Open Shelving -Pros…
Trendy:
(Photo by Minhnuyet Hardy Interiors)
Probably one of the biggest reasons for people choosing open shelving is because they are very trendy. They look incredibly good with both the farmhouse chic and the rustic industrial design styles, but can work with just about any design choice.
Budget Friendly:
Another great reason to choose open shelving is because of their very modest cost. If you want to remodel a kitchen, but a full set of cabinets just isn’t within your budget, this is a great option for getting the most bang for your buck. Floating shelves run just a fraction of what it would cost to install cabinetry. Plus, they are one of the easiest DIYs out there. So, you can save money on labor as well.
Great Way to Add Storage:
(Photo by Jenny Baines, Jennifer Baines Interiors)
If, on the other hand, you already have upper cabinet, but you are still needing some extra storage space, open shelving can be added to those areas where a full sized cabinet may not fit.
Display Beautiful Dishware:
Sometimes, a person just likes the idea of showing off a beautiful display of dishware. After all, if you paid a lot for, or did a lot of searching to find gorgeous pieces, why not show them off?
Easy to Find:
Although you probably will know exactly where everything is located in your kitchen, regardless of whether or not it is hidden behind doors, exposed dishware can make it very easy on guests. This can come in handy if your in-laws visit frequently, or if one will be moving in sometime in the near future.
With open shelving, there is no need for them to search through cabinets looking for a coffee cup. Everything that they may need can be located just by scanning the shelves.
Open Shelving – Cons…
Not for Everyone:
Despite the trendiness of this design, it definitely is not everyone’s cup of tea. This is something that probably doesn’t matter unless you are looking to put your home up for sale in the future. In which case, you may want to consider the overall design and what your particular market is like.
Risk of Looking Cluttered:
Although open shelving can look very put together and chic, with the wrong set up (or too much dishware), you run the risk of ending up with more of a cluttered look. So, if you like the look of open shelving, and you are concerned with achieving a neat and attractive look, check out how others have set up their dishes.
Try to keep pieces organized so that everything makes since (cups near the coffee pot, etc.), but also try to color coordinate. If your goal is to have an eclectic and colorful mix, that can work. But, ask yourself honestly, “can my pieces make a set or will they just end up looking like a jumble of odds and ends that won’t go together no matter what I do?”
Dust:
Ok. So, this one is the big one for me. I absolutely hate the dust that collects on open shelving. Now, this may not be an issue for you. You may not mind cleaning off your shelves when they need it.
However, maybe this is something that you haven’t even considered. In which case, I tell you to think about it. Imagine all the dust that collects on the surfaces in your house right now. Now ask yourself “How long will my dishes sit out in the open before they cycle through being used?” If it is a long time, you will need to wash them regularly to keep them clean.
If you still want to use open shelving, maybe consider just displaying the dishes that will get used daily. Thus, keeping them from having time to collect dust. But, still know that you will need to dust the shelves right along with the rest of your furniture, anyway.
Final Thoughts…
Now that you are aware of the Pros and Cons of open shelving, I hope that you are better able to decide if this design choice is for you. If you can think of any others, please let the rest of us know in the comment section below. I always enjoy hearing what you all have to say!
Sara says
Thank you so much for going into depth on this topic! I’m getting my cabinets redone by a local cabinet refinisher in a few weeks, and I’ve been debating whether or not to do open shelving on a wall in my kitchen. I absolutely love how open shelving looks, but I am so worried about the dust!