Open Shelves Kitchen Pros & Cons You Need to See

Last Updated on August 4, 2024

Check out these open shelves kitchen pros & cons to see if open shelving is right for you (and your kitchen).

Open shelves in the kitchen have been a trend for quite some time. I see some of the best interior designers adding open shelves to their kitchens. It totally makes sense because they are so versatile. Open shelving can be used as a subtle accent to display decor or serve as a main source of kitchen storage. 

Shelving for the Kitchen

My kitchen has a ton of open shelving as well as open cabinetry, so if anyone is an expert at the pros and cons, it’s me! Our kitchen was gutted when we moved in, and the previous owner was clearly a huge fan of open shelving. I had never seen so much open concept in my life honestly. We do not have a single upper cabinet and about half of our lower cabinets were open! 

But the kitchen was truly stunning and felt so modern and updated, that I instantly fell in love. I’ve also made a ton of updates to it, which you can check out in my Stunning Coastal Kitchen Design post.  

Now that I’ve been living in the house and using this kitchen daily for over two years, I’m ready to share the pros and cons of having open shelves. 

Open Shelves Kitchen Pros

1. Open Shelving in the Kitchen is Beautiful

Every time someone steps into my kitchen, there’s a real “wow factor” and the open shelves have a lot to do with that. Open shelving adds so much visual interest and breaks up the design of the space versus a wall of cabinets that can look a little bland and repetitive. 

2. You Can Display Your Favorite Kitchen Decor Without Cluttering the Counters

When I see countertops with a lot of stuff on them, I get physically anxious. I know it sounds crazy, but clutter in general is just very overwhelming to me. I like to keep our kitchen counters as clear as possible and only leave out the appliances we use regularly. With open shelves, you can display plants, cookbooks, cutting boards and keep your counters clutter-free. 

3. Open Shelves Provide Convenient Storage

Open shelves in the kitchen not only look great but they are functional too. You can store dishware, serveware, barware, and more. I store all of our dinnerware on our open shelves and it’s super convenient to grab things when they’re right at eye level and arm’s reach.

Open Shelves Kitchen Cons

1. They Get Dusty

Just like other exposed surfaces in your house, these shelves collect dust. That means, everything on top of them also collects dust. For the dishes we use a lot, it’s not really an issue. But other dishes get dusty and have to be re-washed before we use them. Having cabinets helps protect your dishes from dust, so they stay clean.

2. You Have to Keep Them Organized 

I guess technically you don’t have to keep open shelves organized. But they are on display for the world to see so you’ll probably want to! We keep ours neat and tidy all the time, so our kitchen doesn’t look messy.

3. You Can’t Store as Much as Cabinets

Even though our open shelves are quite long, we still don’t have as much storage as a cabinet. You can load cabinets up with stuff and it’s okay because they’re hidden. With open shelves, they’re on display and overfilling them can look cluttered. I’m used to having all my plates, bowls, and glasses together. But with my open shelves, I have them scattered around the kitchen in different places.

Is Open Shelving in the Kitchen a Good Idea?

Ultimately it comes down to your preferred aesthetic and storage needs. While open shelves can be beautiful, you have to be willing to keep them clean, organized, and give up the extra storage that cabinets provide. I don’t envision open shelving in my next kitchen, but I do still think they’re really beautiful when done as an accent. 

If you are on the fence about whether or not to have open shelves in your kitchen, I hope this helps with the decision process! For more tips, check out How to Decorate a Kitchen Cabinet with Open Shelves. 

This post is about open shelves kitchen pros and cons.