kitchen shelves are either your best friend or a visual disaster waiting to happen. If your current kitchen setup feels more like chaos than curated chic, it might be time to do what designers have been doing forever: mixing open and closed shelving like a total pro.
Now, I’ve played around with this combo in my own kitchen (and no, I’m not a full-blown interior designer—just a fan of pretending to be one on weekends 😅). And let me tell you, once you get the hang of it, this style seriously upgrades your kitchen. It’s like finally figuring out how to style your bangs—suddenly, everything makes sense.
So, ready to nail the perfect balance? Let’s break it down.
1. Understand the Perks of Both Shelving Styles
Before you start yanking cabinets off the wall, let’s get on the same page.
Why Use Closed Shelving?
- Hides clutter (aka your not-so-cute blender or mismatched mugs)
- Keeps dust and grease off your rarely used items
- Great for heavier-duty storage, like food and cookware
Why Use Open Shelving?
- Shows off pretty dishware or decorative pieces
- Creates a more open, airy look
- Makes grabbing everyday essentials super convenient
Spoiler alert: You don’t have to choose. When you use both together, your kitchen gets the best of both worlds—function and flair. 🖤
2. Start with a Game Plan (aka Don’t Just Wing It)
Trust me, randomly mixing cabinets and shelves is a fast pass to chaos. You need a layout plan that feels intentional.
Think About Zones
- Place closed cabinets near the stove and sink for practical tools
- Use open shelving in areas you want to feel more decorative or light
- Avoid putting open shelves above high-mess zones unless you love scrubbing spaghetti sauce off your cookbooks 🙃
Here’s a quick look at shelf placement tips:
| Open Shelving Works Best | Closed Shelving Works Best |
|---|---|
| Over coffee bars | Near cooktops or sinks |
| Next to windows | In corners or high-traffic areas |
Design tip: Sketch your wall or use an app. This step saves regrets and random extra holes in your drywall later. 😉
3. Use Open Shelving for Your “Aesthetic” Items
Let’s be honest. Some things in your kitchen are ugly. (Looking at you, neon plastic cereal bowls.) But then there are things that deserve the spotlight—your cute ceramic plates, cookbooks, or fancy oils.
Open Shelving = Your Style Moment
- Show off matching dishes (bonus if they’re white—it’s classic)
- Display glassware, pitchers, or vases
- Add a few plants or framed art to warm things up
If you’re going to go open, go curated. Don’t treat it like a junk drawer with no doors.
4. Choose Complementary Materials for a Designer Vibe
Mixing open and closed shelving isn’t just about placement—it’s about material choices, too. The biggest mistake I see? Slapping on open shelves that feel like they belong in a totally different house.
Keep the Visual Flow Cohesive
- Match your shelf brackets or wood tones with your cabinetry hardware
- Use the same paint color or finish as your cabinets (or at least something that doesn’t clash hard)
- For modern kitchens, go minimal with floating shelves; for farmhouse vibes, think chunky wood
If your cabinets are super sleek, don’t toss in a random rustic plank and call it a day. Unless the vibe is “Pinterest fail” 😬.
5. Don’t Overdo It with the Open Shelves
I get it. They’re cute, they’re Instagrammable, they’re perfect for that “I bake fresh sourdough every day” aesthetic. But let me hit you with some truth: too many open shelves = visual clutter city.
: Open Shelving is a Highlight, Not the Whole Show
- Stick to 1–2 walls max
- Avoid placing multiple rows of open shelves stacked on top of each other unless you really know what you’re doing
- Use them as accent pieces within a mostly-closed cabinetry setup
Think of open shelves as the earrings to your outfit—not the outfit itself. Let them complement, not overwhelm.
6. Be Honest About What You Can Keep Tidy
Listen, if you’re not the type to keep things neat all the time (raises hand), then don’t expect open shelves to magically turn you into Martha Stewart.
Do a Little Reality Check
- Only commit to open shelving if you can keep it clean and organized
- Store your “uglies” (Tupperware, half-used sauces, random mugs from college) behind closed doors
- Use baskets or bins on open shelves if you’re semi-chaotic but still want the look
IMO, the trick is to mix display with discretion. No one needs to see your expired lentils. 🙃
7. Light It Up (Literally)
So, you’ve got your open shelves looking good—but can anyone see them properly? Lighting is the unsung hero of good kitchen design. It can make your shelves pop or disappear into oblivion.
Use Lighting Strategically
- Add LED strip lights under shelves to highlight your favorite pieces
- Install recessed or puck lights inside upper cabinets with glass fronts
- Use warm lighting to keep the vibe cozy—not like a dentist’s office
Pro tip? Lighting can magically make your open shelves look like something out of a magazine, even if all you’ve got on them is a $5 thrift-store vase and some Ikea plates.
8. Mix Heights and Depths Like a Pro
Open and closed shelving doesn’t mean everything has to be uniform and predictable. A little visual movement can go a long way, especially when you’re trying to channel designer vibes without hiring an actual designer.
Create Dimension
- Alternate cabinet heights with floating shelves for visual interest
- Use deeper cabinets below and shallower open shelves above
- Try staggered arrangements to break up long, boring walls
Think of your shelving setup like a skyline—it’s way more interesting when there’s variety.
| Flat Shelf Wall | Layered Shelf Wall |
|---|---|
| Feels boxy and boring | Feels dynamic and custom |
Trust me—just a few inches of depth variation and your kitchen instantly feels more Pinterest-worthy.
9. Stick to a Tight Color Palette
Let’s be real: even the most perfectly planned open and closed shelving won’t look good if it’s a rainbow explosion of mismatched chaos. (Unless you’re going for “kitchen circus” aesthetic, in which case—go off.)
Color = Calm
- Stick to 1–2 main colors for dishes and decor
- Use neutral tones for background pieces, and let 1–2 accent colors shine
- If your cabinets are bold (navy, black, forest green), keep shelf styling simple and light
This one’s a game-changer. You’d be amazed how much bigger and more put-together your kitchen looks when the color palette is cohesive—even if your shelves are mostly from Target clearance.
10. Add Texture Without Adding Clutter
You want your kitchen to feel styled, not staged. So instead of cramming your open shelves with every cute thing you own, think about texture.
Vary Materials, Not Just Stuff
- Mix in wood, glass, ceramic, and metal for contrast
- Add woven baskets or linen napkins for a touch of softness
- Include plants—even fake ones (no one’s judging 😉)
Open shelving is about creating visual interest, not filling every square inch. Give your pieces space to breathe, and they’ll actually look more intentional.
11. Blend Glass-Front Cabinets as a Middle Ground
If you’re still unsure about committing to open shelves (or you’re just really good at accumulating clutter), there’s a lovely little cheat designers use all the time: glass-front cabinets.
Why They’re a Smart Middle Option
- They give you the look of open shelves but protect your items from dust and grease
- You can choose frosted or textured glass if you don’t want everything fully visible
- They work especially well for displaying glassware, teacups, or neutral dish sets
It’s basically open shelving’s more responsible cousin. All the aesthetics, none of the constant dusting.
12. Edit Ruthlessly and Maintain the Look
You made it this far—don’t ruin your gorgeous shelf setup by slowly letting it morph into a graveyard of Amazon impulse buys and empty jars.
Maintenance = Key
- Regularly edit what’s on display—swap items by season, occasion, or mood
- Dust weekly (sorry, not optional)
- Stay intentional: If you add something new, remove something old
Here’s the hard truth: open shelves are like Instagram feeds—curated, edited, and never showing the mess just outside the frame. But if you commit to keeping them fresh, the whole room stays elevated.
✅ Final Thoughts: You Can Totally Nail This
So here’s the thing—you don’t need a degree in interior design to pull off this look. You just need a little planning, a few tricks up your sleeve, and the willingness to edit as you go.
The perfect blend of open and closed shelving isn’t about copying someone else’s Pinterest board. It’s about making your kitchen work for your life—mess and all—and still feeling like a total vibe.
Whether you’re styling sleek modern floating shelves or making a cozy cottage kitchen shine with some vintage finds, the key is balance. And IMO, if you’ve read this far? You’re already halfway to a designer-level kitchen.