Decor Outline

Open Shelving Ideas for Kitchens

Open Shelving Ideas for Kitchens

Hello and welcome to our Décor Outline of open shelving ideas for kitchens. Below you will find a summary of the benefits, main options, and some design ideas we handpicked for you along with beautiful photos. Enjoy!
 
What are the benefits of having open shelves for kitchens?

  • Beautiful & functional – provides an opportunity to display and conveniently access your treasured dinnerware collection
  • Space saving – provides additional storage without taking up floor space
  • Budget-friendly – many affordable beautiful shelving options to choose from

 
What are the main options for open shelves?

  • Material: wood (natural, reclaimed, distressed, painted, varnished), metal (stainless steel, brushed, powder coated)
  • Style: floating, built-in, box, counter, multi-level, corner
  • Accents: carved wood, crown molding, brackets, hanging pot rack/baskets, under-shelf lighting

 
What follows are beautiful photos of open shelves in kitchens, along with design ideas we thought may be of interest to you. Enjoy and happy home decorating!

 

1. Reclaimed Barnwood

two reclaimed barnwood open shelves on each side of window and soapstone countertops with square running bond backsplash and large porcelain sink with double drainboard and two striped window valancesPoints of Interest ● two reclaimed barnwood open shelves on each side of window ● soapstone countertops with square running bond backsplash ● large porcelain sink with double drainboard ● two striped window valances

 

2. Distressed Wood

distressed wooden open shelves with mint green beadboard rear wall and Carrara marble countertop with apron-front sink and glass pedestal fruit plate and muted off-white base cabinets with subtle green-grayish huesPoints of Interest ● distressed wooden open shelves with mint green beadboard rear wall ● Carrara marble countertop with apron-front sink ● glass pedestal fruit plate ● muted off-white base cabinets with subtle green-grayish hues

 

3. Shelves & Brackets

white painted wooden open shelves with matching brackets and countertop shelves with white marble island countertop with undermount sink and patterned fabric Roman shades with zinc range hood and hexagonal mosaic tile floorPoints of Interest ● white painted wooden open shelves with matching brackets and countertop shelves ● white marble island countertop with undermount sink ● patterned fabric Roman shades ● zinc range hood ● hexagonal mosaic tile floor

 

4. Pipe Bracket

reclaimed wooden open shelves with galvanized industrial pipe brackets and white ceramic subway tile backsplash and reclaimed wood planked wall with light gray cabinets with oil-rubbed bronze cup pullsPoints of Interest ● reclaimed wooden open shelves with galvanized industrial pipe brackets ● white ceramic subway tile backsplash ● reclaimed wood planked wall ● light gray cabinets with oil-rubbed bronze cup pulls

 

5. Stainless Steel

stainless steel open shelves on stacked stone wall with tiered middle shelf with stainless steel countertop with integrated apron-front sink and reeded glass dinnerware with baby blue under sink cabinetPoints of Interest ● stainless steel open shelves on stacked stone wall with tiered middle shelf ● stainless steel countertop with integrated apron-front sink ● reeded glass dinnerware ● baby blue under sink cabinet

 

6. Reclaimed Wood

reclaimed wooden open shelves with white painted slim wrought iron brackets and rustic wood planked bar base and birdcage pendant light over sink with sisal rope-covered pipe and black and white patterned flooringPoints of Interest ● reclaimed wooden open shelves with white painted slim wrought iron brackets ● rustic wood planked bar base ● birdcage pendant light over sink ● sisal rope-covered pipe ● black and white patterned flooring

 

7. Tall Counter Shelves

two 5-level black steel open shelves on marble countertop with industrial pipe lighting over island and four metal bar stools and white porcelain tiled wall in square running bond pattern with black and white marble diamond flooringPoints of Interest ● two 5-level black steel open shelves on marble countertop ● industrial pipe lighting over island ● four metal bar stools ● white porcelain tiled wall in square running bond pattern ● black and white marble diamond flooring

 

8. Crown Molding

box shelves with crown molding and L-shaped stainless steel countertop with spring pull-down kitchen faucet and exposed brick stove backsplash and criss cross muntin windows with cookie sheet storage in white base cabinetryPoints of Interest ● box shelves with crown molding ● L-shaped stainless steel countertop ● spring pull-down kitchen faucet ● exposed brick stove backsplash ● criss cross muntin windows ● cookie sheet storage in white base cabinetry

 

9. Brushed Steel

brushed steel open shelves with wood mats and marble topped island with charcoal gray wrought iron shelf and towel bar with 2-tiered fruit and vegetable wicker holder with large double-hung windows and black powder coated steel bar stoolsPoints of Interest ● brushed steel open shelves with wood mats ● marble topped island with charcoal gray wrought iron shelf and towel bar ● 2-tiered fruit and vegetable wicker holder ● large double-hung windows ● black powder coated steel bar stools

 

10. Double Wood Plank

3-tiered double wood plank open shelving with reclaimed wooden cabinets and walls with diamond glass faced slim upper cabinet and travertine arabesque tiled stove backsplash with bare weathered farmhouse tablePoints of Interest ● 3-tiered double wood plank open shelving ● reclaimed wooden cabinets and walls ● diamond glass faced slim upper cabinet ● travertine arabesque tiled stove backsplash ● bare weathered farmhouse table

 

11. Floating Shelves

stainless steel floating open shelves with white open shelves on bar with beverage cooler and arched stove alcove and niches with soapstone countertop with matching curved backsplash and diagonal mosaic tiled floor inlayPoints of Interest ● stainless steel floating open shelves ● white open shelves on bar with beverage cooler ● arched stove alcove and niches ● soapstone countertop with matching curved backsplash ● diagonal mosaic tiled floor inlay

 

12. Shelves + Pot Rack

wooden open shelves with hanging pot racks and wood planked waterfall island with black powder coated pendant lights and coffered ceiling with skylight and charcoal gray painted weathered plank floorsPoints of Interest ● wooden open shelves with hanging pot racks ● wood planked waterfall island ● black powder coated pendant lights ● coffered ceiling with skylight ● charcoal gray painted weathered plank floors

 

13. Under Shelf Lighting

stainless steel open shelves with hanging cookware and lighting underneath with stainless steel countertop with sidesplash and brick wall with cast iron flat fireback stove backsplash and two wire counter chairsPoints of Interest ● stainless steel open shelves with hanging cookware and lighting underneath ● stainless steel countertop with sidesplash ● brick wall with cast iron flat fireback stove backsplash ● two wire counter chairs

 

14. Support Brackets

wall-mounted white open shelves with support brackets and rolling stainless steel kitchen cart with two open shelves and white subway tile backsplash with soldier course and black tile inlay with single-hung steel-framed windows and jute area rugPoints of Interest ● wall-mounted white open shelves with support brackets ● rolling stainless steel kitchen cart with two open shelves ● white subway tile backsplash with soldier course and black tile inlay ● single-hung steel-framed windows ● jute area rug

 

15. Flanked Shelves

long open shelves flanked by floor-to-ceiling cabinets with antiqued light turquoise island base cabinets and red ladder back counter chairs and antique cash register on white granite island countertop with textual art on wallPoints of Interest ● long open shelves flanked by floor-to-ceiling cabinets ● antiqued light turquoise island base cabinets ● red ladder back counter chairs ● antique cash register on white granite island countertop ● textual art on wall

 

16. White Cabinetry

white open shelves attached to wall and cabinets with dark wood topped island complemented by curved seat bar stools and glass faced transom cabinets with glass shelves and wine cubbies with stainless steel stove backsplashPoints of Interest ● white open shelves attached to wall and cabinets ● dark wood topped island complemented by curved seat bar stools ● glass faced transom cabinets with glass shelves ● wine cubbies ● stainless steel stove backsplash

 

17. Black Metal Brackets

wooden shelves with black metal brackets and wooden island base with matching swivel bar stool and L-shaped gray granite countertop with sidesplash with wicker basket on island open shelfPoints of Interest ● wooden shelves with black metal brackets ● wooden island base with matching swivel bar stool ● L-shaped gray granite countertop with sidesplash ● wicker basket on island open shelf

 

18. Varnished Wood

varnished wooden open shelves matching the L-shaped countertop with white subway tile backsplash and serving tray matching the spruce blue cabinetry with vintage brass keys hanging from open shelfPoints of Interest ● varnished wooden open shelves matching the L-shaped countertop ● white subway tile backsplash ● serving tray matching the spruce blue cabinetry ● vintage brass keys hanging from open shelf

 

19. L-Shaped Shelves

L-shaped open shelf with colored glassware and multi-toned porcelain tile backsplash with marble countertop with porcelain farmhouse sink and white base cabinets with satin nickel cup pulls with jute area rugPoints of Interest ● L-shaped open shelf with colored glassware ● multi-toned porcelain tile backsplash ● marble countertop with porcelain farmhouse sink ● white base cabinets with satin nickel cup pulls ● jute area rug

 

20. By the Windows

white floating shelves beside and above windows with black quartz countertop with off-white farmhouse sink and assorted cutting boards against tall off-white cabinet on counter with antique writing desk with drawersPoints of Interest ● white floating shelves beside and above windows ● black quartz countertop with off-white farmhouse sink ● assorted cutting boards against tall off-white cabinet on counter ● antique writing desk with drawers

 

21. Corner Shelf

L-shaped corner shelf with wrought iron brackets and three-bulb pendant light over black farmhouse sink and glazed off-white cabinets with beamed beadboard ceiling and blue and white porcelain dinnerwarePoints of Interest ● L-shaped corner shelf with wrought iron brackets ● three-bulb pendant light over black farmhouse sink ● glazed off-white cabinets ● beamed beadboard ceiling ● blue and white porcelain dinnerware

 

22. Shelf Above Shelves

long open shelf above window with built-in shorter shelves and black wire vegetable basket with wooden handles and butcher block topped island with brown base cabinets and glass pedestal cake plate with lidPoints of Interest ● long open shelf above window with built-in shorter shelves ● black wire vegetable basket with wooden handles ● butcher block topped island with brown base cabinets ● glass pedestal cake plate with lid

 

23. Multi-Length Shelves

white open shelves in varying length with white-painted metal brackets supporting shelves and soapstone countertop with integrated farmhouse sink and matching baby blue beadboard wall and range hoodPoints of Interest ● white open shelves in varying length ● white-painted metal brackets supporting shelves ● soapstone countertop with integrated farmhouse sink ● matching baby blue beadboard wall and range hood

 

24. Natural Maple

natural maple floating open shelves and two-tiered island with soapstone and natural maple countertops and stainless steel cookware and white ceramic dinnerware on open shelves with sloped skylights and glass doors to gardenPoints of Interest ● natural maple floating open shelves ● two-tiered island with soapstone and natural maple countertops ● stainless steel cookware and white ceramic dinnerware on open shelves ● sloped skylights ● glass doors to garden

 

25. Hanging Baskets

rod-style stainless steel open shelves with two hanging wire baskets and contrasting white marble countertop and black porcelain tile backsplash with galvanized planter with saucer and miniature floral lampshadePoints of Interest ● rod-style stainless steel open shelves with two hanging wire baskets ● contrasting white marble countertop and black porcelain tile backsplash ● galvanized planter with saucer ● miniature floral lampshade

 

26. Box Shelves

two DIY doorless cabinets as open shelves with beige granite countertop with sidesplash and flat panel white base cabinets and white Venetian blinds on windows and vintage enamel bread box with dark hardwood floorsPoints of Interest ● two DIY doorless cabinets as open shelves ● beige granite countertop with sidesplash and flat panel white base cabinets ● white Venetian blinds on windows ● vintage enamel bread box ● dark hardwood floors

 

27. Carved Wood Accents

open shelving with carved wood accents matching the island base and 3 tin planters on single open shelf with brackets with two 5x5 glass paneled window walls and stacked crates with bottles and zinc range hood over wooden islandPoints of Interest ● open shelving with carved wood accents matching the island base ● 3 tin planters on single open shelf with brackets ● two 5×5 glass paneled window walls ● stacked crates with bottles ● zinc range hood over wooden island