7 Open Shelving Kitchen Ideas

Open shelving is a popular storage choice, with designers and renovators taking the opportunity to embrace their belongings as styling pieces.

The concept sees cabinetry in its most liberated state, without doors concealing the front. It’s a champion of open-plan design, working well in many designs including minimalist, transitional, industrial, country, and Scandi. 

If you have been considering this storage style in your space, we have found 7 popular open-shelving kitchen ideas to help spark your imagination.

Please note: If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, open shelving is not a suitable design option for those environmental conditions. 

Floating kitchen shelves are arguably the most desired storage choice, as they are relatively easy to install. These are wall-mounted planks that feature no brackets or extra support and are typically comprised of timber or metal. The ‘floating’ effect is achieved further by not having any walls attached to the horizontal plank, ensuring its minimality. As there is a broad range of options within this selection, floating kitchen shelves offer a level of flexibility and personability that can be applied to almost any design.

For a unique open shelving kitchen idea, consider a recessed arched niche to hold your belongings. This sees kitchen storage shelves installed within the niche, creating a soft and eye-catching backdrop to accentuate your pieces. A recessed arch niche would have to be designed into a new room or part of a major renovation — as the dimensions need to ensure there’s enough niche depth, without making the space feel overly compact.

The kitchen bench shelf has been a clever and highly-sought out choice for renovators, as it brings charming practicality to the home’s busiest domain. This sees shelving incorporated into an island bench or cabinets. This open shelving kitchen idea is excellent for keeping commonly used items like cookbooks, plates, and glasses nearby, and is also a beneficial alternative for those who can’t reach taller heights.

This takes the hanging kitchen rack concept to a more sophisticated level with an over-the-sink shelf. It sees a fixed open cabinet suspended from the ceiling, creating a dramatic effect that plays with dimension in your space. Having a shelf situated here makes it easier to put away dishes or store cleaning items. It could even be used as a drying rack if the design featured an open base and holders that allowed water to drip into the sink.

Looking for another way to store dishes in your kitchen besides an over-the-sink shelf? Consider a dish shelf! This is a shelf that features grooves to hold plates and keep them upright. It makes the kitchen look tidy and can be a dedicated space to exhibit any prized dish collections. Dish shelves can be either wall-mounted or included in kitchen cabinetry.

For a simple way to add storage, especially if you’re a renter, find a bookshelf that’s to your taste and put it in the kitchen. Alternatively, you could even make your own. Some options have adjustable shelving that allows you to change the spatial options to your daily requirements. Because these cabinets run on the larger side, they’re an open pantry idea that can bring organisation to space that needs extra storage. 

To make the most of an area that rarely gets used, corner kitchen shelves are a practical solution. These often-forgotten nooks offer additional storage for smaller items or to place decor at a height for effect. Corner kitchen shelves are particularly useful in smaller kitchens, as it utilises unused space to free up valuable storage. 

There are many ways to incorporate open-shelving ideas into your kitchen’s potential. Consider what your daily storage requirements are, along with your style, to make the most informed decision. 

Keep the kitchen inspiration alive with our unique island bench ideas.