A trend we are seeing more and more in kitchen design is open shelving. In honor of our 2018 Kitchens of the Year, we wanted to close in on this hot topic and help you decide if this style is right for your renovation.

Types of Open Shelving

Exposed Brackets. Exposed brackets add an element of dimension to your shelves. There are lots of options for brackets, ranging in metals and from simple to ornate. These will take up more room visually, but are used to help bring the style of your kitchen together.

Floating. This is achieved by hiding the brackets behind the tile, secured into the studs. This is a great option if you want the tile to be the focus of the kitchen, or have to stack shelves close together.

Open Cabinets. Inspired by the idea of open shelves, but don’t have kitchen renovation plans in your near future? No problem! Take the doors off of your existing cabinets for instant open shelving. Choose cabinets between two other cabinets to break up the look.

Pros and Cons of Open Shelving

PRO: Visually expands a space. If you have a smaller kitchen, open shelves will make your space appear larger. By taking up less visual space, the kitchen in turn feels more bright and open.

PRO: Allows more space for creativity and personal touches. This is your opportunity to show off your creative styling! Even if you are using the space for pure function (limited storage can be a real issue!), there are still ways to

PRO: Saves money in a renovation. It’s not a secret; cabinets (especially custom) can be costly. If you are getting ready to begin a kitchen renovation, and are looking for places to save, this option is a stylish no-brainer.

PRO: Shows off your pretty dishes. Some dishes are just too pretty to hide behind those cabinet doors! Prop dishes up using a stand, or stack bowls on top of plates for a nice visual effect.

PRO: Quick access to frequently used items.  If you’re moving quickly in your kitchen (as we often are), it’s nice to have things within arms reach. At a quick glance, you can find and grab what you need.

CON: Dust. If you are just storing your most often used items on your open shelving, dust may rarely be an issue. But if you are storing your grandmother’s china or the KitchenAid mixer you have (reluctantly) yet to use, then you may have to break out the Swiffer more often.

CON: Staying neat and organized. Most people’s concern about open shelving is the aesthetics. Will it take a little more effort to ensure the shelves look the way you want? Yes, but it in the end you are putting into place good organizational practices. Everything has its place, and eventually it will just become second nature.

Tips and Tricks for Open Shelving

• Less is more: create a clean look by keeping your shelves minimally stocked and using similar or paired items.
• Use the same colors as the wall to make a space look bigger, i.e. white shelves on white walls.
• Use shelves made of natural wood to add instant warmth.
• Eliminate dead space by adding a floating shelf.

Do you think you could make this trend work for you? Let us know by commenting below! And for more design inspiration, be sure to follow St. Louis Homes + Lifestlyes on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!