Been seeing open shelving around a lot of online kitchens lately? You don’t need the exact stuff someone else uses but the magic is in how you style what you’ll be using.
You’ll want to be practical first, then focus on aesthetics after.
Let’s look at my own kitchen makeover and I’ll walk you through how I styled open kitchen shelves.
The kitchen is absolutely the heart of the home as they say, so we want to be practical and focus on being totally functional more than how it looks.
Though, let’s just do both, ‘kay?
Let’s jump in!
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- Open Shelving vs Upper Cabinets
- The Kitchen Before + Planning & Prep
- Choosing the Right Open Shelving Styles
- The Install
- How to Style Open Shelves for a Farmhouse Kitchen
- The “Shelfie”: Before and After Photos
- FAQ: Open Shelving in a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
- Conclusion
Open Shelving vs Upper Cabinets
- Everybody is different. Some like to see their things out in the open where it’s easily accessible and if that’s you, I’d highly recommend putting this project on your to do list.
- It really does give a nice airy feel to a kitchen but also changes things up a bit and breaks up all of the cabinet views that are in the room for something different visually.
- This gives you the opportunity to display some really cool collections. Think ironstone, cutting boards in various shapes and, of course, all the vintage items and things!
- If you’re just not digging your cabinet doors or upper cabinets as a whole, this changes up the look for sure.
- This can work great for smaller kitchens especially! Open shelving kitchens give some of that kitchen space back that the bulkiness of cabinets can take up.
- It can be one of the more inexpensive ways of upgrading a kitchen instead of investing in all new traditional cabinets.
Note: Be mindful of there being more things to dust with open shelves and child safety when things could be pulled off said shelves to name a few reservations you may have. Just plan accordingly and keep those in mind.
Some people consider that to be a deal breaker.
The Kitchen Before + Planning & Prep
This was my kitchen when we toured the house the very first day. It’s very bland and reminded me of a hospital because of how starkly white everything was. I wanted to add some character with woods and add a color scheme.
After a couple years we decided to rip out the upper kitchen cabinets on one wall and started looking at open shelving kitchen ideas.
I already had a beautiful vintage bathroom that I adored (as long as it stayed clean) so thought it would be time to bring some vintage charm into the kitchen too.
Before you do any project, PLANNING is important.
Some questions to ask yourself first would be:
- “What kind of shelf material do I want to use exactly?”
- “If I want wood, then what kind of wood shelves do I want?”
- “Do I want glass shelves?”
- “Did I measure everything?”
- “How long do I want each shelf to be?”
- “How much space is in between each shelf?”
- “Do I want to use brackets or do I want floating shelves?”
- “What kinds of things do I want to display for sure? What kind of functional items? What kind of decorative items?”
Choosing the Right Open Shelving Styles
There are different things you can use to make open shelves such as:
- Bracket shelves
- Floating shelves
- Cubby Shelves
- Also think of the color of the shelves. Do you want the bare wood look? Stained wooden shelves? Painted white shelves?
We opted for some decorative bracket options to hold our wood planks and purchased from Home Depot. I considered free-standing open shelves but decided that brackets were the way to go for us.
It was a bit spendy all together for that many brackets, however, it was so much easier than making brackets ourselves.
We did try to make our own at first but realized how much work they were.
Remember: When putting your shelves up, finding those studs is essential!
Rae’s Tip: You can absolutely use some good ‘ol painter’s tape to “map out” where you’re thinking of putting your shelves. That way, you can move them around without putting holes in the wall and having an “oopsie”.
The Install
This post is about how to style open shelves, but I want to show you the shorter process of the installation and things to consider.
I’ve got to give a shout out to my awesome husband. He did 95% of the work behind this while I was more the brains of the operation.
We put up some really cool bead board backing before we installed the shelves. It added some great character and texture.
Some Things We Would Do Differently Next Time/ Frustrations:
- We used bead board for the back wall before putting up the shelves and bought several big cuts of it and had to piece them together. It ended up working out but we had to re-cut a few times because of some tricky corners and shapes we had to fit into. Take your time on this!
- Finishing painting the back wall AFTER the shelves were up. It’s SO much easier to get the painting done before installation.
- We had a few little “dings” in the beadboard while drilling the shelves in. Oh well, it happens!
Materials & Tools we used:
- Drill
- Beadboard
- Measuring tape
- Paint
- Wood
- Wood stain
- Brackets
- Screws
How to Style Open Shelves for a Farmhouse Kitchen
Drumroll, this was my favorite part. There are sooo many options here. Play around with things until you like how your open shelves are looking.
Here’s what you need to consider when styling:
Styling Approaches That Work
Once your shelves are up, this is where you shine, in the styling!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with where even to start, here are a few easy peasy and creative ideas for shelf-styling approaches that you can choose from that work every time:
Symmetrical & Balanced
This approach keeps things looking clean and tidy which is great for a more modern look. (Speaking of cleaning, you can read about my tips for making your own cleaning schedule) Start by placing taller items on either end (like a pitcher or stack of plates), and then build toward the center with medium and smaller items. Bonus points for matching sets or color-coordinated pieces!
Layered & Lived-In
If you want styling that’s more chill and cozy, try this approach… so try layering items for that “collected-over-time” look. Put art or cutting boards at the back, then place dishes, jars, or some greenery in the front.
It adds depth and makes everything feel intentional but cozy. It gives that feel like you’ve been collecting and adding to this shelf for years.
Seasonal & Swappable
If you love decorating for the seasons, keep your shelf mostly neutral and swap out smaller decor like little checkered pumpkins, red berry garlands, spring florals, or just seasonal mugs.
You don’t need to redo everything, just a few changes here and there make a big difference!
Rae’s Tip: There’s no wrong way to style, this is your rodeo! You can even mix some of these approaches and play with different looks until it feels like you.
Shop This Look!
Pick a Color Scheme
Being cohesive with your colors makes such a big impact. Choose several colors you love and ones that go well together to use in your shelf design.
I talk about how to have a cohesive look over here in depth.
Choose some colors that you might already see in your home in other rooms so that your rooms kinda “flow” nicely. You can repeat these colors but don’t have to use ALL the same ones in every room.
These are the colors I chose that I use frequently in my house that gave it a more cottage rustic charm:
- Creamy white
- Smokey green
- Vintage gold accents
- Copper
- Deeper Brown
- Black
Rae’s Tip: Using a design trend in your kitchen isn’t a bad thing, but the main design should reflect you, your personality and what you love first and foremost.
Functional & Pretty
Our first priority was for these kitchen shelves to be absolutely functional. But knowing how I am, I have to add plenty of pretty functional design in there too.
When you’re starting to put your stuff up, start with your functional things first like everyday items and what you use regularly. Then you can start adding in some cute accents and beautiful dishware.
Some Functional Things You Could Add:
- Everyday dishes
- Your favorite coffee mugs (The ones that don’t microwave too hot in my case)
- Several bowls
- Glasses of various sizes
- Coffee Staples or Tea Items
Some items you can use to decorate but still have functional design:
- Plate display racks
- Display dishes
- Copper pieces
- Kitchen family heirlooms
- Pictures with some of your cohesive colors
- Coffee or tea spoons
- Vintage Treasures
Rae’s Space-Saving Tips for Open Shelves
Short on kitchen space? These quick tricks help you fit more in while keeping things stylish and functional:
- Hang mugs using small hooks under your shelf, like i did on one of my shelves, super practical and charming!
- Use risers or shelf stands to double your vertical space for stacking dishes or jars to add height.
- Group smaller items in baskets or trays to keep things cleaner and easy to move.
- Lean cutting boards or art vertically instead of laying them flat, they take up less room and add height.
These little changes make a big difference, especially in smaller kitchens!
Make It Vary a Bit
What I mean is, vary those items that you display!
Use different heights, widths, textures and colors on your shelves. It makes things more interesting and fun to see.
One way to shake things up visually is to stack like things such as glasses or bowls to give things height.
Another way is to group similar items together especially in odd numbers. I found this plate rack at Ikea and got two! I love how it’s simple but displays my plates in such a cool way and giving me easy access to them.
Have Fun With the Seasons
Think Christmas, Thanksgiving, Summer, FALL!
Have some fun adding or even swapping some pieces out for seasonal decor or something with seasonal colors to celebrate. You don’t have to go all out (unless you want to), you can make a big statement with a couple of little tweaks.
Check out Pinterest and see how others have styled their open shelves for the seasons and gather up some great ideas for your shelves!
The “Shelfie”: Before and After Photos
Like I’ve said, when we first moved in this kitchen really felt cold and had major hospital vibes. I knew I wanted to add some warmth and creativity to it to make it feel more like my own. It took awhile to tackle this because I was working with my budget and wanted to use it because I didn’t love what I was working with. But I had a vision: simple open shelves with a farmhouse feel—warm, welcoming, and me.
Here’s the transformation:
What I love most about the “after” isn’t just how pretty it looks, it’s how personal it feels.
The open shelves hold pieces I actually use (and love), like my favorite quirky mugs, thrifted treasures, and a few vintage copper pieces that bring me some serious joy every time I walk by.
Rae’s Tip: Take some photos of the shelf designs at different distances. You might see that something looks “off” farther away but great up close.
FAQ: Open Shelving in a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
What do you put on open kitchen shelves?
Start with functional items you actually use like everyday dishes, mugs, bowls, or glasses. Then you can layer in pretty accents: vintage treasures, cookbooks, greenery, and decorative objects in your color scheme.
Think “practical, but make it pretty.
How do you style open shelves so they don’t look cluttered?
Keep it cohesive!
Choose a simple color palette, group similar items together, and vary heights and varying textures. Leave a little breathing room between items so your shelves feel styled but not overly stuffed.
What type of wood is best for farmhouse kitchen shelves?
It depends on what you’re going for honestly!
For a cozy, rustic vibe, go with reclaimed wood, pine, oak, or even alder. You can leave it raw, you can stain it for depth, or paint it creamy white for that classic farmhouse charm. Just make sure it’s sealed for good durability in your kitchen.
Are open kitchen shelves still in style?
Yes, and they’re not going anywhere! Open shelving is a favorite in modern farmhouse kitchens for its mix of charm, practicality, and flexibility. Whether you’re going minimal, cottagecore, or vintage-inspired, you can style shelves to match your personality.
How do you keep open kitchen shelves clean?
Give them a quick dust weekly and wipe them down monthly (or more often if they’re near your stove). Avoid overcrowding so it’s easier to clean, and rotate seasonal décor to keep it fresh and functional.
Do open shelves work in small kitchens?
Heck yes! They’re actually perfect for small kitchens! Open shelves create an airy, open feel and keep things from feeling too boxed in. Just be intentional with what you display and go for things you reach for often, not just the extras.
Conclusion
Whether you’re working with a blank wall, replacing cabinets, or just re-styling what you already have, open kitchen shelving gives you so many options to showcase what you love in a way that feels pretty darn cozy and uniquely yours.
Start small if you need to. Style one shelf. Gather your favorite dishes or mugs. Add a touch of greenery.
Step back and see how it feels.
Remember this doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to feel good to you. That’s the whole purpose of this.
If you style your shelves after reading this, I’d love to see!
It doesn’t have to be farmhouse style either, if you have a modern kitchen, working with small kitchens, or minimalist kitchens, pour yourself into it and it will for sure be absolutely beautiful.
Tag me on Instagram @rae.elizabeths.house or post in the Facebook group so we can all swoon together.
Comment below: Would you do this?
I love hearing what you think and read them all!