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1Work with Your Tile
ZIO AND SONS 2Wrap the Room
Helen Norman Photographer Helen Norman lined her kitchen with three levels of open shelving. This layered look is perfect for the maximalist with a ceramic collection that just keeps growing! Be sure to pull out and measure your tallest pieces to ensure you’ll have enough room between shelves.
RELATED: Our 15 Favorite Green Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
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3Pretty Up a Petite Space
Adam Albright, styling by Matthew Gleason While kitchen-spanning shelving is great in theory, it’s not always feasible. If your layout doesn’t allow for yards of shelves, you don't have to abandon the style all together. Instead, opt for a petite pair to showcase your favorite vintage pieces, as homeowner Katie Barnes did here in her lakeside cabin.
RELATED: This Lakeside Cabin Has All the Charm of an Old School Summer Camp
4Go with Barely-There Brackets
Buff Strickland, styling by Jessica Brinkert Holtam Take a cue from designer Claire Zinnicker and keep things simple with barely-there brackets and quaint wood planking as she did in her Texas farmhouse. If you’re the herb and houseplant type, simple shelves such as these make for a great display spot and can free up precious counter space.
RELATED: 21 Indoor House Plants We Love
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5Go Moody
ALI HARPER Don't shy away from moodier tones when painting your open shelving, especially if you live in a historic home. While bright and airy white shelves might be your first thought, shapely wooden shelves in a dark hue (these are painted black to match the trim) add age-appropriate architectural interest.
6Elevate Your Basics
David A. Land In a petite kitchen without any upper cabinets, open shelving becomes a stylish necessity. Here, designer Hadley Wiggins shows off her collection of spices, classic cookbooks, and simple white dinnerware. Elevated basics such as these lend gravitas when tight on space.
RELATED: See more of this Long Island farmhouse.
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7Add a Rail
Brie Williams 8Go Between Windows
Max Kim-Bee If your kitchen has multiple windows (lucky you!), try installing sets of shelves between each window. The repetition creates pleasing cohesiveness and leaves you with a lot of practical storage.
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9Opt for Floating Shelves
Tara Donne Streamline your open shelving look by ditching the brackets all together. Just be sure to double-check with your builder on the weight limit for this set-up. How much weight they will hold depends on the material used and how it was attached to the wall. As a general rule, good quality shelves attached to studs can usually hold about 50 pounds.
10Go All-In on White
David Tsay If you want to channel the classic cottage aesthetic, try going all-in on white. Shapely antique ironstone adds texture with ease in this all-white kitchen. Consider bringing in crusty cutting boards to help ground the space.
RELATED: The Collector's Guide to Ironstone Pottery
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11Lean Into the Industrial Look
Victoria Pearson If wood shelves don’t fit your kitchen aesthetic, have no fear: Metal shelving looks just as chic! Galvanized steel is the preferred shelving material in many industrial cooking spaces because it doesn’t rust. Just be sure to clean regularly with stainless steel cleaner.
12Get Creative with Placement
Marta Xochilt Perez, styling by Matthew Gleason Open shelving is a great way to break up a bank of upper cabinets. You can bring your favorite pieces front and center while still keeping your more utilitarian (aka, less stylish but ultimately necessary) pieces close at hand behind doors.
RELATED: See more of this charming Michigan farmhouse.
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13Channel Your Favorite Bistro
Annie Schlechter Bistro shelving made from glass and brass feels most at home in a kitchen with clean lines, especially when paired with classic subway tile and dark cabinetry. Channel French bistro culture by filling the shelves with aged copper and your favorite antique oil paintings, and add a dose of country charm with worn cutting boards.
14Mix Pretty and Practical
Stephen Karlisch No matter how big your space is, storage in a kitchen will always be precious. That’s why you've got to think practically when planning your open shelving display. Here, everyday dinnerware is just below eye-level while more decorative items such as an unframed oil painting and pair of antique jugs find a home on the top shelf. This way, pretty (and sometimes fragile antique) items can stay out of reach while still looking stylish.
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15Float Your Shelves Over the Window
Dustin Halleck, styling by Jennifer DeCleene Conversely, if your kitchen only has one large window such as this one here, don't be afraid to span your shelving right over it. Layering in clear or colorful glass over the portion that crosses the window will allow natural light to filter through.
RELATED: 21 Brilliant Ideas for Painted Floors
16Try Brass-Strapped Shelves
The Ingalls From faucets to knobs, brass is perhaps the most popular finish in kitchens these days. So, extending it to shelving feels like a no-brainer. (Get the look by attaching brass strips to the front of wood shelves using epoxy.) But, perfectionists be warned: Unlacquered brass ages naturally over time with daily use as it comes into contact with finger prints. Keep patinated shelves clean with a simple mix of water and dish soap, or polish regularly with your favorite brass polish.
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17Install Corner Shelves
Audrey Hall Traditional upper cabinetry can feel heavy when it spans the entire length of kitchen. Instead, opt for uppers on one side and open shelving on the other. Opening up the space like this works especially well in kitchens with little natural light and/or darker finishes. Be sure to save some of your pretty antique bowls to anchor the corner and stack smaller plates and cups on the outer edges.
18DIY Shelves
Helen Norman Open shelving doesn't have to be fancy. While there are plenty of ready-to-install shelving kits on the market, they are also easy to install yourself. And, you don’t need any special materials! Raw-edge wood foraged from the farm and sanded down or simple planks picked up at your local hardware store will do the trick. (Just be sure to install shelves into studs so they won’t come crashing down!)
RELATED: See more of this storybook Virginia cottage.
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19Work with Low Ceilings
Read McKendree If you have low-ceilings, work with your favorite handyman to perfect the height of your open shelving. Aim for at least 12-inches between each shelf. Deeper shelves will also help you maximize the space. Search for smaller-scale appliances for the counter to give you more space up top. White ceramic or clear glass pieces will keep them from feeling too cramped.
20Go for Slim Shelves
Annie Schlechter, styling by Matthew Gleason In a kitchen with wallpaper, thinner shelves will keep visual clutter at bay and allow for your pieces to take center stage. Opt for shelves made from stone such as marble so you can pile on your favorite things without having to worry about wood sagging.
RELATED: See more of this Kentucky farmhouse makeover.
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!
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