Open shelving or traditional kitchen cabinets?

This decision may be one of the hardest you will face when building a home or renovating your kitchen. It's a very personal choice, and not easily undone, so it's imperative to consider what will best suit your needs. 

You're reading this because you may already be leaning toward floating shelves in your kitchen, so let's explore five benefits to open shelving. 

1. Affordable

It's no secret that cabinetry is expensive. A basic, unfinished wall cabinet purchased from a big-box store starts at $100 per (small) cabinet. Opting for a painted, stained, or custom-built cabinet will increase the price significantly. Floating shelves, on the other hand, are more reasonably priced. 

2. DIY-Friendly

Do you, or someone you know, have basic carpentry skills? Floating shelves can be a simple DIY project to incorporate into your kitchen. With a few tools, planks of wood, and a little time, you can build beautiful floating shelves for your space. The best part is you can customize them to be the exact size, shape, style, and color you want.

3. Practical

Depending on the size of your kitchen and the storage space available, floating shelves may be a practical option in your kitchen. You may frequently reach for drinking glasses, so it makes sense to have them easily accessible on an open shelf. They are also a good place for snack bowls and jars. 

4. Showcase Decor

Floating shelves can be a great way to add decor to your kitchen. Even if practicality is your primary objective with floating shelves, their open and airy aspect allows you to add aesthetically appealing items to liven up the space. They're perfect for adding pops of color, plants, seasonal decor, or unique kitchen items you'd like to keep on display.

5. Add Warmth

If you scroll through Instagram or even page through home magazines, you'll see many white kitchens. Focus on the details in those images, and you'll notice natural elements that add warmth to a kitchen that may otherwise appear almost clinical. Stained or raw wood floating shelves are a great way to incorporate a natural element in your kitchen to add warmth and create a more inviting space.

It's not an all-or-nothing approach.

The decision to include floating shelves in your kitchen ultimately depends on your style, taste, and personal preference. If you love the look of floating shelves but aren't sure you want to use them in your own kitchen, know that you don't have to use an all-or-nothing approach to incorporate them. Use them at a coffee station, to frame a window over the sink, or even as an end shelf on your upper cabinets. Small shelving, too, can make a substantial impact.

If you’re ready to add floating shelves to your kitchen, let J Thomas Home help!

Locals interested in purchasing a collection of handcrafted shelves for a renovation can schedule an appointment with us to get started. If you’re still in the brainstorming phase or live outside the Kansas City area, feel free to shoot us an email at customerservice@jthomashome.com , or fill out our contact form here. We love troubleshooting, answering questions, and offering tips and tricks.