In addition to providing practical storage space, kitchen shelves provide the opportunity to bring a real sense of style to your cooking space, assuming you organize it properly. Make a mistake, and you will achieve exactly the opposite.
Fortunately, knowing how to organize kitchen shelves like a designer should give you the confidence—and the ability—to do it right every time.
It’s true that practicality tends to take priority when it comes to kitchen shelving ideas, but that doesn’t mean they can’t look good. In fact, when organized at a high level, designerWe have to say that it is of a standard standard, it can look positively gorgeous. Not to mention make the most of your kitchen storage ideas too.How to organize kitchen shelves like a designer
As any designer will tell you, successfully decorating shelves is all about striking the perfect balance between practicality and style, so you’ll need to organize your items with everyday life in mind, whether that’s plates and placemats placed together for convenience, or cups neatly stacked on a shelf Above the kettle.
Doing this, combined with the tricks we suggest below, will result in sleek, stylish and organized kitchen shelving that you and any designer should be proud of.
(Image credit: Future/Jean Baldwin)
1. Organize your shelves based on the kitchen area they are in
Good design goes with function, so you’ll need to consider the placement of your kitchen shelving. “If it’s above a main workstation, it’s important to take its purpose into consideration,” says interior designer Jenny Kozina.
For example, a shelf near the stove can be used to organize pots and pans or organize spices, while those above the countertop or inside the kitchen island can host crockery and cookbooks. Our guide to the six main areas of kitchen organization should give you a good idea of where best to achieve the most streamlined cooking space.
Jenny is an interior designer originally from the UK and currently residing in California. With extensive experience in commercial and residential design, she has enhanced her skills in creating stunning and functional spaces. Her ethos focuses on creating timeless pieces that reflect the context of each project.
2. Prioritize the things you use every day…
(Image credit: Future/Alex Sarginson)
No matter how “neat” you go about doing it, placing your entire crockery collection on your kitchen shelves will result in a messy-looking display, and potentially a break or two. Likewise, for spices, cookbooks, dishes, etc., the more items you have, the harder it is to organize them effectively.
‘Make organizing – and styling – easier by taking a more considered approach to what you store on your kitchen shelves. Set aside a smaller set of essentials that you use daily and prioritize them. Make sure to keep aesthetics in mind as well; Less “pretty” items (like broken glasses, plastic kids’ dishes, chunky appliances, etc.) should be stored behind closed doors, no matter how often you use them, says Jennifer Ebert, editor at Homes & Gardens Online.
Jane is the online Homes & Gardens editor. Before starting this position, she completed several interior design courses at KLC School of Design, as well as working at Ideal Home, LivingEtc, 25 Beautiful Homes, and Country Homes & Interiors as an interiors writer.
3. …or the ones you never use
(Image credit: Future PLC)
If you’re lucky enough to have a lot of storage space in the kitchen, you can get away with designing a purely decorative shelf. Things you like to look at, but don’t use often (like cake stands, serving dishes, vases, etc.) are great candidates. “Try to avoid smaller, more complex pieces if you can – they attract dirt and aren’t easy to clean. “This includes glassware, but if you insist on it, at least store them upside down so they’re not exposed to dust inside,” says Millie Hirst. , editor of Solved, Homes & Gardens.
Millie Hurst is the section editor for Houses and gardensHe oversees the solutions section, which provides readers with practical tips for their homes. Millie has written about and tried countless cleaning and DIY hacks in the six years since becoming a journalist, working in both London and New York.
4. Incorporate elements that are beautiful and practical as well
(Image credit: Future/Lisa Cohen)
As practical as they are, kitchen shelving arrangements based solely on function can seem a bit stark. You’ll want to add some personality, it’s your home, after all. According to Houston-based interior designer Mary Flannigan, the trick is to choose items that fit the room’s aesthetic and place them with ease of access in mind.
“On the lower shelves, I choose simple white plates, bowls, and mugs, as well as cookbooks or kitchen accessories for easy access. As we move to the top of the shelving unit, I’ll incorporate additional design and serving pieces like fruit-filled bowls, jugs, and cutting boards.” On some of the higher shelves, I would choose more design pieces like a small houseplant, copper pots, or ceramics that add great texture, but aren’t necessarily items that will be used a lot,” she explains.
5. Pay attention to how you arrange things
(Image credit: Future/Paul Rayside)
When organizing surfaces of any type, grouping items by odd numbers is more visually appealing than even numbers. Groups of three and five people positioned symmetrically tend to work best. Millie advises arranging them by height in a triangle shape, “one longer element flanked by two smaller elements,” and using a mix of textures and materials.
“We often recommend pairing a large linear element like a cutting board with a horizontal element, like a few stacked cookbooks. Then introduce some sculptural elements, like a bowl of lemonade or salt and pepper grinders. Voila! Adds Heather Goerzen, design editor at Havenly. : “Helpful, organized and very nice.”
Using shelf brackets is another way to add depth and height to your display; Choose a design that’s attractive to look at, or choose clear acrylic versions like these, on Amazon.
6. Use stylish storage to hide clutter
(Image credit: Future PLC)
If you’re smart about it, open shelving can host kitchen items that you don’t actually want to display (although these items should never be stored on kitchen shelves). Lining them with good-looking kitchen storage ideas creates space to store cutlery, utensils, tea towels, table linens and even ingredients, which in turn frees up space in drawers and cabinets for larger items.
“While clear jars are a practical option for storing ingredients (as you can see when supplies are running low), stylish storage baskets are great for hiding clutter – likewise when organizing pantry shelves. Natural finishes, like rattan or wicker blend wonderfully with any scheme – love These seagrass versions, at Wayfair. If you have the depth, stackable designs make great use of vertical space and allow you to separate items by category indoors, too. “Hang hooks at the bottom of shelves to hang pretty mugs for a finishing touch,” says Millie. Latifa”.
7. Add a potted plant or two
“The presence of living greenery can evoke a sense of calm and connection with nature, making your kitchen look more inviting,” says Jenny. Choose potted plants that also serve a practical function, such as rosemary, thyme and other herbs you like to use when cooking – not only will these be fragrant, but they’ll also add a bit of color and interest to your display.
common questions
What should I display on my kitchen shelves?
According to experts, the best kitchen shelving ideas are those that look stylish without compromising on practicality, so you need to keep both in mind when choosing what to display. Think about how you use your kitchen on a daily basis, and put aside those items that need access to on a regular basis – be sure to give away anything that doesn’t bring you joy to look at (think broken crockery, ugly appliances, and tattered old cookbooks, for example). ), you can store them behind closed doors, as part of kitchen cabinet organization, instead.
‘While I’m all for practical kitchen organization, it’s worth investing in and displaying everyday items that not only get the job done, but look beautiful while doing so. Good examples include a marble pestle and mortar, vintage-inspired salt and pepper grinders, rich-grained wood cutting boards, a ceramic garlic press, woven baskets for storing produce, and a crafted wooden dish peeler, says Heather.
This doesn’t mean that every item has to be practical; Potted plants, vases, cake stands, and even children’s artwork can add a personal touch to your shelf display. Ideally, you can place these items a little higher, freeing up accessible storage space for those items you reach for often.
Unlike the clutter we hide behind closed doors, kitchen shelves require a little more thought if you want to stay neat – and well-organised, of course. Taking advice from designers is a good place to start, but don’t be too grateful for their advice; It’s what works for you and your lifestyle at the end of the day, so don’t be afraid to change things up every now and then.
