Kitchen Redesign Adventure: Worth the Hype or Not?
Lighting really does wonders, doesn’t it? When we moved in, I swapped out a single yellowed ceiling fixture for a couple of cheap LED strips under the cabinets—suddenly I could actually see what I was chopping, and the whole place felt less like a 90s sitcom set.
About open shelving, I went for it last year after getting sucked into way too many “dream kitchen” boards. I’ll be honest, it looks awesome when it’s tidy but… keeping it that way is a different story. If you’re a fan of mismatched mugs and your cereal boxes have cartoon mascots, it takes some effort to make it Pinterest-worthy all the time. I ended up using baskets for the not-so-pretty stuff, and only put my favorite dishes out. It does open up the space and makes the kitchen feel lighter, plus it was way cheaper than new upper cabinets.
If you’re okay with a little extra dusting and some strategic styling, it can totally work. Just don’t expect it to look staged all the time unless you’re super organized. For me, the trade-off was worth it, especially since I could do it on a shoestring budget.
Open Shelving: Charming or Just a Dust Magnet?
Lighting is a total game-changer, no argument there. I remember the first time I swapped out the ancient, flickering fixture in our 1920s kitchen for a couple of warm Edison bulbs—suddenly, the old beadboard walls glowed like something out of a storybook. It’s wild how much mood you can create with just a few tweaks.
But open shelving... I have to admit, I’m a bit of a skeptic. Our house came with the original glass-front cabinets, and while they’re not exactly “open,” they do show off what’s inside. At first, I thought about ripping them out for that breezy, modern look you see everywhere now. But after a weekend of deep cleaning (and discovering just how much dust and cat hair can accumulate on an exposed shelf), I changed my mind. Maybe it’s just me, but I like being able to close a door on the chaos. There’s something comforting about knowing my mismatched mugs and inherited Pyrex bowls are tucked away, even if the inside of the cabinet looks like a yard sale.
I get the appeal, though. Open shelves do make a space feel lighter, and if you’re the type who keeps everything tidy, it probably works. But in an old house, where dust seems to multiply overnight and the walls aren’t always perfectly straight, I’ve found that a little concealment goes a long way. Plus, there’s a certain charm in those creaky old cabinets—like they’re keeping secrets from a hundred years ago.
Maybe it’s just nostalgia talking, but I’d rather spend my time baking bread than styling shelves. To each their own, I guess. If you love the look and don’t mind the upkeep, more power to you. For me, I’ll stick with my quirky cabinets and let the dust bunnies have their fun behind closed doors.
I have to laugh a bit reading this because “dust bunnies behind closed doors” is basically my kitchen’s motto. I totally get the appeal of open shelving—on Instagram, it always looks so effortless, like everyone just happens to own a perfectly matched set of handmade pottery and never spills flour. In real life? I’ve seen more than a few open shelves that end up looking like a display case for half-used spice jars and travel mugs from 2008.
But here’s the thing: open shelving can work, but it’s not a universal solution. If you’re someone who genuinely enjoys curating your kitchenware and doesn’t mind a little extra maintenance, it can absolutely make a space feel airier and more personal. That said, in older homes (especially the ones with 90-degree angles that are more... aspirational than actual), open shelves can highlight every little imperfection. And unless you’re committed to regular dusting, you’ll spend more time cleaning than cooking.
Personally, I’m a fan of mixing it up—maybe a couple of open shelves for things you use every day (so dust doesn’t have time to settle), but keep the majority of storage behind doors. Glass-front cabinets are a nice compromise too; you get that sense of openness without the full dust commitment. Plus, there’s something endearing about those old cabinets—even if they creak and refuse to close all the way. They’re part of the house’s story.
At the end of the day, I think kitchens should be designed for living, not just for looking pretty in photos. If you’d rather bake bread than fuss with shelf styling, that’s probably the best sign you’ve made the right choice for your space. And for what it’s worth, mismatched mugs have way more personality than a row of identical white dishes...
I once tried the whole open shelving thing in a 1920s bungalow I was flipping—looked amazing for about a week, then reality hit. Turns out, if you’re not Marie Kondo, those shelves become a weird museum of random mugs and cereal boxes. I do like the idea of mixing it up though. There’s something about old cabinets with their stubborn hinges that just feels right, even if they make you wrestle for your morning coffee mug. Sometimes “lived-in” beats “Instagram-ready,” at least in my book.
Totally get what you mean about open shelving—tried it once in my last place because it looked “easy” to DIY, but it turned into a dust magnet and I could never keep it looking tidy. Honestly, I’ve learned I’d rather deal with a creaky cabinet door than spend every weekend reorganizing dishes. Plus, those old cabinets hide the chaos pretty well. Maybe not Pinterest-perfect, but way less stress on the wallet and the nerves.
