The Unexpected Feature That Gives Your Kitchen More Storage Space

Enthusiastic home cooks often run out of room in the kitchen — stacking piles of pans in a cabinet, relegating decorative serving dishes to the pantry, or placing baskets of fresh produce on kitchen counters. This is especially true in small homes where space is valuable, so it's worth exploring every level of the kitchen for storage. While using open shelving above kitchen countertops may already be on your radar, you may have missed out on some lower-level spots where you might also consider open shelving, like on a kitchen island.

Rather than keeping pots, plates, and glasses behind closed cabinet doors, all these items can be displayed on open shelves, making them both easily visible and quick to grab. Surprisingly, kitchen islands are often overlooked as a location to stock extra cooking supplies out in the open. Instead of a solid-sided design element, an island with open shelves can provide either deep or shallow storage, and shelves can be featured on just one end of an island or multiple sides.

Don't think that embracing this storage strategy means you have to do an expensive kitchen remodel. There are loads of creative DIY kitchen island ideas to add storage space to your cooking haven, such as transforming a secondhand dresser into a kitchen island with open storage. Whatever type of kitchen island open shelving system you adopt, this strategy can help declutter countertops and make needed kitchenware readily available.

Of course, one of the things you'll want to consider before committing to open shelving is the purpose for this design addition — what you'll store there, and how the items will be used. Shelving on kitchen islands can provide bonus storage space to house extra kitchenware, snack baskets, or produce that needs to stay at room temperature. Cookbooks look fabulous when lovingly showcased on an open shelf, and can provide an inspirational element to your decor. This door-free storage space can also be helpful for household members who can't access taller shelving or cabinets. Unexpected things like board games, family photos, or decorative family heirlooms might also find their perfect place on a kitchen island shelf.

When using this strategy, you'll also want to keep in mind the best way to style open shelving in kitchens. Rather than grouping items according to function, a shelf might look more harmonious if unexpected items of a similar color are displayed together. Dissimilar items can also be gathered purposefully on a small tray to dispel any feelings of clutter. For example, a deck of cards, a teapot, and an incense holder may be the perfect cue for some screen-free, post-meal relaxation time. In addition to keeping the space visually appealing, keep in mind that if you need seating at a bar-style kitchen island, one of the sides should be accessible for chairs so that diners still have room to sit.