How To Use Kitchen Shelves To Balance Looks And Functionality

Kitchen shelves are practical and very versatile and there’s basically an infinite number of ways in which you can take advantage of that. Whether you’re simply adding a single little shelf on your kitchen wall as a way to fill an empty space or you fill an entire wall with shelves so you can it into a storage area, the bottom line is you’re still taking advantage of the the amazingly versatile and customizable nature of kitchen shelves. Curious to see what others managed to do in this sense? Check out all of these amazing ideas:

One of the shelves curves and bends to actually connect the upper and lower cabinets
One of the shelves curves and bends to actually connect the upper and lower cabinets

Think of shelves as accessories which complement large pieces of furniture such as cabinets and cupboards. It doesn’t really matter if they’re physically attached to the furniture or just placed in its proximity.

You can add accent lighting to your kitchen shelves to highlight the items which they hold
You can add accent lighting to your kitchen shelves to highlight the items which they hold

One of the reasons why kitchen shelves are so useful and versatile has to do with the fact that they let you store items while also putting them on display. This works out great if you use them to organize potted plants, dishes and even small appliances.

The backsplash shelves add valuable storage for spices, tools and the usual kitchen accessories
The backsplash shelves add valuable storage for spices, tools and the usual kitchen accessories

The two wooden shelves complement these gray kitchen cabinets and the subway tiled backsplash in a very natural way. Their presence makes a lot of sense in this setup, given the ceiling height and the placement of the upper cabinets.

The role of the shelves in this case is mostly decorative although that doesn't make them any less useful
The role of the shelves in this case is mostly decorative although that doesn’t make them any less useful

In this case the two small shelves act as a sort of ledges where you can keep things like a cookbook or two, some spice jars, paper towels, etc. They give the kitchen a symmetrical look and they fill in the gaps without creating a cluttered look.

You can have an entire wall full of open shelves in your kitchen so you can put a ton of things on display
You can have an entire wall full of open shelves in your kitchen so you can put a ton of things on display

Kitchen shelves, whatever the style or type may be, are super practical because they let you store and organize lots of things and they keep everything exposed and easy to grab. There’s no need to open any doors to pull out any drawers. Everything is right there.

The wood and metal combo suits these kitchen shelves well, especially with the exposed brick backdrop
The wood and metal combo suits these kitchen shelves well, especially with the exposed brick backdrop

Shelves and shelving units can be customized to complement existing pieces of furniture which lets you create harmonious and cohesive designs and well-organized spaces. Take this kitchen for example. The shelves perfectly match the cabinetry but somehow maintain their uniqueness.

Highlight you kitchen shelves or cabinetry with LED strips which also help create a warm and welcoming decor
Highlight you kitchen shelves or cabinetry with LED strips which also help create a warm and welcoming decor

You can create the appearance of an open design similar to what shelving units offers without actually relying on shelves in the classical sense of the term. What we actually mean is that a cabinet with a clear glass front will look a lot like a shelving unit.

The top shelf here has a mirrored back panel and that's a great little design trick meant to give the impression of a larger space
The top shelf here has a mirrored back panel and that’s a great little design trick meant to give the impression of a larger space

Open shelves make spaces seem more airy and sometimes bigger too and that ‘s especially useful in the case of the kitchen which is a space usually packed with functionality and little room for anything else.

A shelf is used here to frame the backsplash and to mark the line between the tiles and the wallpaper
A shelf is used here to frame the backsplash and to mark the line between the tiles and the wallpaper

Integrating shelves in a kitchen’s design is easy, especially when they’re meant to complement modern cabinets or custom-built units.You can casually insert a shelf or two among drawers and closed cabinet modules or use shelves as space delineators.

A row of tall and narrow box shelves intersects with the upper cabinets and gives the kitchen a geometric look
A row of tall and narrow box shelves intersects with the upper cabinets and gives the kitchen a geometric look

Kitchen shelves can serve a variety of purposes. The long and narrow ones can form a storage nook for bottles. In that sense you can also create a horizontal bottle rack which you can embed into the kitchen island or just stack them somewhere in a corner.

The open shelves positioned above the counter offer convenient storage for everyday items
The open shelves positioned above the counter offer convenient storage for everyday items

Kitchen shelves can also be used to create a symmetrical furniture configuration. For example, three open shelves are placed on either side of the range hood and at the same time the counter space and lower cabinets are divided into three sections.

A single simple shelf can change a lot a kitchen and can really make a difference storage-wise
A single simple shelf can change a lot a kitchen and can really make a difference storage-wise

If the counter height and upper cabinets allow it, you can install a shelf or even two onto the backsplash. Add hooks so you can hag utensils or use it to store and organize your spices and others you usually need when cooking.

Add a thin safety rod to prevent the items from falling off the shelves. It's especially useful for jars and bottles
Add a thin safety rod to prevent the items from falling off the shelves. It’s especially useful for jars and bottles

A few shallow shelves such as these ones can nicely fill an empty corner or can create a small storage station for jars, bottles, glasses and a few other related things. Add LED strips to highlight the contents of each shelf.

The industrial look is not for everyone. It suits large restaurant-inspired kitchens
The industrial look is not for everyone. It suits large restaurant-inspired kitchens

If the kitchen lacks the usual wall-mounted cabinets that are often suspended above the backsplash, that gives you more freedom to add shelves and other types of storage systems for pots, pans, dishes, utensils and all sorts of other things.

This type of shelves take up little spaces and you can even install them onto the backsplash without fear they'll drastically reduce your counter space
This type of shelves take up little spaces and you can even install them onto the backsplash without fear they’ll drastically reduce your counter space

If you decide to have cabinets under the counter but not above, a cool option is to populate the wall and backsplash with shallow shelves. They’re very useful and very space-efficient which makes them incredibly versatile.

You can add a shelf under the upper cabinets at any time if you feel it won't inconvenience you while prepping and cooking
You can add a shelf under the upper cabinets at any time if you feel it won’t inconvenience you while prepping and cooking

A combination of shelves and open cabinets can also prove to be very useful in the kitchen. Both are practical and space-efficient plus corner kitchen cabinets and shelves maximize space even better. A nice detail in this case can also be fact that the wall or backsplash can still show through.

The open shelves make it easy to store items under the counter where you can easily reach and grab them
The open shelves make it easy to store items under the counter where you can easily reach and grab them

Kitchen shelves are not just for walls. They also fit nicely below the island’s countertop. That works out great especially if the island doubles as a divider between the kitchen and the dining room or the living area.

The shelves can be complemented by a contrasting back panel for a cool and eye-catching look
The shelves can be complemented by a contrasting back panel for a cool and eye-catching look

Shelves can be added around and between existing cabinets or furniture as a way to supplement the storage capacity and to also offer surfaces on which items can be put on display or kept handy for a more efficient layout all around.

An herb garden is a really cool kitchen feature which you can add at any time thanks to the versatility of shelves
An herb garden is a really cool kitchen feature which you can add at any time thanks to the versatility of shelves

You can add shelves which serve specific purposes in the kitchen. For example, you can create your own indoor garden so you always have fresh herbs to season your dishes with. Keep in mind that plants need sunlight.