ cups, chipped coffee mugs, and chaotic cereal boxes, open shelving will instantly make your entire kitchen look messy and disorganized.
• Loss of total storage volume. Traditional cabinets allow you to stack items carelessly and hide them behind closed doors. Shelves require careful spacing and curated “vignettes” to look good, which actually reduces your total storage capacity.

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The Verdict: How to Have the Best of Both Worlds

You don’t have to choose between a kitchen that looks like a storage warehouse or a high-maintenance museum. The most successful modern kitchens use a hybrid approach.

The 80/20 Rule: Keep 80% of your kitchen storage behind closed cabinet doors (especially your lower cabinets and pantry) to hide the ugly, mismatched, or rarely used appliances. Then, dedicate just one small, strategic wall or corner (far away from the grease-splattering stovetop) to 2 or 3 beautiful floating shelves.

On those shelves, store only the items you use every single day (like your morning coffee mugs or dinner bowls). Because those items are constantly rotated through the dishwasher, dust never has a chance to settle on them!