I’m Floored by This Simple, Gorgeous Trick to Hiding Kitchen Shelf Clutter

Open shelving in a kitchen is a big commitment. On the one hand, it can be a moment of pride displaying your collection of gorgeous serveware, but on the other, it also means ensuring that the bowls, plates, cups, and wine glasses are always orderly and that they’re free of grease and dust. (And if you’re always hosting, that can get tiring.) 

Sometimes, you might wish you had a way to hide the unorganized glassware, if only for a moment when that surprise guest turns up unannounced again. That’s why it’s a good idea to consider how to get the best of both worlds — and interior designer Emilia Callero has just the solution in the kitchen of her cozy home. 

Instead of upper cabinets, Emilia opted for open shelving — with a twist. As someone who has traveled a lot (Emilia lived in Mexico and Peru and has spent a lot of time in Latin America), Emilia says that adding textiles, color, and pattern to her rooms is her key design characteristic. So, she hung fabric from a curtain rail on the open shelving. 

What’s striking about Emilia’s choice to hang curtains on the upper shelving is that it’s not done commonly. For instance, you might be familiar with hanging fabric on lower shelving to hide clunky appliances or clutter. But this setup allows Emilia to cover her open shelving when and if she wants to. 

Additionally, it’s an easy, renter-friendly way to infuse color and texture into a kitchen. Painting or adding contact paper to cabinets while still being renter-friendly is more of a commitment than simply hanging fabric over top. It allows Emilia to give her kitchen a makeover simply by swapping out the fabric. 

This simple trick adds character, pattern, and ease to Emilia’s gorgeous kitchen. To see more of her wonderful space, visit the full home tour.