Open shelving can be visually appealing when carefully curated. However, it’s also prone to dust and grease accumulation, making frequent upkeep a necessity.
Shelves also remove visual barriers from the kitchen, which can make it feel smaller and less spacious. Thankfully, today’s cabinet designs can make your storage as beautiful as it is practical by adding details like glass-front doors and interior lighting. Go to Cabinet Refacing Sacramento CA to learn more.
Aesthetics
When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, cabinetry is often a major focal point. While cabinets provide plenty of storage, they also offer a sleek aesthetic that works well for many design schemes. However, if you’re looking to update your space with more modern or casual storage options, open shelving is an option worth considering.
Open shelving can make your kitchen feel airier, especially if you incorporate decorative brackets or a mix of wood finishes and sizes. The lack of doors also allows you to display more decor, dishes, and personal touches, which can add warmth and personality to your kitchen.
Another benefit of shelving is that it allows you to store your most-used items within easy reach. No more rummaging through cabinet drawers to find your favorite mug or dish, which helps streamline your daily routine and makes your home more functional.
In addition to its versatility, shelving is also a budget-friendly option. It is much cheaper than installing full custom upper cabinets, making it a great choice for homeowners who want to minimize their renovation costs.
With that being said, some homeowners worry about the maintenance requirements of open shelves. Since the shelving is exposed to dust, grease, and other cooking messes, frequent upkeep is needed to keep it clean. However, if you’re willing to keep your shelves in tip-top shape, they can become the focal point of your kitchen design.
If you’re unsure which style is right for your Ottawa kitchen remodel, our team of experts can help. We specialize in cabinet refinishing and refacing, as well as creating customized open shelving designs that work with your unique kitchen. To learn more about how we can bring your vision to life, contact us today.
Functionality
Cabinets offer plenty of storage and a classic design that never goes out of style. However, they can feel heavy or claustrophobic in small kitchens. Open shelving provides a visual break, making the space feel more breathable and allowing it to shine in its own way.
The open-air look of shelves can also work to unify the design by eliminating the contrast between cabinet fronts and wood tones or white walls. It can also make the room feel bigger by removing barriers that limit sight lines and visual movement.
While well-organized shelving can be just as visually appealing as a crisp, clean cabinet, it’s important to remember that it needs to be maintained. Stacked items can quickly become cluttered and dusty, so you’ll need to keep up with them. Cabinets, on the other hand, aren’t as vulnerable to smudges and spills since they have doors that close and conceal their contents.
Some homeowners opt for a combination of cabinets and shelves to ensure their design meets both aesthetic and functional needs. They can use open shelves to store everyday mugs, glasses, and plates that are frequently used while reserving less-used items and cookware for their closed cabinets.
Refacing and customizing cabinets can also add extra functionality by adding pull-out drawers, lazy Susans, or other upgrades that improve accessibility and organization. This can be especially helpful for corner cabinets that are difficult to reach and often go unused, as these options allow you to rotate the shelves for easy access to items in the back of the cabinet.
Another benefit of using refacing and custom cabinets is that they can make it easier to incorporate modern trends like bright colors and patterns into the kitchen. While it’s a good idea to stick with more neutral or traditional shades for permanent features, it’s also fun to play with color in the accessories you choose to display on your shelving or within your cabinets. A new coat of paint or a simple shelf revamp can instantly infuse the space with trendy flair without overtaking the entire look.
Maintenance
The open-storage trend has made a huge impact on kitchen design, enticing homeowners with its allure of airiness and accessibility. However, despite the benefits of this style, it is important to consider how much maintenance it requires and whether it’s the right fit for your home.
Items stored on open shelves tend to collect dust and kitchen grease more rapidly than those in closed cabinets, necessitating regular cleaning. The same can be said for stains and spills that often occur when food or drink are dropped. It is crucial to wipe down these items quickly to minimize moisture and staining, especially with wood materials. Excessive humidity and moisture can lead to swelling, warping, and mold growth, which may require a costly replacement.
Additionally, if your space lacks proper ventilation, excessive heat can cause your refaced cabinets to swell and develop discoloration or warping. This can be mitigated by ensuring that your cabinets are properly insulated and positioned away from heat-generating appliances like ovens and stovetops. By keeping a clean and organized space, you can extend the lifespan of your refaced cabinets.
Closed upper cabinets offer a great way to organize your kitchen and store items out of sight, but they also limit your ability to showcase personal style through decorative knick-knacks, vibrant vases, and eye-catching cookware. By contrast, open shelving makes it easy to create a curated display that adds personality and a sense of warmth to your kitchen design.
Choosing the right shelving materials and storing heavy items on lower shelves can help ensure your new shelves are strong enough to withstand frequent use. It’s also wise to install door hinges and drawer slides with soft-close technology to minimize slamming, which can damage these components over time.
Combing open shelving with refaced cabinets is a great way to get the best of both worlds. Enjoy the sleek, unified look of refaced cabinet doors with the light, airy feel of open storage. For added style, opt for custom cabinetry in lacquered wood or textured styles that complement your kitchen’s overall aesthetic. For example, a beach-themed kitchen would benefit from sleek white cabinets with frosted glass inserts to reflect natural sunlight and create a light, breezy ambiance.
Cost
Open shelving allows homeowners the chance to showcase decorative items and collections without the need for cabinet doors. Its minimal aesthetic can also make a room feel more spacious and airy.
The cost of installing custom or premium cabinets can increase the overall price tag of a kitchen remodel, which is why many choose to go with open shelves as a cheaper alternative. Since everything is visible, there’s no need for doors and hardware, which can cut costs significantly.
Choosing the right shelving material is crucial because it determines how much weight and stability the shelves can take on. The most popular choice is wood, but metal and glass can also be used. The thickness of the shelf is also important, as it will determine how heavy a load they can bear. For example, a thick wood shelf can hold a lot more weight than a thinner one.
In addition, it’s important to consider what you want your open shelves to hold. For example, a shallower shelf can be suitable for coffee mugs and other everyday dishes, while a deeper one can accommodate dinnerware and cookware. A kitchen designer can help you decide what size and depth of shelf is best for your needs.
While open shelving can look beautiful when everything is neatly arranged, it can quickly become cluttered and distracting if not properly maintained. The lack of cabinet doors means that dishes and decor are exposed to dust and kitchen grease more frequently, which requires frequent upkeep.
Open shelving can also be difficult to store bulky items that require a more secure, closed space. For example, pots and pans can be stored on open shelves, but they’ll need to be stacked tightly and securely to prevent spills.
The best way to decide between open shelving and refacing cabinets is to visit NextDAY’s Chantilly showroom, where you can explore different construction materials, design styles, and customization options firsthand. Our experienced team can assist you in finding the perfect option based on your specific needs and budget. Get in touch to schedule your visit today!
