28 Open Shelving Ideas That'll Inspire You to Ditch Those Kitchen Cabinet Doors

For a seamless look, build your open-shelving kitchen idea right into the walls. Rather than molding, this space has plastered the shelving and walls for a bohemian flair. Open shelving isn't just for dinnerware either! Display your favorite photos or serving pieces to add personality.

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Open shelving in a kitchen is designed to increase functionality and efficiency. Take a note from this kitchen where the upper open shelves can be accessed from all sides, eliminating the need to walk around the whole room just to grab a plate.

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If your kitchen has multiple sections, have the open shelving flow through each one for a cohesive look and feel. In this open-shelving kitchen idea, the wood shelves wrap around the corner to join the sink area with the NYC loft's coffee bar.

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This antique hutch is now the ultimate open-shelving storage piece after the doors and back panel were removed. This also makes the large, wood piece feel visually lighter, brightening up the entire room. This is a great, rental-friendly open shelving option.

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For a playful feel, mix open shelving and closed cabinetry in a modular fashion. For this kitchen, designer Andy Beers mixed open cubbies with splashes of red to allow the homeowner's blue midcentury tableware collection to anchor the space.

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Employ columns of open shelving to highlight a standout feature in your kitchen and display beloved ceramics. In this Florida kitchen, designer Lauren Liess used symmetrical open shelving and repetitive light fixtures to put the focus on the Jerusalem stone–clad chimney-style range hood.

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In an English cottage designed by Elizabeth Hay, a single open shelf puts a collection of potted flowers on display. It's painted in Edward Bulmer Invisible Green to match the cabinets and nearby wall hutch, making the vibrant color pop in the airy kitchen.

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Designer Mallory Kaye modernized this ranch house kitchen with a single level of white marble open shelving to match the backsplash and countertops. This open-shelving kitchen idea is kept clean with clear glasses and perfectly stacked dinnerware on top.

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Embrace a lived-in look with an open-shelving kitchen idea that hosts everything from dinnerware and cookware to art and decorative objects. Take inspiration from celebrity decorator Kathryn M. Ireland's own kitchen, which features plain white shelves infused with personality.

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Create a cohesive look by installing open shelves and pendant lighting made of the same material. In the kitchen of this Napa Valley home, designers Marshall Watson and Mercedes Ganes opted for light wood shelving that flanks the range hood and imitates the custom pendant over the island. Not only does the combo warm up the space, but it creates a sense of intimacy.

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If you want to display small treasures or favorite mugs in your kitchen, install an open shelf underneath closed cabinetry as the interior design firm BHDM did in this home. This way, you can still hide clutter while seeing your favorite pieces.

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If you're not totally sold on open shelving, simply use a single row above your cooktop as a spice rack. For an extra-appealing display, pour all of your spices into matching containers like the ones in this kitchen designed by Studio DIAA.

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Soften your kitchen while also adding character with this genius open-shelving kitchen idea. In this kitchen by designer Steve Pallrand, the arched niche displays potted herbs and treasured decor—all of which liven up and add touches of warmth to the bright space.

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A black-and-gold range like this one is all kinds of flash, so tone it down with rustic wood open shelves. They're minimal, so they don't detract from the obvious focal point of the kitchen. See more of this space at Amber Interiors.

If the exposed feel of open shelving freaks you out, limit yourself to one section of the walls in your kitchen. You can keep the rest of your items in the lower cabinets, so you aren't doing away with concealed storage for good, but you can experiment a little with going open. See more at Lark & Linen.

Don't limit open shelves to stacks of kitchen essentials like bowls and cups. Dedicate a portion to cookbooks so you can easily see what's in your library and reach for the one you need when cooking. See more at Nicole Franzen.

To dream up a kitchen fit for a chef, give it a utilitarian feel with steel accents, wood open shelving with distinct hardware, and unique pendant lights.

Opt for a sophisticated look with an open-shelving kitchen idea that features crown molding, like in this kitchen by designer Kelie Grosso. If you want an airy but soft feel, select a taupe color for the shelves, cabinetry, and island to tie the space together.