Open Shelves vs. Kitchen Cabinets with Doors

Benefits of Open Shelving

There are many reasons open shelving is growing in popularity. Installing open shelves makes a smaller kitchen look larger and can reduce clutter. 

Beyond the illusion of size, here are other benefits of open shelving:

• Create variety and asymmetry. You don’t need 100% open shelving in your kitchen to get the benefits of open shelving. You can make your kitchen space more interesting by strategically keeping some cabinets with doors.
  
  
• Build a modern, minimalist look. In modern designs, simplicity is beautiful. Particularly when it’s combined with the right cabinet hardware, open shelving shows off a kitchen that is sleek and simple.
  
  
• Separate the everyday essentials. With open shelving, you can organize your kitchen to make the essentials easier to reach. This is especially handy if you have a larger household and multiple people handle kitchen responsibilities.
  
  
• Save money on your kitchen remodel. Kitchen cabinets usually make up a large expense in any kitchen remodel, so incorporating open shelving will reduce the overall cost.
  

Pros of Cabinets with Doors

Kitchen cabinets with doors are a classic, timeless design for any kitchen, and you can reap the benefits of the minimalist look of open shelving with a few organization tricks. 

Installing kitchen cabinets with doors allows you to:

• Hide clutter when you’re busy. Life gets hectic. It’s nice to have space where you can stash items quickly that you don’t want on display.
  
  
• Fix the visual space issue with lighter paint or stain colors. Cabinets with doors have earned the reputation of cluttering eye-level visual space, but you can counter this by choosing a lighter kitchen cabinet color.
  
  
• Give your home a warm, welcoming feeling. Cabinets with doors are the traditional choice, so they naturally lend a homey feel to a kitchen style that many homeowners prefer.
  
  
• Keep your dishes dust-free. You don’t have to worry about rinsing or dusting dishes as long as they are in your cabinets.
  

When is it Best to Go with Open Shelves over Cabinets?

There are a few situations that make open shelving the ideal choice for both design and practical use:

• Your shelving has nooks and crannies where installing cabinet doors would appear awkward. Sometimes builders frame plumbing fixtures with shelving space that an oddly shaped cabinet door would clutter. These spaces are perfect for storing frequently-used utensils.
  
  
• You’re committed to keeping a neat kitchen. With open shelving, every item you keep on the shelves is on display. For many homeowners, this is not a problem because they regularly have time to clean.
  
  
• You have unique items to display or want to emphasize a theme. Open shelving is perfect for homeowners who own heirloom kitchen pieces they want to show off.
  
  
• You entertain guests often. If you always have people over for dinner or frequently prepare meals alongside guests, open shelves allow you to focus on the meal prep instead of constantly directing guests to cabinets in which utensils are stored.

Get an Expert’s Opinion & Free Estimate from Oceanside Painting & Refinishing

The best way to freshen up open shelves or cabinets with doors on a budget is by refinishing them.

As part of the cabinet refinishing services our team offers, we can help you convert cabinets with doors to open shelves while making the interior and exterior ready to display. 

If you have any questions or want to request your free estimate, call us at 732-818-0092 or shoot us an email at phil.oceanside@gmail.com.