I totally get the appeal—open shelves look so fresh in those design magazines. But living with them day to day? That’s a different story. We tried a few in our new place for our “pretty” dishes, and even then, it’s a constant battle with dust. I love the idea of open space, but honestly, I’d rather spend time creating than cleaning. Closed cabinets for the win, at least for most stuff. Maybe a small open shelf for plants or art, but that’s about it for me.

OPEN SHELVES: LOVE THE LOOK, BUT...

Totally hear you on the dust. I’ve built a few kitchens where folks wanted those magazine-worthy open shelves, and they always look amazing on day one. Fast forward a few months, and I get texts about how much of a pain it is to keep them looking tidy. One client ended up swapping most of theirs for glass-front cabinets—still got that airy vibe, but way less dusting. I do think a small open shelf for cookbooks or a couple plants works, but for everyday dishes? Unless you’re running a photo shoot every week, closed cabinets just make life easier.

OPEN SHELVES: LOVE THE LOOK, BUT...

Yeah, the dust is real. I’ve seen people try to get around it by only putting stuff they use daily on open shelves, thinking it’ll get washed often enough to stay clean. But honestly, even then, it’s a lot of upkeep. Curious—has anyone tried mixing open shelves with closed cabinets in the same run? Wondering if that helps balance the look and the maintenance.

Curious—has anyone tried mixing open shelves with closed cabinets in the same run? Wondering if that helps balance the look and the maintenance.

Mixing open shelves with closed cabinets is actually a solid approach. Visually, it breaks up the monotony of a wall of doors, but you’re right—the dust doesn’t just disappear. In my experience, it does help keep the bulk of stuff protected while letting you display a few things you don’t mind wiping down. Still, even daily-use items pick up grime faster than you’d expect. If you’re after low maintenance, I’d lean heavier on closed storage and use open shelves sparingly—maybe just for a couple of feature spots. The balance is key, but it’s never totally maintenance-free.

Title: Mixing Open Shelves and Cabinets—Worth the Dust?

I’ve been down this road in my last kitchen reno, and honestly, I’m still not sure if I’d do it again. The open shelves looked great for about a week—like something out of a magazine shoot. But then reality set in. I tried to keep just my “pretty” stuff out: a couple of hand-thrown mugs, some cookbooks, a plant that’s somehow still alive. But even with daily use, dust and grease found their way onto everything. Maybe it’s just my cooking style (lots of stir-fry, lots of splatter), but I felt like I was always wiping things down.

That said, I do love the way open shelves break up a wall of cabinets. It feels less boxy, more inviting. If I ever do it again, I’d probably stick to one or two small shelves, maybe tucked away from the stove. Or maybe go for glass-front cabinets instead—still get the display vibe, but way less cleaning. Anyone else notice open shelves seem to attract random clutter, too? I swear, stuff just migrates there on its own...