What I Wish I Knew Before I Chose Open Shelving In My Kitchen

More than any color, style, or even sink shape, open shelving is arguably the biggest trend in kitchen design right now. In a beautifully designed and styled kitchen like the one above, it's easy to see why. From an appearance perspective, having open shelves allows your kitchen to showcase more personality than wall-to-wall monotone cabinets. Plants, bowls, cookbooks, mugs—you name it—are shown off, adding color and texture to the space. The shelves themselves can also be an accent with material options from raw wood to stainless steel and everything in between. Because of that, open shelving can really fit in with any design style, from minimal and industrial to traditional and eclectic.

Top Reasons For Open Shelving In The Kitchen

When it comes to functionality, the pros and cons of open shelving become a little divisive. If you're a serious cook, keeping your everyday tools, ingredients, and serving dishes within reach (and sight) can be a major plus. Here are the top reasons to consider open shelving in your kitchen.

1. Open Shelving Makes Your Kitchen Feel Larger

On the one hand, floating shelves don't take up a lot of physical (and therefore visual) space, so in a small or dark kitchen, swapping even three feet of cabinets for shelving can make a kitchen feel larger and brighter.

2. Shelving Can Put Odd Spaces To Use

Short on storage and wish you could do something with that odd nook in the corner? Shelves can be cut to any size and shape, allowing you to put any space into use—and more space for the cookbooks makes for a more organized kitchen.

3. Open Shelving Is Inexpensive

Compared to custom cabinets, that is. Open shelving can be a budget-friendly solution when you need to replace a cabinet or add storage. Just make sure you invest adequately in anchors and attachments, which need to be sturdy enough to hold considerable weight.

Top Reasons Against Open Shelving In the Kitchen

There are some potential inconveniences you may run into with open shelving, which should definitely be considered. Before fully committing, take a look at the top reasons to avoid open shelving while deciding if it will mesh or conflict with your cooking habits and life-style.

1. Open Shelves Put It All On Display

Though it may seem obvious, having open shelves means everything you plan to store on them will be out in the open for all to see. Do all your dishes match? Are your bowls chipped, your pans stained? Do you care? If you think that might bother you, you might feel compelled to invest in a whole new set of dishes ($$$), or display your matching set while you hide the misfits in a lower cabinet, which means you're using twice as much storage space for one item.

2. Cleaning Can Be A Chore

Another major thing to consider is the cleaning and upkeep of what you're storing on your shelves. If they're holding your everyday dishes and glasses that get cycled through at least weekly, you shouldn't have to worry about dust or grime gathering. If you're displaying items that you use maybe twice a year because they're pretty and match the rest of your kitchen decor, you'll likely need to dust regularly and rinse them off before use (as you would even if they were stashed in the back of your cabinets). For those items whose use is somewhere in between, the regular dusting and additional cleaning might become an annoyance.

Give Open Shelving A Trial Run

If you're still fully committed to the idea of open shelving, more power to you. They're an affordable take on kitchen storage that feels at once modern and old-school. And they can totally transform the appearance of a room. But if you're on the fence or not sure swapping your cabinets for shelves will be compatible with your lifestyle, there's an easy way to test it out: Remove the doors from a couple of your upper cabinets for a few weeks and see if you like the feel and look of it. You may even decide that look on its own is a good fit for you.

Floating shelves have become a popular and practical feature in modern offices due to their ability to adapt to changing trends. These modern shelf units are hyped up for their capacity to make efficient use of vertical space while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of any workplace.

As a result, we've explored the pros and cons of using floating office shelves in the workplace, illuminating the potential benefits and issues they bring.

Pros of Having Office Floating Shelves

1. Save Valuable Space

Floating shelves for office space are a great option because of the room they free up. If you're running out of storage space, every inch counts; thus, installing floating shelves is a must. It's possible to empty your drawers and cabinets and store the contents on shelves. In addition to their practicality, these shelves can be included in your interior shelf decor.

2. Portable

When you put in a regular desk or table, it becomes part of the furniture. This can take up a lot of room that could be used for something else. Home office floating shelves and foldable desks contribute to easy portability; this makes them convenient for transport and storage.

The fact that they can float also makes them more compact, so they take up less space during transit or storage.

3. Multipurpose

Since floating shelves for office space don't take up any floor space, they can be put to many different uses. First, it can serve as a place to set up a computer and do job-related tasks and paperwork.

Additionally, if you don't need a desk permanently, you can use your wall-mounted shelf as a desk shelf, as long as there's enough room for all your supplies.

4. Easy To Install

Floating wall shelves for offices are a simple solution for any workplace.

Installing your new floating desk properly should be a top priority; a weak or unsteady work surface could result from improper execution of this. Luckily, floating shelves can be set up with little effort.

The process of installing a floating office shelf in your home or workplace has been documented in countless YouTube videos. It's not too difficult after you have the necessary hardware, brackets, and supplies.

The most important things to figure out are:

• Where to install it.
• See that it suits the room.
• Find the wall studs and label them with a stud finder.
• Put the brackets on the wall and make sure everything is steady.
• Screw the shelves into place and assemble everything.

5. Cost-Effective Space Saver

When it comes to saving money and room, home office floating shelves are hard to beat. Items scattered across the floor or even in storage can finally find a home on one of these floating desks. Several company documents, photographs, and certifications can be placed too.

6. Customizable

Floating shelves are fantastic since you may alter them to fit your specific requirements. For instance, putting things on top of a clear acrylic board or a thin wood shelf makes them practically undetectable to the naked eye. You can also find robust options that can support more weight, such as desks with monitor shelves.

You may purchase shelves for offices in various styles and sizes to suit your workplace demands.

7. Affordable Cost

Floating office shelves typically cost far less than the full shelves you'll find elsewhere. This is because of the simplicity of their structure. Floating shelves are convenient since you can position them at any height. You can use it as a standing workstation instead of buying an expensive chair for the office. Since it requires so few tools to install, you won't even need to buy a full set of tools.

Cons of Having Office Floating Shelves

1. Can be Messy

Shelves that don't touch the floor are a great space saver. Remember that floating shelves may do everything from making a room look neat to the complete opposite.

A lot of personal clutter and lack of order could result from installing numerous floating shelves if you are not orderly. Rather than exhibiting everything on floating shelves, put away things that aren't used frequently.

2. High maintenance

Dust accumulates more quickly on floating wall shelves for offices, which increases the upkeep needed for floating shelves. You'll get the point by running your fingers over the office's untouched surfaces.

Floating office shelves can be a great organizational tool, but they can also contribute to an unsightly and unsanitary workplace if they are not used and cleaned regularly.

A Buying Guide for Floating Shelves

Choosing the ideal floating office shelves can be difficult due to a wide variety of possibilities; therefore, consider these factors before making your purchase.

Weight Capacity: The weight capacity of your floating shelves for office space is crucial. The items you intend to store or showcase will determine your shelving unit's optimal capacity.

Size and Shape: Floating shelves can be found in various sizes and shapes; thus, it is important to take careful measurements of the area in which they will be installed.

Durability: To avoid replacing it prematurely, use a floating office shelf manufactured from durable materials and reputable brands.

Color and Finish Options: There is a broad variety of colors and materials to choose from when shopping for home office floating shelves, from muted tones to bright, vivid hues. Consider whether you want a floating shelf that stands out or blends in when making your selection.

User Reviews: In addition, customer feedback is a great way to learn about a product's functionality and longevity.

Conclusion

In the workplace, floating shelves can provide both benefits and difficulties. Floating office shelves are a great organizational tool and aesthetic addition to any office, but finding the right placement for them can be challenging.

Taking into account the office's specific requirements and goals, constant consideration must be given to the benefits and drawbacks of floating shelves as discussed above.