It has been almost two years since I completed our DIY floating corner shelves in the kitchen. They were a labor of love and a project I’m still really proud of. But after living with them for a while, I have mixed feelings and thoughts about them. So, I wanted to share the pros & cons of open shelving in the kitchen. (post contains affiliate links, see disclosure)
One pro is that the shelves are stylish and can be decorated for the seasons. I like the mix of everyday dishes, decor, and pretty cookbooks. But in the last two years, I’ve left everything as is and haven’t changed much of the decor at all. Also, if you have too much decor it can start to feel cluttered and messy.
Another great pro is the ease of access to everyday dishes. After I finished the project and we had been living with the open shelves for a few weeks, Joe told me that at first, he wasn’t so sure of my idea for open shelves. But he said that after living with them, he loved the openness and being able to see everything and grab what he needed.
However, the con to this ease is that all the everyday dishes now must be pretty. They are basically on display. Our plastic cups, tumblers, and plastic bowls are still hidden in the cabinets.
In our experience, the shelves are easy to keep clean. We use the bottom shelf the most and I have never noticed any dirt or dust. However, the two top shelves do get dusty. But it’s easy to remove the dishes and wipe down the whole shelf. And on the third shelf is where I keep my mixing bowls. I don’t use those as often and have to rinse them out before using them.
If you are wanting to add open shelves to your own kitchen, most are pretty affordable like these and these. However, the cost adds up depending on how many you need, the length, and the depth. Because we were using the shelves for more than decor, we needed the depth to be at least 12 inches (like a standard cabinet). And each shelf is about 4 feet long. So for me, DIYing them was a more affordable option.
PROS & CONS OF OPEN SHELVING IN THE KITCHEN
Pros –
- Stylish
- Easy Access
- Affordable
- Easy to keep clean
Cons –
- Clutter
- Dust
- Must have pretty dishes
- Depth
Overall, our open shelves have been great for us and our home. However, I am wanting to finish my kitchen makeover plans. As I shared in my first post, this was just a phase one makeover of the kitchen and I can’t wait to get started on the next phase!
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