Open Shelving or Cabinet Storage for Your Kitchen Design?
When embarking on a new kitchen design, you will wonder whether to have open shelves or cabinets. We offer some creative solutions for when you want the best of both worlds. Take a peek!
Why Open Shelving?
- It Accents Interior Kitchen Design: Do you have brickwork you want to show off? Would you like to use a different color paint or wallpaper on one kitchen wall? How about using tiles to make a lovely backsplash, covering the walls up to the ceiling? These create visual interest in a room and are great reasons to include standard or floating shelves as part of your kitchen plan.
Additionally, shelves and more wall space provide the perfect opportunity to decorate. Consider displaying that stunning vase you don’t want to tuck away or utilize shelves to house matching glass jars or wooden cutting boards for a charming yet functional effect. Shelves are also the perfect place to celebrate; simply add and remove items like pumpkins, flowers, or evergreen clippings as the seasons change.
- It’s Budget-Friendlier: If costs are a concern in designing your home, consider installing shelves. Shelving is an economical and creative way to help you stay on budget.
- It’s Functional: When you keep everyday items within reach, life is more straightforward—you can just grab and go. If your most-used items are on accessible shelves, you eliminate the need to open cabinets and search for them. Keeping your frequently used items at your fingertips optimizes workflow and saves precious time.
- It’s “In”: Like most things these days, minimalism has become popular. Incorporating a shelf or two can help make your kitchen feel open and airy when you display a few objects, especially raw wood or wood-like materials. For instance, imagine a beautiful shelf in a rustic farmhouse kitchen.
Why Cabinet Storage?
- Best for Clutter: Along the same lines, the ability to close a door also means space is less likely to look messy. Clever ideas are available to take advantage of small spaces and even store oddly shaped items.
New trends in organizational kitchen designs include smartly designed dividers, pull-out shelves, and narrow cabinets that ensure no wasted space. They can be made of wood, MDF, or resin and are integrated into the original cabinetry either above or below counter level. They can be built into entirely new cabinetry.
- Convenient Cleaning: Cabinet doors on kitchen cabinets protect the items inside from dust and contaminants. Upper cabinets offer easy-to-clean surfaces and open fronts to access your dishes and tools easily. Use a cabinet space filler to keep everything inside more airtight for added protection!
- Kitchen Design Variety: Upper cabinets help define your kitchen design. There are endless cabinet door styles from traditional to modern and everything in between. You can further personalize your cabinets with unique handles, knobs, and hardware and extend your preferred look to the kitchen island and nearby mudroom.
- More Storage Space: Who doesn't want more space for their stuff? Many people underestimate how much storage space they need, especially when you factor in things like silverware and cookbooks.
Remember, there are more things in your kitchen than just plates; you also keep food, baking items, linens, and cooking utensils. Small appliances and large pots take up an incredible amount of space and should be kept in closed cabinets or a pantry to keep your kitchen design from feeling or looking messy.
The Conclusion Regarding Your Kitchen Design
This guide is just the first step to achieving your coveted kitchen design. It is best to consult with an interior designer who could mix and match open shelving and cabinet storage to get a more certain perspective! Both have their uses, so it’s just a matter of preference on making either or both arrangements work in your favor!
Consult with Reno Concepts to achieve your kitchen design in California! We’re an interior design studio that brings professional design and construction expertise to make your dream kitchen or bath a reality. Get a free estimate from us now!
