21 Open Kitchen Shelving Ideas That Are Beautiful And Functional

open-kitchen-shelving-ideas

Open kitchen shelving can be very chic, efficient, and functional and they are a very popular design element for the heart of the home. If you do not have open shelves in your kitchen space, you may wish to consider incorporating them. Whether you forego some upper cabinets or just wish to add some additional storage on some empty wall space, floating shelves can add a beautiful look to your kitchen space.

These shelves can also provide some convenient storage, such as housing your every day glasses and dishware or your favorite spices right next to your stove. You can also use them to personalize your space, by displaying some of your favorite china or cookbooks. When styling your shelves, be careful not to overdo them, as you do not want the appearance of clutter or disorganization.

To help you get started, have a look below for some fabulous open kitchen shelving ideas. Below each of the images, you will find further source information with links to the designers of each project.

Tell Us: Which one of these open kitchen shelving ideas most inspired you and why in the Comments below!

1. Farmhouse Style Kitchen. The floating shelves ( 2.5″ thick & 12″ deep) were custom fabricated along with the island, both are pine. The plumbing pipes (found at a hardware store) were spray painted black and the brackets screwed into the studs. Perimeter countertops are Corian and the cabinets are Ikea. The door to the pantry is chalkboard paint, which can be found at any hardware store. The pendant lights were sourced from Rejuvenation. Bar stools are the vapor 24″ acrylic counter stool. The flooring is concrete. (via Design Shop Interiors)

2. Blue & White Kitchen. The shelves were custom-made by the trim carpenters for this project. They are 2″ thick white oak boards, rough-hewn. The first shelf is 21″ off the countertop. The perimeter countertops are Super White Granite and the Island is Vetrastone. Backsplash tiles are Walker Zanger’s 3×12 Cafè tile in Water Gloss. The wall cabinet paint color is similar to Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17. The wall sconces above the shelves are by Visual Comfort and sourced through Circa Lighting. Wood floors are white oak with a natural wax sealer, no stain, and sourced from Olde Savannah Hardwood Flooring. (via Holmes + Salter Interiors)

3. Eclectic Galley Kitchen. The open steel shelving in this San Francisco apartment is from Ikea. The table was purchased at a local restaurant supply company (Economy Restaurant Fixtures in San Francisco); it measures 24″ wide by 54″ long. The sink faucet is from the Danze Opulence line. The walls are Northampton Putty HC-89 by Benjamin Moore, cabinets are Starmark Cabinetry White, and the countertop is Wilsonart Laminate – Khaki Brown. (via Workroom C)

4. Kitchen With Suspended Shelving. A split-level house features this stunning kitchen with suspended shelving with concrete countertops below and custom cabinetry. A steel plate was installed in the ceiling in order to provide support for the shelves. The shelves were custom-designed for the space and fabricated by local millworkers in Brooklyn, NY. See the full home tour here: Stunning light-filled home renovation project in Brooklyn, NY. (via General Assembly)

5. Light-Filled Modern Kitchen. For this beautiful kitchen, the custom cantilevered shelves were custom designed and built by the trim carpenter and engineered by the structural engineer. There are steel supports built into the wall for each shelf. There is a 3″ shelf thickness, with a 14″ spacing. The wall behind the shelves is MDF, scored every 6 inches to resemble a shiplap and then painted. The countertop and backsplash are Carrera marble. The T chair Bar stools are from West Elm. The floors are a pecan/hickory mix. The installer is “Artisan Floors” in Austin, TX. (via Webber + Studio, Architects)

6. A Beautifully Balanced Kitchen. In this gorgeous lakeside cottage kitchen in Oregon, a trio of custom floating shelves accent either side of the Wolf Pro Wall Chimney Hood. Perfect for displaying your most used dishware and glasses. (via Jennifer Baines Interiors)

7. A Modern Tudor Kitchen. A floating shelf above the Electrolux Icon range is perfect for storing spices. The cabinets are rift sawn white oak with a custom stain, while the hardware is from Mockett. The backsplash is white Carrara marble, like the countertops. The island countertop is made of fumed white oak and is made by the Joinery.

The Normen Modern Wooden Counter Chairs in walnut have a commercial-grade vinyl fabric from Maharam. The brass island light is handmade following DYI instructions from light fixture designer Lindsey Adelman. The floors are quarter sawn white oak. The chalkboard paint wall is from Benjamin Moore. The wall color is Benjamin Moore Super White. (via Risa Boyer Architecture)

8. This open-concept kitchen has a French Bistro feel. The light maple wood shelves are installed with custom-made brackets. The cabinet paint color is Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore. (via Daniella Villamil Interiors)

9. An Industrial Bachelor Pad. The open shelves in this kitchen were custom made out of plumbing pipes and wood. The island countertop is a maple butcher block. The flooring is a vinyl tile that looks and feels just like wood — Syncorex Long View Pine. It gets glued down, so it does not sound like laminate. It is very durable and scratch and waterproof. (via Nina Williams Interiors)

10. A Beach Style Kitchen. In this stunning lake house kitchen, a custom hood is flanked by open shelves. The entire island is constructed of reclaimed white oak. The walls are shiplap. Each plank is roughly 6″ in height with a 1/8″ (approx) straight edge route so that the lines are clean. The shiplap is painted Pratt & Lambert Lambswool. The Wave Stools are from Go Home Ltd. See the rest of this home here: Tour a warm and welcoming lake house nestled on beautiful Lake Keowee. (via Summerour & Associates Interior)

11. A Rejuvenated Kitchen. In this modern kitchen renovation, some of the top cabinets were removed and replaced with open shelves. The geometric backsplash tiles are the Polar White Ceramic Tile from Floor & Decor. The pendant lights are from Rejuvenation. (via Tunde Decor)

12. A Clean Contemporary Kitchen. This riverfront townhouse kitchen features custom fabricated floating shelves. Standard-size floating wood shelves can be found at Rejuvenation. The cabinet paint is Benjamin Moore Floral White. The countertops are Absolute Black granite, honed. The white gloss ceramic subway tile backsplash has a Custom Oyster Gray grout. The counter stools are from Zuo Modern. The light fixtures are made from salvaged wine barrels by Bobo’s Interiors, sourced from Restoration Hardware. See the rest of the home: Stunning multi-tier townhouse above the Willamette River. (via Jenni Leasia Interior Design)

13. A Radiant Townhouse Kitchen. In this gorgeous kitchen, the brackets for the wood shelves are from Rejuvenation. The subway backsplash tiles are glazed brick tiles from Cle Tile. The cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore Black Knight 2136-10. The island countertop is a walnut butchers block from John Boos, while the perimeter countertop is soapstone. The sink faucet is from Waterworks – it is the Henry in Unlacquered Brass. The barstools are from M.Crow. (via A. Jennison Interiors)

14. A Warm and Bright Kitchen. This light and airy kitchen features white floating shelves on a white tile mosaic backsplash. The shelves were custom fabricated, perfect for storing dishes for accessibility. (via Alice Lane Home Collection)

15. Beautiful Kitchen Remodel. The floating shelves are white oak to match the floors and cabinets. They were custom made and installed by a carpenter. The cabinets are vertical grain Douglas Fir with a clear finish, while the countertops and backsplash are Caesarstone – 4600 Organic White. The floor is solid white oak that is custom cut, sanded, and stained in place by Olde Tyme Floors in Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks). The skylight brand is Velux. They are 2 ft x ft in size. The track lighting is Juno Trac 12. (via Allen Construction)

16. A Modern-Rustic Kitchen. The long floating wood shelves are reclaimed barn wood, from Tall Cotton Supply. The natural patina finish is a result of age. The perimeter countertop is lavastone basaltina. The backsplash tiles are Lavastone tile, custom cut to approximately 3″ x 16″. The floor is white oak solid flooring, with a bleaching oil.

The kitchen stools are 1930’s industrial antiques (from a candy factory) purchased from Paula Rubenstein Ltd. in NYC. Pendant light fixtures were sourced from Obsolete in Venice Beach, CA. They are porcelain ceiling pendants with twisted wire, Italian antiques Circa 1920-1930. See the rest of this home: A modern-rustic beach house in The Hamptons, NY. (via Bates Masi Architects)

17. Rustic Meets Modern. Rustic wood shelves in this kitchen provide functional storage and personalization. The designer uses IKEA cabinets as a base and transforms them into semi-custom by switching out the door fronts and hardware. This is a cost-saving trick and will offer a more refined aesthetic. (via Amber Interiors)

18. Charming Modern Farmhouse Style. This large kitchen features a 14-foot long island with a Caesarstone countertop. Over the island, the large pendant lights were sourced from Urban Electric Company. The beautiful backsplash tile is Ann Sacks cement tiles. Flanking either side of the custom plaster hood, floating shelves provide functional storage for dishes. See the rest of this beautiful home tour: Chic modern farmhouse in Newport Beach with emphasis on entertaining. (via Eric Olsen Design)

19. Classic Black and White: The shelves of this stylish kitchen are custom made, using off-the-shelf iron (plumbing) pipe and fittings. See the rest of this home tour here: Contemporary residence with light-filled interiors in Austin. (via FAB Architecture)

20. A Rustic Mountain Kitchen. In this stunning kitchen, long floating shelves provide plenty of space for dishes, cups, and mugs. The cabinets are black walnut veneer, with no stain and clear conversion varnish. They were fabricated and installed by Falls Cabinet & Millwork out of Idaho Falls, ID. Countertops are honed Calcutta marble. The floors are polished concrete that was ground with a floor polisher and topped off with a coat of matte finish sealer. See the rest of this fabulous home here: Sweeping views take center stage in this stunning Jackson Hole escape. (via Pearson Design Group)