Are Open Kitchen Shelves Losing Their Appeal? What Designers Say

Open shelving can look beautiful. If you place an elegant bowl in the center, a vase just to the left, and a floral arrangement on the right, then meticulously and mindfully layer on more décor. While this scheme may look beautiful in photos, an open shelf isn’t very practical for day-to-day life.

This issue is especially apparent in the kitchen, a space with plenty of day-to-day foot traffic and wear and tear. Nevertheless, people have been hanging open shelves in kitchens quite a bit in recent years, using them to display beautiful plates, glasses, and more. Now, though, the tides are shifting, and open shelves seem to be fading out in terms of popularity. So why are they losing their luster—and what are some smarter alternatives? We spoke to interior designers to get to the bottom of it all.

What Is Open Shelving?

The concept of open shelving is pretty straightforward—it’s a floating shelf on the wall that shows off your personal belongings, rather than hiding them away. “They’re long, horizontal shelves that remain uncovered, making the items on them visible,” says interior designer Meghan Jay. “The concept originated in libraries, where both readers and librarians used the spines of books for easy identification and organization.”

“We tend to see it mostly as long planks mounted to the walls,” adds Hannah Goldberg, founder of Hannah Charlotte Interiors. “They have either hidden or decorative brackets.”

Why Open Shelving Was Popular

Not too long ago, open shelving was all the rage—especially in the kitchen. Some of its appeal had to do with practicality. “It can be a cost-effective storage solution over custom cabinetry,” says Goldberg. “It can also be more space-conscious for awkward spaces or corners, and it’s less visually obtrusive than a large cabinet—so it can make a space look and feel larger.”

It was also an appealing option for collectors, so long as they had their various objects in order. “It offers a refreshing alternative to bulky, overwhelming cabinetry, giving homeowners the chance to showcase their accessories and collections rather than hiding them,” adds Jay.

Why Open Shelving Is Losing Its Appeal

Nowadays, open shelving has fallen out of style—especially in the kitchen. Some of its decline can be chalked up to our changing home layouts, which are skewing away from open concept and more toward broken-up spaces.

“People are less interested in open-plan homes and are gravitating back toward more traditional layouts,” says Jay. “The same shift is happening with shelving, as homeowners are moving away from completely open storage and instead embracing more classic storage solutions—though with a modern twist.”

Trending aesthetics also lent themselves to the rise of open shelving. “Scandi-style was of the moment,” says Claire Staszak, principal and owner of Centered by Design. “It was a safe way to bring more personal items and styling into your interior. However, in 2025, people are being more fearless with interiors, so the space speaks for itself—it doesn’t need as many ‘things’ sitting out to tell a story.”

Drawbacks of Open Shelving

Obviously, having your dishes and appliances out for the world to see can have drawbacks. A kitchen, after all, should be functional more than anything else—and worrying about how objects are presented on an open-air shelf is an unwelcome distraction.

“A lot of people live with a lot of clutter and other things that they would prefer to put behind closed doors,” says Jessica Davis, founder and principal of Atelier Davis. “Unless you’re great at shelf styling or have pretty dishware, it can be challenging.”

It’s also not a décor choice that you can set up and leave alone, as open shelves require constant attention—at least to make them look as beautiful as they do on Pinterest. “They’re best for displaying items that are used frequently and easily accessible,” says interior designer Andrea Goldman. “Otherwise, they accumulate dust and require a lot of maintenance.”

Before you decide on open shelves in the kitchen, do some soul searching—and determine if you really want to commit to the upkeep. “At the end of the day you have to understand yourself,” says Goldberg. “And not the most optimistic version of yourself.”

Open Shelving Alternatives

Of course, storage is still a necessity in any kitchen—it just doesn’t have to be constantly visible. Both Jay and Davis recommend glass-fronted cabinets, which maintain the airy look of open shelving while feeling a bit more discreet and subtly hiding the contents within. If you’re really in love with the look, though, an open shelf can be a better idea in another, more private room in the house, like a bedroom or media room. Many designers still use them, but just bare in mind that it takes a bit of extra styling to make them really shine.