Open shelves are an easy, inexpensive way to add some much needed organization to any space. Do it well and your wares can be at your fingertips looking neat and tidy. But be careful, too much of a good thing and you could end up being featured on an episode of Hoarders.
Here are a few tips to keep your shelves in tip-top shape:
• If you’re not sure how much space you'll need, consider adjustable shelving so you can rearrange as you go.
• Start organizing by whoever uses the space the most. Kitchen shelves should be organized by the household chef, records rearranged by your in-house DJ.
• Put like with like — Group your glasses. Spices stick together. Art books go with art books. Arrange by color. You get the idea.
• Make sure labels are facing front so you grab the peanut butter and not the arsenic.
• When buying things like Olive Oil, consider the fact that it will be on display. You may want to choose the packaging that's more design friendly (without scarfing quality).
• Invest in good containers. Cereal doesn’t have to stay in the box. Put protein powder in a jar instead of those bulky canisters. Band-Aids and Q-Tips can go in new boxes.
• Keep an open space. This can be used for guests with specific cracker needs, or maybe a place for overnighters to rest their weary toothbrush.
• Larger, heavier items — like a blender or stand mixer — work best on lower, easy-to-reach shelves.
• Be a ruthless editor. Get rid of or store things you don’t use often. The Bundt Cake pan that only comes out at Christmas (or chicken roasting time)? Put it away, not on display.
• And now might be a good time to buy a good step-stool or ladder like this one from Design Within Reach.
Images: 1,2,3 Remodelista; 4 Habitually Chic; 5 Well Plaid
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Um...I think you mean Hoarders. :) Love the photos, though.
I know that open shelving in the kitchen is all the rage, but think about how dusty bookshelves get. There's huge practicality to cabinet doors in terms of not having to re-wash the damn Bundt pan pre-chicken roast. There's probably some sort of water-saving eco-argument for cabinet doors here! Sorry for the tangent, carry on.
I love the look of open shelving in the kitchen, but isn't it a dusting nightmare? I can't bring myself to do it.
I really want that bench in #4
Not only is dust a problem, but grease. I don't even fry foods that often, yet anything left out in the open needs a regular wash.
What's gross is when the stuff remains greasy long enough for the dust to settle into it.
Open shelves are nice-looking, but not always practical.
I can't do it! I need to hide everything...it's just me. These are neat and tidy but in my house that look would last about half an hour then it would all return to organized chaos which is a totally different look and one I picture happening whenever I see open shelves. But go with what works!
I agree with the crowd -- dust, grease, yuk. I guess if I lived alone (and I mean alone -- no pets, no guests...) and I had very few dishes and very little space, I might be willing to have open shelves... if everything was in constant use and the shelf emptied often so cleaning both the stuff and the shelf itself was just part of normal maintenance, it might work.
But in my real life, I got doors for my Billy shelves that display knick-knacks for this very reason. And even then I still need to dust. In a kitchen it would be awful!
If you are worried about dust but like the look of open shelving, the trick is to use the open shelving only for items you use regularly. Like 6 water glasses, 6 wine glasses, 6 plates and bowls, etc. Or whatever items or mulitiples of each works for you. Most of my dishes are all in the open, over the course of a week probably each one gets used and washed multiple times. Items I rarely use are stored in a cupboard. If you like the look, try it temporarily by removing the doors.
Most people have their toasters, kettles, coffee machines, etc., out in the open every single day.
peachpie is right!
i looooooove my open shelves because i use everything on them at least every other day; so convenient.
there are plenty of closed cabinets for hiding all the occasional stuff.
right on peach pie. also when i find that i'm dont have enough in the dishwasher to fill it (and i refuse to run a
less than full dw) i throw some of things from my open shelves in there.
can anyone speak to where or how to find shelving that is strong enough to hold kitchen items (ie: cannisters of dry goods, glassware, etc) but without visible hardware? i'm thinking of LACK style but stronger with a higher weight load.
I love open shelving, but what about earthquakes? I saw a neat idea to run a thick wire an inch above each of the shelves, but I wonder if it really works to save the dishes from falling off.
www.cogey.blogspot.com
still life...head over to knockoffwood for her lesson on building shelves like the ones you want. I imagine you can increase the cross braces for more weight?