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Home Inspiration Kitchen 14 Times Open Shelving Looked Oh-So-Soothing (And How To Bring Order To Your Own Home)

14 Times Open Shelving Looked Oh-So-Soothing (And How To Bring Order To Your Own Home)

By Tara Mastroeni

Updated June 13, 2022

When it’s done right, there’s something about open shelving that is so soothing and aesthetically pleasing. It’s no wonder this look has been trendy for a while and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. If you’ve been wanting to put this trend in your own home, you’re in luck. Below are 14 of the most unique open shelving ideas, plus some tips on how to make the look work. Read them over to find a style that works for you.

Follow these tips to style open shelving in your own home. Image: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

How to make open shelving work

Open shelving may look simple, but it’s actually pretty tricky to pull off. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together four tips to help you make this look work in your own home. They are:

Make it simple: When it comes to open shelving, less is more. Edit your display down to the bare essentials so that your shelves don’t look overly-stuffed.

Color-code: Above all, your shelves need to look cohesive. Help pull them together by filling your display with items that fit a united color scheme.

Vary the heights: That said, things can’t look too matchy-matchy. Vary the heights of your items in order to give your display a sense of dimension.

Keep it clean: After you’re done putting it together, make sure to keep the display clean and in order. In this case, one out of place item can throw off the whole look.

Check out these soothing open shelving ideas.

Don’t miss out on your chance to put this shelving in the bathroom. Though it may seem strange at first, it’s an opportunity to put all those curated bath products on display for your guests. Image: Artazum/Shutterstock

In the living room, open shelving can act as a more modern take on built-in shelving. Image: Alexandre Zveiger/Shutterstock

Putting this type of shelving in your closet means that you know which outfits you have at your disposal with just a glance. Why waste time rooting around for clothes when they can be within arm’s reach? Image: Mariakraynova/Shutterstock

f you have an awkward corner in your home that needs to be put to good use, look no further than shelving to get the job done. You can use it to store odds and ends or to display decor items. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Open shelving is the perfect place to display all your decor items. Use the shelves as an opportunity to infuse your sense of personality into the space. Image: Urfin/Shutterstock

Bring your shelving unit out beyond the cabinets and into the dining area. A setup like this one acts as a modern china cabinet. Image: Fotoplan/Shutterstock

What you put on your shelves is just as important as the shelving itself. Make sure to find items that coordinate. You could match their color, size or shape. Image: ArchiVIZ/Shutterstock

If you love minimalism, try open shelving that looks like this. The barely-there feel to it is very on-trend. Image: ThreeDiCube/Shutterstock

Open shelving is a natural fit for office spaces. Use it to put your credentials and any awards on display. Image: Artazum/Shutterstock

This type of shelving doesn’t have to be just for grownups anymore. Consider using it in a playroom or kid’s bedroom. Image: Alexandre Zveiger/Shutterstock

Lining open shelving up against a wall is a trendy way to display wall art. Think about it as an updated take on the gallery wall. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

If you have the space in your home, consider doing a take on wrap-around shelving. Not only will you have lots of room to store things, but this shelving will become a neat architectural feature. Image: Alabn/Shutterstock

No modern kitchen would be complete without some shelving that puts your tableware on display. Notice how this one is styled to match the butcher block on the island. Image: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock