Unlike traditional cabinets, open shelving can give a kitchen an airy, spacious feel while providing easy access to frequently used items.

“These shelves can turn functional elements into decorative displays, including beautiful dishware, colorful cookbooks, and wooden bowls,” says Kate Cunningham, a principal designer at Light and Dwell. “Yet balancing function with beauty can be challenging. Editing is key to preventing open shelving from being impractical, cluttered, and over-styled.” 

In this guide, designers share the top mistakes people make when styling open shelves, along with suggestions for keeping the look fresh and organized. “The key is to be intentional,” notes Grey Joyner, the head designer at Grey Joyner Interiors.

10 Organization Tips for Optimizing Open Kitchen Shelving

• Kate Cunningham is a principal designer at Light and Dwell, based in Oregon and California.
• Grey Joyner is the lead designer at Grey Joyner Interiors, based in North Carolina.
• Melissa Roberts is the founder of Melissa Roberts Interiors, based in Texas.
• Paulina Hospod is a co-founder and president of Aha!nteriors, based in New York City.
• Brittany Farinas is the creative director of House of One in South Florida.
• Jamie Gernert is the founder of WYC Designs and a self-taught designer based in Winter Park, Florida.
• Katherine Moore is a co-founder and design architect at Murphy & Moore Design in St. Louis.
• Tracy Kurc is the founder of Tracy Kurc Interiors & Styling near Chicago.
• Monika Zasada is a home renovation and building expert at De-Mazing in Sag Harbor, New York.

Lincoln Barbour

Items to Avoid on Open Shelving

Top designers share what to keep off open shelving to keep your kitchen feeling tidy.

1. Bulky Cookware

Open shelving is for display, not storage. “Having pots and pans front and center on open shelves can weigh down a room and make things look unstyled, while also creating an awkward—and potentially unsafe—reach,” says Melissa Roberts, the founder of Melissa Roberts Interiors. 

2. Small Appliances

“Appliances like blenders and toasters are often oddly shaped and collect dust when not in use,” says Paulina Hospod, the president of Aha!nteriors. “Instead, store small appliances in a lower cabinet, appliance garage, or utility closet.” 

3. Food Storage Containers

“Plastic or glass containers often vary in size, color, and shape, creating visual clutter and making shelves look messy,” says Jamie Gernert, founder of WYC Designs.

4. Packaged Foods

Worn or half-empty cereal boxes and chip bags disrupt the visual flow of open shelving and look untidy. “They can also attract pests,” warns Cunningham. Hospod recommends decanting them into glass jars and storing them in a pantry.

5. Miscellaneous Everyday Items

Anything inconsistent in style, shape, size, or color, such as random mugs and plastic cups, can disrupt an open-shelf aesthetic, making it look chaotic rather than curated. “These items often lack visual appeal,” says Brittany Farinas, the creative director of House of One. 

35 Open Storage Ideas for Every Room of Your Home

6. Small Knickknacks

Tiny figurines and small pieces look muddled when grouped, disrupting the streamlined look that open shelving is meant to achieve. “They can also topple over easily,” says Joyner.

7. Spices

Heat and light degrade the freshness of spices over time. “It’s best to keep them in a dedicated pantry, drawers fitted with spice organizers, or in labeled canisters inside a closed cabinet,” says Joyner. 

8. Clear Glassware

Clear glasses show every fingerprint, water spot, and dust particle. “Reserve open shelves for glasses you use daily or colored glasses that hide smudges,” says Joyner. “Less-used glassware belongs behind cabinet doors or in a glass-front hutch.”

9. Paper Goods

“Napkins, paper towels, and plates are practical, but they can appear messy on open shelving,” says Hospod. “Tuck them away in drawers or pantry baskets for easy access without the visual clutter.”

10. Utensils

“It’s simply not practical to reach overhead for tongs or a spatula while cooking,” says Farinas. “Plus, they can appear messy. Store them in a countertop crock next to the stove for both ease and aesthetics.”

11. Cleaning Supplies

While keeping countertop spray nearby is handy, “These bottles can look messy on open shelving,” says Katherine Moore, co-founder and design architect at Murphy & Moore Design. “Better to store them in a closet or under the sink.” 

12. Holiday Decor

Too many seasonal decorations on shelves can feel cluttered and disconnected. “Display the bulk of decorations elsewhere in your home,” suggests Moore.

13. Dust-Prone Objects

Skip anything that easily collects dust, including dark items. “You don’t want to be dusting every two days,” says Zasada. Infrequently used items also tend to collect grease in kitchens, which Joyner warns can make cleaning an even bigger chore. 

Related

How to Remove Cabinet Doors for Open Shelving Storage in Your Kitchen

Ina Garten Swears by These 6 Styling Tips for Kitchen Shelves That Instantly Elevate the Room

Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Items to Put on Display on Open Shelving

We asked designers to share their favorite items to style on open shelves. See what they recommend.

1. Neutral Everyday Dishware

Matching white stoneware or tonal ceramics pieces reinforces a unified look. “Because you use and wash them daily, they’ll stay clean, plus their consistent shape and color establish a pleasing rhythm on the shelf,” says Joyner. 

2. Ceramics

Think hand-thrown bowls or artisanal serving ware. “I gravitate toward matte finishes—ivory, taupe, charcoal—which read as warm but quiet,” says Tracy Kurc, founder of Tracy Kurc Interiors & Styling. “Be sure to watch the scale—objects should fit comfortably on the shelf without hanging over the edge.” 

3. Statement Objects

A vintage cutting board or an overscale wood bowl adds texture and visual weight without introducing clutter. “These are the punctuation marks on any open shelf,” says Kurc.

4. Art and Photos

A small painting or sketch brings depth and personality to open shelving. “Pictures from your travels allow you to showcase fun, vibrant images,” says Monika Zasada, a home renovation and building expert at De-Mazing. Cunningham adds that varying the scale of these pieces can help fill vertical space and break up the rhythm of plates and bowls.

What to Do with Trinkets You Can’t Seem to Part With

5. Greenery in Simple Planters

Small potted herbs, such as rosemary or basil, or preserved moss in a beautiful container, add life, texture, and a pop of color to open shelving. “In the case of herbs, they’re literally at hand when you need them,” says Joyner. 

6. Cookbooks

A small, curated collection of your favorite cookbooks adds both personality and practicality. “Their vertical form on open shelving helps break up horizontal stacks of plates and bowls for visual balance,” says Joyner. “Arrange by size or color for a look that’s both useful and decorative.”