Open kitchen shelves not only offer an opportunity to display decorative items in your kitchen but can also serve as valuable storage space.
Kitchens have a reputation for accumulating rarely used items, such as seasonal bakeware or neglected appliances tucked away in base cabinets.
It can be a challenge to find enough space to accommodate everything in a single room. Ideally, if you have the available space, it’s recommended to store infrequently used kitchen items elsewhere or consider donating them if they’re still in good condition.
However, that may not always be feasible, and you might need to keep everything within the kitchen. This is where open shelves can be incredibly useful.
Open shelving not only offers an opportunity to display decorative items in your kitchen but can also serve as valuable storage space, especially when you’re dealing with a limited room.
Thankfully, it’s possible to strike a balance between functionality and aesthetics in the heart of your home. Explore the following tips to discover how you can maximize storage on open shelves while maintaining an appealing look.
8 Best Tips to Optimize Storage for Open Kitchen Shelves
Incorporate Additional Storage on the Side of Cabinets:
Take advantage of the space on the side of your cabinetry or kitchen island by installing an open wall shelf.
This shelf can be used to organize smaller items such as a matching set of spice jars, cookbooks, or serving platters. To ensure the items stay in place, add a piece of trim or dowel rod across the center of each shelf.
Make Use of Unused Wall Space:
If you have a blank wall next to your kitchen’s trash can, consider installing shelves above it to maximize storage.
Before starting this DIY project, decide what you want to store on the shelves and plan the distance between them accordingly. Hang the shelves as high as possible or at a reachable height to fully utilize the underutilized space.
Maximize Deep Shelves with Baskets:
While installing drawers in deep cabinet shelves may be costly and impractical for taller shelves, an alternative solution is to use bins or baskets that perfectly fit the width, depth, and height of each shelf.
This approach prevents items, especially perishable pantry goods, from getting lost at the back. Additionally, using baskets allows you to categorize and hide your belongings, reducing visual clutter.
Choose Adjustable Shelving:
If you need extra storage in your kitchen, consider opting for open shelving that can be adjusted to accommodate your specific needs.
If your current cabinets don’t offer adjustable shelves, you can replace the pegs with new ones and modify the holes as necessary. The flexibility of adjustable shelves allows you to experiment with different heights and configurations that work best for your belongings.
Expand Storage Width and Height:
Extend your open shelves not only vertically up to the ceiling but also horizontally from one side of the kitchen to the other.
This expansion provides ample space for dishware or decanted pantry items. To maintain a streamlined and tidy look, group similar items together.
Install Customized Floating L-Shape Shelves:
Transform an unused and awkward kitchen corner into functional storage by installing unique L-shape shelves.
Open shelving offers customization options that can perfectly fit the dimensions of your space. Place frequently used items on lower shelves for easy access and decorate higher shelves with accessories that complement your kitchen’s color scheme.
Utilize Space Below Shelves:
Remember that storage possibilities extend beyond the top surface of a shelf.
Add hooks underneath an open shelf to display favorite mugs within reach. Ensure the hooks are sturdy enough to support the weight of the cups.
Alternatively, consider using an organizer that slides onto the top of the shelf to create storage space below it.
Create Customized Wine Storage:
Make use of open shelves in your kitchen to store wine bottles in a fun and inviting way.
Arrange the bottles on a diagonal to prevent the corks from drying out and to easily monitor your wine stock. For an extra touch, hang Wine Glasses on a rack beneath a nearby shelf, combining functionality and aesthetics.
*The information is for reference only.
