I thought open shelves would force me to stay organized, but honestly, it’s just more stuff to wipe down and dust collects fast.

I hear you. I once put open shelving in a model home kitchen thinking it’d look “lived in” for showings. Instead, it turned into a dust magnet and the stagers were constantly rearranging things to hide the mess. Maybe it works better in spots that don’t get as much traffic or cooking splatter? In my own place, I ended up using them for stuff I rarely touch—like cookbooks and a few plants. Still gets dusty, but at least I’m not wiping down plates every week.

Totally get where you’re coming from. The open shelves look amazing in photos, but in real life, they’re a dust trap—especially near the stove. I’ve found that mixing a few closed cabinets with open shelving gives you the “styled” look without the constant cleaning headache. If you really love the vibe, maybe just limit them to one wall or a little coffee nook? It does help cut down on the mess, and you still get that airy feel.