Whether you’re looking to add practicality or enhance the aesthetic appeal of a room, open shelves on the wall are a fantastic choice.
At some point, we all come across areas in our homes that seem underutilized and in need of storage.
Thankfully, open shelving provides a simple and versatile solution for those neglected corners and empty walls. These functional and visually appealing home accents can be seamlessly incorporated into various spaces, including kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
Whether you’re looking to add practicality or enhance the aesthetic appeal of a room, open shelves on the walls are a fantastic choice. Take a look at our tips for utilizing open shelving in every room of your home.
Ideas for Open Shelves in All Kinds of Rooms
Open Shelving for Living or Dining Spaces:
Living or dining spaces often require storage solutions that are both functional and visually appealing.
Open shelves can be utilized effectively in the following ways:
Enhance architectural features: Install shelves on the sides and above doorways, windows, or around a fireplace.
These areas are perfect for displaying books, photographs, or decorative items. Experiment with different spacing between shelves to add visual interest.
Utilize the space behind a sofa: Narrow open shelves can be placed behind a sofa to showcase photographs or artwork.
Create visual intrigue by mixing and matching the placement and length of shelves.
Room division: Floor-to-ceiling open shelves can be secured to the floor and used as a stylish room divider.
You can decorate both sides of the shelves with accessories and decorative items for a functional and visually pleasing solution.
Open Shelving for Kitchens:
To maximize storage and add charm to your kitchen, consider incorporating open shelving in the following ways:
Utilize spaces around and above the stove: Utilize narrow spaces next to a vent or in a niche to display attractive utensils or cooking tools.
Make use of upper cabinet spaces: Open up the top spaces above your kitchen cabinets to display infrequently used items like holiday serving trays.
Optimize the end of a cabinet: The corner where a cabinet turns can be fitted with open shelves, providing a perfect storage spot for favorite cookbooks or bowls.
Enhance islands with overhead shelves: In kitchens with high ceilings, open shelves above an island can be utilized to store frequently used items like glasses or small bowls.
Create a faux hutch: Dress up open shelves positioned above lower cabinets with trim and crown molding to achieve the look of a furniture-like faux hutch.
Open Shelving for Bathrooms:
Make the most of limited bathroom space by incorporating open shelving in the following ways:
Utilize shower niches: Even a small 6-inch niche can be divided into shelves for organizing bathing supplies like shampoo, razors, and cleansers.
Above a bathtub: Install a narrow open shelf above a bathtub for decorative purposes or to store extra soap and rolled-up washcloths.
Home Office Open Shelving:
Organize your home office effectively by incorporating open shelving in these ways:
Surround the desk: Frame your desk with shelving units to keep work supplies within easy reach.
Utilize the back wall: Stretch open shelves across the entire back wall of your office to create a grand workspace.
Fill the shelves with a mix of books, storage boxes, and professional awards.
Convert existing cabinets: If your home office already has cabinet storage, remove the cabinet doors to create open shelving for accessible storage.
Open Shelving for Home Bars:
Elevate your home bar with open shelving for glasses, shakers, and beverages.
Consider the following ideas:
Above the countertop: Create tiered shelving above the sink area to store frequently used glasses and spirits on the lower shelves, while reserving the top shelf for less commonly used items.
Behind the bar: Line the wall behind the bar with long open shelves.
Consider adding hidden rope lighting to illuminate the bottles and glasses. Leave space for a TV or custom neon sign for added entertainment value.
By a bar cart: Enhance a bar cart setup by hanging open shelves above or around it.
This expands storage capacity and keeps all the necessary items within reach.
Open Shelving for Bedrooms:
Incorporate personalized storage solutions in your bedroom using open shelving:
Behind the bed: Utilize the wall space behind your bed by installing rows of open shelves from wall to wall.
Ensure the shelves are positioned at a safe distance from your bed if you don’t have a headboard.
In a reading nook: Create a Cozy Reading Nook in your bedroom with open shelves.
Display your favorite books, add a small reading lamp, and include a comfortable reading chair.
Between windows: Fill the gap between windows with open shelving to display various decorative items, such as mementos or small knickknacks, providing an attractive focal point in your bedroom.
*The information is for reference only.