There are many reasons to include glass doors and open shelving when considering cabinets for a busy family home front. Some people protest because they or their family are messy... I get it. But if you have enough cabinets to have 80% functional and 20% decorative... you have to go for it! Here are 10 great reasons why.
1. LET THERE BE LIGHT
Mamas spend lots of time hustling at home... so please let there be light. Opting for a few glass doors or open shelving creates the illusion of more space and adds an open, airy feel. If you have a small kitchen or not much natural light, adding these two features will make a big difference!
2. ENJOY YOUR PRETTY THINGS
Glass door cabinets are a great way to showcase your favorite dishes as well as wine glasses and barware. Some people use them for their everyday kitchenware while others prefer to tuck them in places like the wet bar. If you have a messy family, you can still opt for glass doors just be strategic about where to use them.
3. HELP YOUR GUESTS HELP THEMSELVES
If your house is a hub for friends and family, consider this! Both glass doors and open shelving makes it so much easier for guests to find things and help themselves. They also work great in rental properties like air-bnbs.
4. CURB THE CLUTTER
YES, Both of these options force you to keep clutter to a minimum and that is a bonus! We just don't need 15 mismatched coffee mugs and hoards of dishes. Less is more! Think quality over quantity. But if your must keep your inventory, just don't use glass doors for those cabinets.
5. CUSTOM LOOK
This is where it gets really fun!! You can paint, wallpaper or add another texture to the back of glass door cabinets or behind wall shelving for a unique look. A current trend is to run backsplash tile all the way up kitchen walls with open shelving on it... love it! See photos below.
6. BUDGET FRIENDLY
If you are on a tight budget, consider open shelving as it is much more affordable than wall cabinets and can save a good chunk of money.
7. WARMTH
Wooden shelves are a great way to introduce rustic texture to a room and they effortlessly warm up cool spaces with white and gray color palettes like the one below.
8. PLANT SHELF
Open shelving is a great place for plants creating healthier, greener spaces for you and your family. If you have enough sunlight it can also be a great spot to grow fresh herbs for cooking.
9. EXTRA STORAGE
Shelving is a simple way to add extra storage for cramped areas making them more functional. You can be creative about what to use to on your shelves... everything from cookbooks to a collection of serving pitchers or even family artwork produced by your favorite littles.
10. CHARACTER
Having a few glass door cabinets or open shelves sprinkled into your cabinet mix simply adds character and interest to a room. Yes you may have to dust open shelving a little more frequently but if it helps to open up the space and makes you smile it's totally worth it!
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