10 Ideas for Open Storage in a Kitchen
Display shelving can look great and work really well in a kitchen, as long as you keep a few simple guidelines in mind
Anna Tobin
3 January 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist and editor. I regularly contribute to all the UK glossies and the national press and international press and I run www.dontcrampourstyle.com, the blog for people who live in homes that they've physically outgrown. Follow me on Twitter @theannatobin or contact me via www.annatobin.co.uk
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist... More
Having open storage creates an informal, relaxed feel in the kitchen – but it doesn’t work for everyone. You need to consider the shelves’ position, what you intend to store on them and how they will look. Here are 10 points to think about before deciding whether this style is right for you.
Keep shelves tidy
Be honest with yourself, is your household naturally neat? Or are you the type who, during one of your numerous busy moments, is prone to dumping keys and paperwork on any clear surface?
If you’re more inclined to the latter, you should perhaps think twice about installing more places where you’ll be tempted to scatter your stuff. If you are a tidy lot, however, and know that everyone will generally put everything where it belongs, open storage could be perfect for you.
Discover how you can squeeze more style from your shelves
Be honest with yourself, is your household naturally neat? Or are you the type who, during one of your numerous busy moments, is prone to dumping keys and paperwork on any clear surface?
If you’re more inclined to the latter, you should perhaps think twice about installing more places where you’ll be tempted to scatter your stuff. If you are a tidy lot, however, and know that everyone will generally put everything where it belongs, open storage could be perfect for you.
Discover how you can squeeze more style from your shelves
Be prepared for extra dusting
There’s no getting away from it – open storage will gather dust far more quickly than closed units will. So if you plan to display some of your more attractive, but little-used items on shelves, remember that they’ll need to be wiped down more frequently.
However, if you plan to stow well-used kitchen kit, such as pans or cereal bowls, in this way, then dust won’t have the chance to settle.
In this kitchen, there’s a lot on display, both high up and low down, which makes everything easy to grab – but might mean more cleaning.
There’s no getting away from it – open storage will gather dust far more quickly than closed units will. So if you plan to display some of your more attractive, but little-used items on shelves, remember that they’ll need to be wiped down more frequently.
However, if you plan to stow well-used kitchen kit, such as pans or cereal bowls, in this way, then dust won’t have the chance to settle.
In this kitchen, there’s a lot on display, both high up and low down, which makes everything easy to grab – but might mean more cleaning.
Take your height into account
If you’re a little shorter than average and will frequently have to climb a stepladder to reach high-up pots and pans, then open storage might not be the most practical option for you. If height is on your side, however, you will probably find reaching up to an item much easier than bending down to rummage around in a low cupboard for it.
High open storage is also particularly useful if you don’t want your little ones to get their hands on your kitchen equipment.
If you’re a little shorter than average and will frequently have to climb a stepladder to reach high-up pots and pans, then open storage might not be the most practical option for you. If height is on your side, however, you will probably find reaching up to an item much easier than bending down to rummage around in a low cupboard for it.
High open storage is also particularly useful if you don’t want your little ones to get their hands on your kitchen equipment.
Consider low-level shelves
Open storage below the worktop can be very practical, too. It breaks up a run of doors and drawers and can bring colour and character into your scheme.
Low-level storage works particularly well for cookbooks, as seen here in this island unit. Remember, however, that these areas could be rather tempting for an inquisitive toddler’s fingers.
Open storage below the worktop can be very practical, too. It breaks up a run of doors and drawers and can bring colour and character into your scheme.
Low-level storage works particularly well for cookbooks, as seen here in this island unit. Remember, however, that these areas could be rather tempting for an inquisitive toddler’s fingers.
Create a balance
Open storage looks particularly good when it’s arranged symmetrically. It might be centred over the sink with units either side, or fitted along one wall with further shelving or units on the other side to match.
Crucially, it shouldn’t be isolated from the rest of the kitchen and it must be in keeping with the overall style of your scheme.
Open storage looks particularly good when it’s arranged symmetrically. It might be centred over the sink with units either side, or fitted along one wall with further shelving or units on the other side to match.
Crucially, it shouldn’t be isolated from the rest of the kitchen and it must be in keeping with the overall style of your scheme.
Get the hang of it
Shelves are not the only option for open storage in the kitchen. Hooks that hold mugs or saucepans can look very attractive, too, and they make everything very easy to access.
Just make sure that what you’re displaying is pleasant to look at. You might want to avoid hanging up slogan mugs, for example, or a mismatch of battered saucepans. A sleek set of glowing copper pans, as seen here, looks lovely.
Shelves are not the only option for open storage in the kitchen. Hooks that hold mugs or saucepans can look very attractive, too, and they make everything very easy to access.
Just make sure that what you’re displaying is pleasant to look at. You might want to avoid hanging up slogan mugs, for example, or a mismatch of battered saucepans. A sleek set of glowing copper pans, as seen here, looks lovely.
Look above
Overhead hanging pan holders can also be very useful, particularly if you want your kitchen to have that professional chef’s kitchen feel. These should ideally hang directly over a stove, as seen here, or an island unit. They probably won’t look quite right if suspended in midair with nothing between the rack and the floor.
Overhead hanging pan holders can also be very useful, particularly if you want your kitchen to have that professional chef’s kitchen feel. These should ideally hang directly over a stove, as seen here, or an island unit. They probably won’t look quite right if suspended in midair with nothing between the rack and the floor.
Work your worktops
Deep worktops and island surfaces can be used to store and display attractive and regularly used items, too. Here, a sleek stainless steel toaster and food mixer stand at the back of the worktop of a dresser-style unit, and the smart pestle and mortar looks right at home perched on the island.
Deep worktops and island surfaces can be used to store and display attractive and regularly used items, too. Here, a sleek stainless steel toaster and food mixer stand at the back of the worktop of a dresser-style unit, and the smart pestle and mortar looks right at home perched on the island.
Show off your crockery
It’s a real shame to hide away your attractive tableware collection. Neat little bowls look lovely stacked up on a shelf, and traditional plate racks have a relaxed, homely feel and come in very handy, too. Just make sure that your plates will fit securely in the rack.
Check out more creative ways with plates and trays
It’s a real shame to hide away your attractive tableware collection. Neat little bowls look lovely stacked up on a shelf, and traditional plate racks have a relaxed, homely feel and come in very handy, too. Just make sure that your plates will fit securely in the rack.
Check out more creative ways with plates and trays
Exploit awkward nooks
When you’re designing a kitchen, you often discover that you’re left with the odd awkward space that’s difficult to fill. These little nooks are perfect for storing bottles of wine, so install a rack to help break up and add interest to a run of kitchen units.
Browse 10 fabulous ways to store your wine
TELL US…
Have you created an attractive open storage area in your kitchen? How did you do it? Share your photos and thoughts in the Comments below.
When you’re designing a kitchen, you often discover that you’re left with the odd awkward space that’s difficult to fill. These little nooks are perfect for storing bottles of wine, so install a rack to help break up and add interest to a run of kitchen units.
Browse 10 fabulous ways to store your wine
TELL US…
Have you created an attractive open storage area in your kitchen? How did you do it? Share your photos and thoughts in the Comments below.
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Currently have open shelving in the house husband and I moved into....never liked the idea. It is nice to view some of the prettier kitchen items though, so I might compromise and have glass doors installed...
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