What is open shelving?
Open shelving is a more modern approach to kitchen design that offers a clean, spacious look to your kitchen as well as instant access to whatever you store there. Perhaps the biggest benefit of shelves over cabinets is that your kitchen will look bigger and more open. If you have a lot of items that you reach for on a regular basis, open shelves will allow for easy access. Shelves can also be used as an additional decorative space.
What is cabinet design?
Cabinets, on the other hand, reflect a classic and traditional design. They are timeless and never go out of style. They provide tons of storage, and as long as you can get the doors shut, they don’t make your kitchen look crowded or busy. They’re minimalist and ultimately customizable — you can choose a wide range of facing and hardware for them.
Can you have both cabinets and shelves?
Each serves their own purpose, and having both cabinets and shelves allows you the best of both worlds. You can place your regularly used items or decorative pieces on shelves where they’ll always be visible and easy to grab, while less-often-used items and a wealth of pots, pans and the like can be stored inside cabinets.
Do cabinets take up more space than shelves?
This can also be part of the downside to cabinets, however. Depending on the materials and design you choose, cabinets can get more expensive than open shelves. They also take up more space than shelves and can make the space look a bit smaller. Cabinets’ ample storage and timeless appeal, however, offset these drawbacks somewhat.
