Why Designers Generally Don't Like Open Shelving

Open shelves, while designed for easy access, can create more problems than they solve. Designers say that open shelves are aesthetically inappropriate for certain design styles, and they lead to visual clutter and more cleaning.

"In the majority of homes, open shelving can quickly make a kitchen look cluttered, disorganized, and dated," Zaelich says. Because open shelves have been popular for the last decade, they can veer into cliche territory. "It can give off the look of ‘trying too hard to be trendy’," she continues.

Further, kitchens are functional spaces, and open shelves are not that functional, given how much dirt they can collect. "You're going to get dust," says designer Danielle Loven. "Open shelves are not practical." Loven points out that instead of just cleaning your cooking surfaces, people with open shelves will forever be tasked with cleaning the shelves of dust and grease.

"For busy people, especially those with kids, open shelving can be difficult to maintain," Zaelich says.

When Open Shelves Work Well

Open shelves are native to a few design styles. Rustic, unfitted kitchens (meaning those without installed cabinets) often feature a large open cupboard or "larder" for storing dishes and dry goods. This style of open shelving also works well in farmhouse or country kitchens. A piece of storage furniture can replace a pantry cabinet, adding personality and reducing the number of cabinets needed.

Modern design is another aesthetic in which open shelves are the norm. "To pull off open shelving well, you need a very large and minimalistic-style kitchen with plenty of wall space and few, if any, upper cabinets," Zaelich says. The shelves should be made of an easy-to-clean material, such as hardwood or steel, and they should feature minimal ornamentation (no decorative corbels here). If you have a modern kitchen, Zaelich recommends styling open shelves with live plants and frequently used items.

What to Choose Instead of Open Shelving

Open shelves are often used to create a spacious feeling in kitchens laden with visually heavy cabinets. To achieve this effect in a traditional kitchen, the designers we spoke with offered a few solutions, from rethinking your cabinets' functionality to a clever paint trick.

Loven encourages people to consider highly functional lower drawers rather than upper cabinets. "Dishes in the drawer is a huge trend right now," she says. "As we age, it’s easier to reach down and plop things in a drawer."

When you have highly functional lower drawers and cabinets, you can leave upper space open for more period-appropriate styling, such as art or a wall sconce.

Another trick for a more open feel in your kitchen is to paint the upper cabinets the same color as your walls and use a harder sheen on the cabinets. "This helps the cabinets blend into the wall, creating an open feel without sacrificing storage or making the space look cluttered," Zaelich says.

Zaelich also suggests updating your backsplash or styling your countertops to increase visual interest (often the goal of open shelves) without adding more to clean.