1. CONSIDER THE PRACTICALITIES OF KITCHEN SHELVING
No matter how decorative your shelving is going to be, you need to plan in where you are going to position them. As we've said practicalities need to come first in a kitchen so ensure your shelving isn't going to protrude into the room too much, be too high to use effective, or too low it's a hazard. And you need to ensure what you are displaying makes sense for how you use the space. As Emma Deterding founder of Kelling Designs says, 'The trend for open shelving in the kitchen continues to prove popular, providing a less formal option for kitchen storage. That being said, there are a few things you need to consider and do in order to make this work in your own home, without making your kitchen look cluttered.'
2. SWITCH WALL CABINETS FOR SHELVING
The classic kitchen layout tends to involve both wall cabinets and floor cabinets, but when space is tight in a small kitchen or if you want to create a more open and airy space, forgo the wall cabinets and instead opt for shelving.
3. USE KITCHEN SHELVING TO ADD CHARACTER AND TEXTURE TO A SMALL SPACE
How gorgeous is this little rustic kitchen designed (and owned) by Dee Murphy? The zellige tiles, the adorable deep green stove, and the main focus, the floating shelf. The reason this space gets it so spot-on is the real mix of heights, shapes, and textures. There are no clear lines to guide the eye, no symmetry, no pattern, making you really drawn to the display – irregularity is key to good shelving ideas.
4. CREATE A BALANCE BETWEEN FORM AND FUNCTION
This wooden kitchen is the perfect example of how kitchen shelving should work, a mix of both handy extra storage and the perfect spot for adding some character to your kitchen. Bottom shelf purely practical, top shelf purely decorative. It's all about balance.
5. OPT FOR OPEN BACKED SHELVING IN A SMALL KITCHEN
Not all kitchen shelving needs to be wall-mounted. In this sleek white kitchen design by Borisoff Design Studio, the walls are kept clean and bare, and instead, this stunning gold unit comes from the ceiling. 'Adding simple metal hanging shelving over any sink area, maximizes space and provides a beautiful styling opportunity while allowing light to still pass through.' explains Lauren Borisoff.
6. KEEP IT SIMPLE WITH A SINGLE LONG SHELF
This is a kitchen trend we are seeing so much at the moment, simple, understated but really effective. A single floating shelf running the length of one wall. In this kitchen, the shelf blends so seamlessly into the backsplash, it takes the concept of a floating shelf to a whole new level, the objects look almost to be suspended on the wall. It's such a clever way to add a shelf and create that perfect spot for decor, without very obviously breaking up the wall.
7. USE KITCHEN SHELVING TO ZONE A SPACE
Whether you want to create a pantry like space with shelving covered in glass jars of pasta, a mini living room with shelving covered in books and a cozy armchair beneath, or as can be found in this kitchen, a cute coffee station, with shelving covered in cups – shelves, can give a room definition. It can create mini rooms within your room, with different functions. It's a great trick for open plan kitchens in particular where space is aplenty but you want to room to be multifunctional.
8. GO FLOOR TO CEILING AND TURN SHELVING INTO A FEATURE WALL
Treat shelving almost like a kitchen wallpaper, go floor to ceiling and fill them with a real mix of items that are going to add all the color and texture to the room. We love this really uncurated look, with the overflow of books, the jars in all different shapes and sizes, and then the shelf of mugs and cake stands that add just a small amount of that much-needed negative space. It feels very homely and effortless but not too cluttered.
9. LIGHT UP YOUR SHELVING EFFECTIVELY
Kitchen lighting is such a key part of an overall kitchen design and should be considered with every choice you are making from layouts to colors. How your shelving will affect your lighting and how you might want to light your shelving should be considered too. As designer Benji Lewis says 'Lighting is paramount in the kitchen, so position light fittings accordingly so that they throw good illumination onto your shelving and you can find things easily.'
10. BLEND KITCHEN SHELVING INTO THE WALLS
Painting shelving so that it blends into your kitchen walls is a great option if you want to add storage but don't want your shelves to become too much of a focal point of the room.