When it comes to kitchen design, cabinets play a crucial role in both functionality and aesthetics. While traditional cabinets with doors are a common choice, incorporating shelves into your cabinet design can offer a unique and practical storage solution. Open shelving can create a sense of spaciousness, showcase your beautiful dishware, and make frequently used items more accessible. In this article, we will explore various kitchen cabinet with shelves design ideas to inspire your next kitchen renovation or remodel.
1. Full-Height Open Shelving
Airy and Spacious
Full-height open shelving involves replacing some or all of your upper cabinets with open shelves that span from the countertop to the ceiling. This design choice can make your kitchen feel more open and airy, as it eliminates the visual bulk of upper cabinetry.
Design Ideas:
- Floating Shelves: Install floating shelves made of wood, metal, or glass for a modern, minimalist look. This design allows for easy cleaning and creates an uncluttered appearance.
- Industrial Style: Incorporate industrial elements like black metal brackets or pipe shelving for an edgy, urban feel.
- Rustic Wood: Use reclaimed wood or rough-hewn timber for your shelves to add warmth and texture to your kitchen.
Styling Tips
When using full-height open shelving, consider these styling tips:
- Color Coordination: Arrange dishware and accessories by color to create a cohesive, visually appealing display.
- Practical Placement: Keep frequently used items on lower shelves for easy access, and reserve upper shelves for decorative pieces or less-used items.
- Varied Heights: Use objects of varying heights, such as stacks of plates, bowls, or cookbooks, to add visual interest and depth to your shelves.
2. Mixed Cabinets and Shelves
Best of Both Worlds
Combining traditional cabinets with open shelving offers the best of both worlds – the practicality of closed storage and the visual appeal of displayed items. This design approach allows you to hide less attractive items behind doors while showcasing your favorite pieces on open shelves.
Design Ideas:
- Accent Shelving: Install a few open shelves alongside your cabinets to create an accent display area. This can be an ideal spot for cookbooks, plants, or decorative objects.
- Glass-Front Cabinets: Use a mix of solid cabinet doors and glass-front doors to provide both hidden and visible storage. Glass-front cabinets offer a glimpse of your dishware while still keeping items contained.
- Alternating Layout: Alternate between cabinets and shelves for a dynamic, visually interesting layout. This can be especially effective in larger kitchens or along longer walls.
Practical Considerations
When incorporating mixed cabinets and shelves, keep these practical considerations in mind:
- Shelf Placement: Position open shelves strategically, such as near the dishwasher for easy unloading or above the coffee station for mugs and supplies.
- Cabinet Functions: Use closed cabinets for items you want to keep hidden, such as cleaning supplies, appliances, or mismatched dishware.
- Lighting: Ensure your open shelves are well-lit to highlight your displayed items and make them easy to locate.
3. Corner Shelving
Maximizing Space
Corner cabinets can often be awkward and difficult to access, leading to wasted space. By incorporating open shelving into your corner cabinet design, you can maximize storage and create a unique, functional feature in your kitchen.
Design Ideas:
- Diagonal Shelves: Install diagonal shelves that run from the corner outward, creating a fan-like display. This design makes items more accessible and adds visual interest to the corner.
- Floating Corner Shelves: Use floating corner shelves to create a modern, open look. This design is particularly effective in smaller kitchens, as it helps maintain a sense of spaciousness.
- Built-In Corner Shelving: Incorporate built-in corner shelving that seamlessly integrates with your cabinetry. This creates a custom, high-end look while maximizing storage potential.
Organization Tips
When using corner shelving, consider these organization tips:
- Group Similar Items: Arrange items by category, such as baking supplies, spices, or coffee and tea accessories, to make them easy to locate and access.
- Use Lazy Susans: Incorporate lazy Susans on larger corner shelves to make items more accessible and maximize space.
- Decorative Accents: Use the corner shelves to display decorative items, such as plants, artwork, or unique serving pieces, to add personality to your kitchen.
4. Under-Cabinet Shelving
Maximizing Vertical Space
Installing shelves beneath your upper cabinets is an excellent way to maximize vertical space and keep frequently used items within easy reach. This design is particularly useful in smaller kitchens or for those who want to keep their countertops clutter-free.
Design Ideas:
- Spice Racks: Install shallow shelves under your cabinets to create a dedicated spice rack. This keeps your spices organized and easily accessible while cooking.
- Mug Hooks: Add hooks or small shelves under your cabinets to hang mugs, freeing up cabinet space and creating a cozy, café-like feel in your kitchen.
- Cookbook Ledges: Use narrow shelves under your cabinets to store and display cookbooks, keeping them close at hand for recipe reference.
Practical Considerations
When incorporating under-cabinet shelving, keep these practical considerations in mind:
- Shelf Depth: Ensure your under-cabinet shelves are shallow enough to allow for easy access to the countertop below.
- Mounting Hardware: Use sturdy, reliable mounting hardware to ensure your shelves can support the weight of the items you plan to store.
- Lighting: Consider installing under-cabinet lighting to illuminate your shelves and make items easy to locate.
FAQ
Q1: Are open shelves harder to keep clean than traditional cabinets?
A1: Open shelves may require more frequent dusting and cleaning compared to closed cabinets, as items are exposed to the open air. However, the ease of access and visual appeal of open shelves often outweigh this slight inconvenience.
Q2: Can I mix open shelving with traditional cabinets in my kitchen?
A2: Absolutely! Mixing open shelving with traditional cabinets is a popular design choice that offers the best of both worlds – the practicality of closed storage and the visual appeal of displayed items.
Q3: How do I style my open kitchen shelves?
A3: When styling your open kitchen shelves, consider color coordination, practical placement of items, and varying heights to create a visually appealing display. Use a mix of functional items and decorative accents to add personality to your shelves.
Q4: What items should I store on open kitchen shelves?
A4: Open kitchen shelves are ideal for storing frequently used items, such as everyday dishware, glasses, and mugs. They can also be used to display decorative items, cookbooks, plants, or unique serving pieces.
Q5: How can I maximize space with corner shelving in my kitchen?
A5: To maximize space with corner shelving, consider using diagonal shelves, floating corner shelves, or built-in corner shelving that seamlessly integrates with your cabinetry. Use lazy Susans or group similar items together for easy access and organization.
Conclusion
Kitchen cabinets with shelves offer a unique and practical storage solution that can enhance both the functionality and aesthetics of your kitchen. By incorporating open shelving, you can create a sense of spaciousness, showcase your beautiful dishware, and keep frequently used items easily accessible.
From full-height open shelving to mixed cabinets and shelves, corner shelving, and under-cabinet shelving, there are numerous design ideas to inspire your kitchen renovation or remodel. By considering practical factors such as shelf placement, organization, and lighting, you can create a kitchen that is both beautiful and functional.
Remember to style your open shelves with a mix of practical and decorative items, color coordination, and varying heights to create a visually appealing display. With the right design and organization, your kitchen cabinets with shelves can become a stunning focal point in your home, reflecting your personal style and enhancing your daily cooking and entertaining experiences.
