Used to hate open shelving in kitchens... now I get it

Last month I was dead set against open shelving for my kitchen reno in Portland. Thought it would look cluttered and dusty. But I walked into a friend's place near the Pearl District and she had these simple oak shelves with just a few matching white dishes and a single plant. The whole kitchen felt twice as big and super airy... now I'm converting my upper cabinets.

2 comments

2 Comments

betty_fisher55d agoTop Commenter

The key is to keep it minimal, like you really have to hold yourself back from filling them up. I only have like three plates and a couple bowls on mine, plus a big wooden cutting board leaning against the wall. Dust does build up but a quick wipe with a damp cloth once a week handles it. The light oak ones are perfect for Portland since they match the whole Pacific Northwest vibe. Just don't put anything you use daily up there unless you want to wash it all the time.

sullivan.john4d ago

Totally agree with keeping it minimal @betty_fisher5, that's the only way those open shelves don't look cluttered and messy. I've got a similar setup with just my favorite mugs and a few ceramic vases up there, and I rotate them out seasonally (like switching to warmer, earthy tones in fall). The dust thing is real though - I use a microfiber cloth and it takes like two minutes, way faster than I thought it'd be.