How To Hide The Eyesore Of Open Cabinet Shelving

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Open shelving is one of those design choices that gets mixed reviews, particularly when thinking about the 'ideal' designer home versus the one you actually end up using in your everyday life. For example, they are great for displaying pieces that you want to be seen, such as vintage or decorative ceramics, but they can also quickly get filled up with clutter, making your space feel overwhelming and stressful. In addition, open shelving is just that — open to the elements. Rather than being protected behind cupboard doors, the dishes and other items placed on open shelving can often get dusty or dirty quicker because there is nothing standing between them and the grime of everyday use. For these reasons you may want to think twice before adding open shelving to your kitchen or elsewhere in your home.

But does all this mean that if you already have open shelving in your home, you need to tear it out and put in new cabinets? Not necessarily! Before spending the considerable money required to install a whole new set of cupboards, why not consider these alternatives instead? From sleek curtains to cute, practical chalkboards, you can find a solution that will help to close in your open shelving while adding a bit of visual interest that meshes perfectly with your existing style. And the great thing about these tricks is that they are highly customizable. You can choose which method to use, which shelves you want to cover up, and whether you want it to be a permanent fix or one you can change as you go. So, let's dive in!

Perhaps one of the simplest and most easily customizable ways to cover open shelving is with curtains. If you'd prefer not to drill any holes, you can always use adhesive strips or tension rods to quickly and easily pop them over your open shelves. You can then look for some fitting curtains available for purchase — such as these adorable Boho Colorful Mushroom Kitchen Curtains, which would be perfect for a cottagecore design. Alternatively, look around the house for convenient items you should be repurposing into stylish curtains for a more environmentally friendly choice.

This quick and easy DIY is a great way to cover your open shelving while keeping the aesthetic suited to your design style. Simply cover a foam panel in a peel-and-stick wallpaper or contact paper in your chosen pattern, then slot it over your shelves. This works best for open shelves that have sides, allowing the panel to pop into place between them. However, it could work for shelving that is open on all sides with some adhesive strips to stick the foam board directly to the front of each shelf.

Though this alternative does come with a little more heavy duty installation, it is a great way to hide your open, free standing shelves while still keeping them easily accessible. There are plenty of ready-made kits available — such as this 6 foot bi-folding sliding barn door kit from Amazon — which provide all the hardware you need to add them to your own space. Before purchasing, make sure your furniture or shelving can handle the weight of the barn doors you want.

If you like the idea of open cabinet shelving, but you still want some items hidden away, why not look for a cabinet that does both? By choosing a unit like the IRONCK bookshelf with drawers from Amazon that has open shelves and closed-in drawers and cubbies, you can have your most stunning items on display while keeping practical items — such as cables, remotes, toys, or papers — within reach. In addition, fragile items you want to keep clean from dust, debris, and accidents can be kept in the closed sections to make cleaning them much easier.

If you're interested in having doors on your shelves but want something with a bit more visual interest, you could always opt for frosted glass. This is a great halfway point between open and closed shelving, because the clutter will be hidden but everything will be kept safe from dust, grime, and grease. Just keep in mind that the glass may need some regular cleaning to remove fingerprints or smudges, and glass is best used in areas which don't get too much use due to the possibility of shattering.

Looking for something multi-functional? Try hiding the clutter of open shelving with a few chalkboard-style boards, a solution that is fitting for both your items and your daily reminders. Simply add a couple of hinges to some wood you've covered with chalkboard contact paper or paint and install a handle to make them easy to open. If you feel inspired, you could even hang a small tray nearby to hold the chalk for whenever you need to create a new memo, doodle, or motivational idea.

This one takes a little extra creativity, but the result is absolutely worth it. By attaching hinges to a picture frame reinforced with some small planks of wood, you can actually hang personalized prints, photos, or paintings over your shelves to hide the contents. If your shelves are large and cover an entire wall, you may have to think about the size of your frames and where to place them for the best effect. You could cover each shelf in multiple frames or alternate them, leaving some shelves open for the pieces you want to keep on display.

Want to bring a little life into your home? Houseplants are actually a great way to liven up a space, and the 'spiller' varieties can cascade over their pots and hide contents of open shelves. Just place the plants on the top shelf and arrange the vines to drape over the shelves below. When you need to access something, you can gently part the greenery. Or, hang them from the ceiling to create a focal point while obscuring the view of open shelves. You could even choose houseplants that bring luck and good fortune, according to feng shui for an even better flow.

If you have inset, open shelving that is particularly unsightly, you could always try covering it with a large tapestry panel. These are great for a variety of interior designs because they come in plenty of different styles and patterns, perfect for matching with your existing decor. If you'd like easy access to the shelves, you can simply hang the tapestry above and push it out of the way whenever you need to get to the contents behind. Otherwise, you can also stick the bottom edge down using adhesive strips to stop it ruffling too much in the breeze.

If you want something that looks a little sleeker than hanging curtains, you can use your choice of fabric to create panels for covering your shelves. These can be fastened in a variety of ways, depending on how often you need to access the items inside. For frequent use, you can attach magnets to the bottom of the fabric and the shelf itself, making it super simple for it to click back in place when you're done. Alternatively, for an even more secure hold, grab some hook-and-loop fasteners which can be pressed together and peeled apart with ease.

If you like the idea of using fabric but want it more streamlined, then you could always create your own curtains to fit behind existing glass doors or missing, open panels. This is a relatively straightforward DIY which involves adding hooks to the top and bottom of each door and sliding wooden dowels through them. You then sew a channel to each end of some fabric, or use a material that already has them, and slot them onto the wooden dowels. These curtains look great bunched up, so make sure to use extra fabric for that sweet, pleated look.

If the main issue with your open shelving is that the contents tend to look haphazard, then you may be able to hide this eyesore with attractive containers. First, sort similar items into piles — such as bowls in the kitchen or memorabilia in the living room. Then, locate some containers which suit your design preferences. For example, woven baskets are great for a traditional feel, rattan and cane boxes have a natural look, and these Fluted Cardboard Organizer Bins are perfect for a trendy space. Finally, place all your piles into the containers and enjoy the clean look!