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Open Shelving vs Closed Cabinets
Welcome to the Ultimate Kitchen Smackdown!
In one corner: Open Shelving, the trendy minimalist dream child of Pinterest.
And in the other: Closed Cabinets, the timeless classics who’ve been hiding your mismatched mugs since the dawn of cabinetry.
If you’re redesigning your kitchen and wondering which one wins the title of Storage Champion, grab a snack and let’s break it down.
Round One: Aesthetic Appeal
Open Shelving:
Think open shelving is just for home magazines and fancy people with all-matching dishware? Think again! It offers a clean, airy, modern look. It says, "Yes, I have aesthetically pleasing mugs, and I’m not afraid to show them off." Great for displaying your inner home chef (or your very real addiction to ceramic bowls).
Closed Cabinets:
More of a "hide the chaos" kind of person? You’re not alone. Closed cabinets offer that clean-outside, mystery-inside vibe. You could have a rogue collection of novelty shot glasses from every state, and no one would ever know.
✅ Winner: Tie – depends on your inner Marie Kondo vs. your inner hot mess.
Round Two: Maintenance Mayhem
Open Shelving:
Here’s the real tea—dust and grease don’t care how Instagram-worthy your open shelves look. You’ve got to be diligent about cleaning and keeping things neat. That means no half-used spaghetti sauce jars on display, okay?
Closed Cabinets:
Ah, sweet protection. Cabinets keep dust, grime, and judgment at bay. Clean the outside once in a while and forget about whatever’s happening behind door #3. Spaghetti explosion from 2022? No one needs to know.
✅ Winner: Closed Cabinets – at least for anyone who thinks dusting sounds like a villain’s backstory.
Round Three: Storage Superpowers
Open Shelving:
You can see everything—no more playing cabinet Jenga or losing the cinnamon again. Great for quick grabs and everyday items. But too much clutter = visual overload.
Closed Cabinets:
With shelves, drawers, and nifty organizers (hello, Kitchen Wise Closet Wise custom inserts!), you’ve got a spot for everything. More space, more structure, and way more peace of mind.
✅ Winner: Closed Cabinets – for sheer volume and organizational freedom.
Round Four: Personal Style & Flexibility
Open Shelving:
Want to showcase your favorite cookbooks, color-coded plates, or an aggressive plant collection? Open shelves are your stage. They invite creativity, rotation, and even a seasonal refresh (tiny pumpkins in October, anyone?).
Closed Cabinets:
While a bit more reserved, cabinets allow for wild interiors (fun wallpaper lining!) and unexpected surprises when opened. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure novel—what’s behind this one?
✅ Winner: Open Shelving – if you’re feeling bold, artsy, or just really into showing off that vintage Fiestaware.
And the Winner Is…
You don’t have to choose just one! We’ve found that the happiest kitchens often blend open shelving for style + accessibility and closed cabinets for storage sanity. It’s the kitchen version of business in the front, party in the back.
Need help designing your dream mix of both?
That’s where we come in. At Kitchen Wise Closet Wise, we specialize in customized solutions that make your kitchen functional, fabulous, and totally YOU—whether you’re Team Open, Team Closed, or Team somewhere in the middle.
Open, closed, or combo—we’re here to help you make a wise decision. Let’s organize your kitchen like it’s about to be featured on HGTV (but with less stress and more snacks). Reach out to us today and let’s get shelvin’!
By Kitchen Wise Closet Wise Staff 7-1-2025