Open Shelving vs. Cabinets: Which Is Best For Your Kitchen?

Open shelves are becoming more of a trend than ever when it comes to styling your kitchen. If you’re working with a new or renovated kitchen, you might be going back and forth between this trendy new style and the classic cabinet look. But which is best for your kitchen—open shelving or cabinets? Here are a couple of aspects to keep in mind when making your choice for your space.

Storage Space

First, consider how much storage space you need in your kitchen. If you have lots of plates and glassware to store, you probably value your storage space. If you have a large family, you’ll likely need more dinnerware and a place to store it. Cabinets typically offer more storage space for your family, which may place them at a higher ranking for you.

Accessibility

On the other hand, open shelves excel in the accessibility category. Open shelves are great for saving time and keeping your dishes and other utensils within reach at all times. If you strive for efficiency in your kitchen, you may prefer the accessibility of open shelves.

Visibility

If you’re concerned about guests seeing the state of your kitchen organization, closed cabinets will be the best option. Open shelves are completely visible to anyone in your kitchen. So, if you tend to be a bit more cluttered when it comes to storing your dishes, you might prefer the secrecy of solid cabinet doors.

Style

Finally, if you’re most concerned about the aesthetics of each, both open shelving and upper cabinets can be great options for a stylish kitchen. Some folks might be concerned about hiding the points where their open shelves connect to the wall. However, it’s actually very easy to keep them from view with the help of hidden shelf brackets. Open shelving is the trendiest option for kitchen storage right now, but cabinets are a classic option that will never go out of style.

We hope these considerations have helped you as you consider open shelving vs. cabinets and which is best for your kitchen. Both options offer great storage and style, so you can’t go wrong with either. Choose whichever style works best for your family and space.