Learn how to decorate a coastal kitchen cabinet with open shelves in a way that feels intentional, functional, and still beautiful.
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Open shelves in a kitchen are beautiful when they’re used as accents to add visual interest. But our kitchen has a lot of open shelves, which has forced me to get really creative with my styling. It’s also forced me to dust a lot more often, which I’ll get into later.
When we bought our home, the kitchen was already gutted. The previous owner combined the kitchen and dining room to create a large, open kitchen with a 10-foot island and a small area at the end for a dining table. It’s perfect for our family because it’s just my husband and our two pups, and we eat most of our meals at the island.
Styling a Kitchen Cabinet with No Doors
With this large gourmet kitchen came a lot of open shelving, including an open shelf base cabinet with three curved shelves. It’s really cute in theory. However, I find it to be a bit of a waste of space. If I had been in charge of the remodel, I would have installed standard shelves and added a cabinet door.
Rather than completely restructuring this space, I decided to embrace it. When it came to decorating these shelves, I really struggled. I couldn’t find much inspiration on Pinterest, so I styled them in a way that felt both beautiful and functional.
3 Tips for Decorating a Kitchen Cabinet with Open Shelves
Blue Hand Painted Mugs \\ Wicker Baskets (set of 3) \\ Striped Napkins \\ Faux Plant in Wicker Basket (similar) \\ Cutting Board (similar) \\ True Comfort Cookbook \\ Half Baked Harvest Cookbook \\ White Potted Plant (similar) \\ Striped Rug (similar) \\ Brass Pendant \\ Hand & Dish Soap Set \\ Striped Roman Shades
1. Choose items you use on a regular basis.
Look for items that fit the space and that you actually use. I chose a few small serving and dipping bowls that we use all the time for salsa, guac, and nuts. They’re easy to grab when guests pop by and don’t feel decorative just for the sake of it.
2. Use wicker or rattan baskets.
If you’re going to have a kitchen cabinet with open shelves, they need to be styled thoughtfully. Wicker baskets are my go-to solution for making anything look prettier while still being practical. They also help bring out the coastal vibe I’m going for.
I found this set of three wicker baskets on Amazon for under $30, and they fit our shelves perfectly. Inside, I store bowls along with striped cloth napkins and wood napkin rings. When we have guests over, everything is easy to grab and instantly makes the setup feel pulled together.
3. Add a pop of color.
My coastal kitchen is navy and white, and open shelves are the perfect place to add a little color. I found these hand-painted ceramic mugs on Amazon and love how they stand out while still feeling classic. No matter your style, choose items that complement your kitchen since they’ll always be on display.
Kitchen Cabinet with Open Shelves: Pros & Cons
Pros
• Easy access to your most-used kitchen items
• Adds visual interest and showcases your decorating style
Cons
• Open shelves collect dust and need frequent cleaning
• They need to look good at all times, not just when guests come over
I try to keep all of our kitchen cabinets organized, but open shelves definitely raise the bar when it comes to keeping things tidy.
If you love the idea of kitchen cabinets with open shelves, or you’ve inherited them like I did, I hope this gave you some helpful inspiration for how to style them in a way that works for real life.
Happy decorating!
FAQs: Decorating a Kitchen Cabinet with Open Shelves
The best way to decorate a kitchen cabinet with open shelves is to combine everyday items with a few decorative pieces. Choose items you actually use, mix in baskets for organization, and keep the color palette cohesive so the shelves feel styled but not cluttered.
Open shelves work best with frequently used items like bowls, mugs, small serving dishes, and cookbooks. Adding woven baskets helps hide smaller items while keeping the shelves looking intentional and organized.
Open shelf kitchen cabinets can be practical if they’re styled with function in mind. They make everyday items easy to access, but they do require more upkeep since dishes are exposed to dust and need to stay visually tidy.
To keep open kitchen shelves from looking cluttered, limit the number of items on each shelf and leave some negative space. Stick to a consistent color palette and group similar items together for a cleaner, more balanced look.
Yes, open shelves do collect dust more quickly than closed cabinets. Regular light dusting and storing items you use often helps minimize buildup and keeps everything looking clean.
This post is about how to decorate a kitchen cabinet with open shelves.
