Open Shelving- Is It For You?

The idea of designing spaces using open shelving has its pros and cons. For some people, it is so aesthetically pleasing to a room that the cons are not a big deal. Let's take a minute to discuss the pros and cons and determine if open shelving is right for you. Below are a list of the positives and negatives of open shelving in a kitchen.

Pros

• Allows storing items as well as displaying them at the same time
• Makes a room look and feel more open (especially if the room is small and/or the cabinets are dark)
• Convenience of finding and getting to items
• Cheaper than wall cabinets
• Personality is present on every shelf

Cons

• Dust can be an issue if the items on the shelves are not used daily
• Visual clutter (some people don't like the look of items displayed for everyone to see)
• Organization needs to be somewhat kept up (This may be a good thing because it forces you to stay organized!)

Below are kitchens that range from a lot of open shelving to minimal open shelving. What's your style?

As you can see, open shelving can be as heavy or light as you like. It adds a sense of personalization and character to the kitchen. What are your thoughts on open shelving? Do the pros outweigh the cons? Maybe open shelving would be a better fit for another room in your home. Whatever your thoughts, it is definitely something to consider.

Ashley Robinson, Public Relations and Social Media Specialist

arobinson@wellborn.com