After cabinet doors were removed (Kitchen has since been UPDATED! See the open shelves I have now)
I love open shelves. They are not for everyone, but they suit my home and lifestyle. I’m not completely in love with my kitchen yet, and a full renovation will wait, but small changes make a big difference. When we bought the house I removed a few cabinet doors as a quick update — it took only a few minutes — and it immediately changed the look and feel of the space.
Removing cabinet doors was an easy way to break up the wood tones and put my favorite white dishes on display. It didn’t fix everything I want to change in the kitchen, but seeing dishes I enjoy every day brightens the room. Someday I’ll paint the cabinets white, replace counters and backsplash, and add knobs or glass doors to some of the open shelves. For now, I’m happy with this simple update.
before we moved in and before cabinet doors were removed
Here’s how the cabinets looked when I first viewed the house. Removing just a few doors added interest, charm, and personality without a full remodel.
Since I took the doors off, I’ve received many questions about open shelving. I’ve written about open shelves before, but the same questions keep coming up. Below are answers to the most common ones about living with open cabinets.
1. Don’t your dishes get grimy from the stove?
No. The dishes on these shelves are everyday dishes — we use and wash most of them every day or every week. Because they’re in regular rotation, they don’t accumulate grime. If the shelves held purely decorative items, I’d be constantly dusting. For dishes that aren’t used often, a quick wash before use is no different than if they were stored behind a door; unused dishes get dusty whether they’re behind a door or not. A thirty-second wash now and then is an easy trade-off for the look and convenience.
2. Do you go out to eat instead of cooking?
No—we cook at home. Open shelves don’t mean the kitchen isn’t used; they just make commonly used items easier to grab.
the refrigerator chalkboard project
3. Do you have a maid who washes the dishes for you?
No. We wash our own dishes. Keeping everyday items on open shelves simply makes the routine visible, but it doesn’t require hired help.
4. My shelves would never look that organized. How do you keep them neat?
Part of the secret is choosing cohesive items. I use white dishes and similar-toned pieces that stack neatly and coordinate. That reduces visual clutter and makes the shelves look intentionally styled even when they’re practical and used. I avoid putting unattractive boxes or miscellaneous items on display — those belong behind closed doors or in baskets.
5. What if family members put things away haphazardly?
My family knows the basics: stack dinner plates together, salad plates together, bowls together. That minimal organization keeps the shelves looking tidy without staging. If someone accidentally places something out of place, it’s usually an easy fix and not a big deal.
6. What should I put on open shelves?
Stick to everyday essentials that look good together: white or coordinating dishes, glass or metal baking dishes, baskets to hide less attractive items. Avoid displaying boxes of crackers, medicine bottles, or mismatched plastic containers. Use baskets, canisters, and baking pans to keep the look cohesive while still practical. Even if one item is slightly askew, it still looks charming and lived-in.
7. How do you cover the holes where cabinet screws were?
I didn’t bother. The small holes are hardly noticeable. If you prefer a cleaner finish, you can use wood filler, but living with small imperfections is fine for me.
8. What did you do with the cabinet doors you removed?
I repurposed them as “shutters” over the fireplace. After painting the doors, they worked perfectly to cover an awkward TV niche, so removing the doors solved two problems at once: freshening the kitchen and reusing the doors in another room.
9. I prefer everything behind closed doors—don’t open shelves stress you out?
Open shelving isn’t for everyone. I prefer a mix of open and closed storage. A few visible, everyday items make my kitchen feel authentic and functional without causing stress. If you like an eclectic, working-kitchen look and can accept everyday clutter from things you love, try removing a few doors. You can always put doors back on later if you change your mind or plan a repaint.
Have you tried open cabinets or are you hesitant? What do you have to lose — you can always reinstall the doors or repurpose them elsewhere.
And here is how our open cabinet looks today! 🙂
Related kitchen posts:
White kitchens
Kitchens: 5 Take Away Tips
How to have open shelves without daily staging