That’s a really practical approach—love the honesty about how open shelving actually works day-to-day. I always wonder, do people really keep those shelves looking Pinterest-worthy when life gets busy? I tried full open shelving once and ended up with a layer of dust on anything we didn’t use every single day. Did you find glass doors hard to keep clean, or is it just me being picky? The bamboo organizers idea is genius, though. I swear, kitchen chaos is just inevitable... but maybe that mix is as close as we get to organized sanity.
I hear a lot about open shelving looking great, but honestly, I think it’s overrated for most homes. Dust is one thing, but if you cook often, grease builds up too—especially if you don’t have a top-notch range hood. Glass doors are a pain, sure, but at least they keep things contained. Personally, I’d rather wipe fingerprints than have to wash every dish before I use it. Maybe it’s not about being picky—just practical.
“I’d rather wipe fingerprints than have to wash every dish before I use it. Maybe it’s not about being picky—just practical.”
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve flipped a few houses where the owners insisted on open shelves because they saw it on Pinterest or whatever, and every single time, they regretted it after a few months. One place, the kitchen was right next to the main entry, so dust and dog hair just floated right in. Looked great for the listing photos, but when I came back to check on things, those “display” dishes were basically grimy.
Glass doors aren’t perfect, but at least you can close them and forget about what’s inside for a bit. Open shelving is like signing up for a part-time cleaning gig you never wanted. Unless you’re running a staged home or barely cook, it’s just not worth the hassle. Maybe if you’re super tidy or only keep a few nice pieces out, but for most folks? Not practical at all.
Couldn’t have said it better about open shelves. Every time I see those Pinterest kitchens, I just think about the dust and pet hair waiting to happen. Sure, they look cool for a week, but real life gets messy fast. Glass doors aren’t perfect, but they’re a solid compromise—less cleaning, more hiding the chaos. If you actually use your kitchen, practicality wins every time. Don’t sweat choosing what works for you, even if it’s not “on trend.” Trends don’t do the dishes for you anyway.
If you actually use your kitchen, practicality wins every time. Don’t sweat choosing what works for you, even if it’s not “on trend.” Trends don’t do the dishes for you anyway.
- “Trends don’t do the dishes for you anyway.” — couldn’t agree more.
- Lived in a 1920s house for years. Open shelves = dust magnets, especially with creaky old windows.
- Glass doors are my go-to. You get to show off Grandma’s teacups but hide the mismatched mugs.
- Honestly, half my kitchen is ‘organized chaos’ behind closed doors… and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
- Pinterest kitchens look great, but real kitchens need to work for real life—crumbs, pets, and all.
