Hello there.  I hope you week is going well.  Today I wanted to share my thoughts on a design idea that is quickly becoming a trend.

Have you noticed more and more kitchens, pantries, laundry rooms and closet spaces are going doorless? New homes are being built with open shelving and lots of homeowners are removing the doors on their existing cabinets to create the open shelving concept in their homes.

I must say that I really love the look of open shelving, not only for a kitchen but the other rooms in the home too.

One of the things I like most about this design statement is that open shelving makes a room feel more spacious and airy.

Cabinet doors can become a visual blocker and sometimes limit the storage capabilities in a kitchen.  Open shelves allow you to use every inch of space to display collectibles and functional items, providing a more personal and stylized design statement.

In a laundry room, open shelves make functional items easily accessible and provide a less industrial feel overall.

Don’t think your open shelves have to be plain and boring–you can incorporate decorative hardware or a decorative paint application to make your shelves stand out.

And, standard shelving can be replaced with another material to provide more visual interest.

If you’re considering open shelving in your home, here are a few tips that will help you create the best possible look:

1)  Keep items organized–open shelving will look intentional if items are grouped and organized in an attractive and orderly way.

2)  Create depth and dimension with the items on your shelves by stacking pieces at different heights and layering items from the front of the shelf to the back.

3)  Incorporate decorative elements like decorative platters, vases or collectibles to give your shelves personality.

4)  Use storage baskets and containers to hold smaller items and create areas of impact on your shelves.

5) Consider a contrasting background so that that contents on each shelf stand out.

And remember that design is in the details so approach your open shelving the same way you would decorating a tabletop or bookcase.

So what do you think–do you like the open shelving concept or would you rather keeps things behind closed doors?