The Pros and Cons of Floating Shelves in a Kitchen Remodel

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Should You Include Floating Shelves In Your Kitchen Design?

Right now, more than style, color, or countertop materials, open shelving is without a doubt the biggest trend in kitchen design. When it comes to open shelving, many homeowners are opting to include floating shelves in their design, in some cases replacing cabinets. 

Often, homeowners have questions when considering this option like; can I replace my kitchen cabinets with shelves? Do they work in any kitchen? And, will open kitchen shelving look messy in my house?

The answers to these questions vary based on your specific kitchen, the number of belongings you have, and your lifestyle and personal aesthetic. Like any design trend, there are pros and cons and in this case, several different ways you can incorporate floating shelving into your kitchen design. 

When done right, floating shelving can make a strong design statement in the kitchen. Let's look at the pros and cons, along with some design ideas for incorporating open shelving in your kitchen design.

Why You Should Consider Floating Shelves

Including floating shelves instead of wall-to-wall cabinetry in your kitchen design is a great way to showcase your personality. It's the perfect way to show off prized possessions like bowls, cookbooks, mugs, beautiful serving pieces, artwork, and more. The shelves themselves can also become an accent with materials from raw wood to stainless steel available. Because of the range of materials, open shelving can adapt and fit into any design style, from minimal and industrial, to eclectic and traditional.

When considering functionality, the pros and cons become a little more clear. On the one hand, floating shelves take little physical and visual space, so in a smaller kitchen, swapping closed cabinets for open floating shelves can make it feel larger and brighter. Another plus is for the serious cook. Open shelving allows you to keep tools, ingredients, and serving dishes within reach and sight, improving functionality. 

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However, there are also some potential inconveniences you need to be aware of before you make a final decision if open shelving will work with your cooking and fit into your lifestyle. 

The Pros of Open Shelving

There are several advantages to including open shelving in your kitchen design. Here are some positives to consider as well as some design ideas to keep your kitchen on trend!

  • Open shelving will give your kitchen design a clean, linear look. If you have beautiful kitchenware, open shelving is a great way to feature it in your design. Open shelving is also a great way to add color and texture to your design, plus you'll have easy access to all of your dishes and glassware!

  • Open shelving offers a great alternative to those awkward corner wall cabinets. You won't lose the storage space, and this is an excellent space for displaying those large beautiful, or unique items that you only use occasionally, like serving platters or vintage appliances.

  • Framing the range hood with floating shelves is an excellent look for breaking up a section of wall cabinets and adding visual interest. This can work incredibly well if the wall space is too small for wall cabinets.

  • Consider one long shelf for the quintessential minimalist look. A floating shelf is the perfect ending point for your backsplash, and if you have a smaller kitchen, this one trick will make it appear more spacious. If you want to stay on top of the trends, this is a look to consider!

  • If you have a bar or coffee area, open shelving is the perfect choice to display glassware, liquor, or coffee cups. They work great in smaller areas and can provide a great solution when cabinets don't easily fit.

  • Open shelving is an excellent choice for creating a display area in your kitchen. Fill them with herbs or other plants, cookbooks, or artwork. Play with the look by running the backsplash to the ceiling, or stop at the bottom of the first shelf.

While there are some innovative and highly functional uses for open shelving in your kitchen design, there are some negatives to consider.

The Cons of Open Shelving

While it might seem obvious at first glance, one of the major sticking points for many homeowners is the fact the open shelving means that everything is visible. That means if your bowls are chipped, or your pans are stained, everyone can see. However, if you're planning on investing in new dishes and glassware, you'll have a fantastic way to display them.

That being said, there are some other considerations to ponder before jumping into open shelving, for example:

• Dust, grease, and dirt can be a problem. Anything you place on open shelving will get dusty quickly. This is especially true if you do not invest in high-quality ventilation. That means you'll be spending a lot more time washing items. And, once you've designed the perfect look for your floating shelves, you'll need to make sure to replace items in the same place to keep the same look and feel. While it may seem effortless, it takes work to keep open shelving looking good.

• Depending on your kitchen size and overall design, if you're replacing a substantial section of wall cabinets with floating shelves, you'll probably end up losing some storage space. For example, replacing a wall of cabinets with one long shelf, while it looks minimalist and contemporary, provides significantly less storage. It also means you'll either need to use every item every few days to avoid the persistent dust problem.

• If you're using floating shelves as a way to display cherished items that are decorative or not for everyday use, you might be losing valuable storage space; however, if you have the room, this is a beautiful way to utilize open shelving.

The bottom line comes down to your lifestyle, aesthetics, and functionality. If you love the look of a kitchen with open shelving instead of cabinets, but you're not crazy about the upkeep required, in the long run, you'll probably be happier with a more traditional kitchen design. However, if you love the look of open shelving or want to display cherished items, incorporating some open shelving into your design might be a great compromise. 

It's all about balance!

If you're considering a kitchen remodel and would like to explore floating shelves as an option, give the expert design team at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. We're happy to answer your questions and discuss all of the options for your new kitchen, including the pros and cons of floating shelves!