How To Style Wire Shelves In Your Kitchen and 15 Everyday Open Shelf Essentials
[Sponsored content]. Ok, I promise. This is the LAST post before the big kitchen reveal. For REAL. There have been a few delays, waiting on some furniture and having some hardware changed, now it's ready to go and I really can't wait to show you. It's a different room. But first...If you've got a kitchen with awkward dead space, then this is for you. No matter the size of the kitchen you have, it makes all the difference to utilise every inch you have available. Freestanding units are an ideal option when nothing else will do, particularly if you're renting and want to bring some personality into your kitchen. What's great about them, is that as they have a wire structure and you can still see through to the walls around it, it gives the illusion of space. Which is what you need when it's at a premium.That said, having open wire shelves means that everything you put on it is on display. So how can you style it to look effortless, tidy and still work for you at the same time? I've come up with two ways to achieve open shelf style, using the Rhonda wire display rack from Out There Interiors. The wider of two designs, it fits perfectly into what was an unused space and has helped make our kitchen work harder for us. Here's how...
Look No.1
Firstly, cut the crap. By that I mean filter out all the "stuff" you don't use and spend forever climbing over to get to the things that you do. I would advise that you have a good sort out anyway and make sure you have only the items you use every day or every few months. Once you know what your go-to pieces are, you'll rotate them regularly enough that they won't gather dust and you're getting the best out of what you have.• Keep utensils in a large pot like the one I used from Eva Solo (with a nifty carry handle).• Tidy away spices in an easy access box, I reused a Christmas hamper box for mine.• Stack dinner plates. I use plain black or white as any food looks great with a monochrome backdrop to sit on. Napkins can be wedged alongside them or folded on top.• A bottle box can be repurposed for storing vegetables that don't need to be refrigerated, keeping them out of the way on the top shelf.• If your unit has space underneath, use it for a small stool. Not only is it useful for a when you have company in the kitchen but it's always at hand when you need something on a higher shelf.• Rotate your cookbooks, leaving a selection of favourites for quick reference.• Keep a selection of glasses to hand. Having wine or water glasses within easy reach makes all the difference. Just make sure they're in good condition, otherwise, store the least used away. We keep all the bright, plastic kids' plates and cups in a cupboard they can reach so we don't have to look at them!
Look No.2
• Create a tea and coffee station with mugs, tea and coffee to hand in simple glass jars. You can also store your cutlery in a large pot or tin to free up drawer space for other less attractive items.• Store smaller appliances such as the toaster, juicer or sound system (as I have here) on the top or bottom levels, freeing up valuable worktop space. Pans and mixing bowls can also find a home here.• Keep your cooking oils and other food essentials close to hand - think salt and pepper, decant oils into glass bottles, jars of cereal for breakfast etc.• Stack your chopping boards but be careful to make sure they lean securely if you're not laying them flat.• If you use fresh herbs frequently in your cooking, this is an ideal place to store them in pots or with a small dish underneath for watering.
Finding Everyday Accessories For Those Open Shelves
Good looking essentials shouldn't cost the earth but they do need to be durable. This carefully curated edit will give you plenty of food for thought. Stick with a muted palette of white or black as a base, mixing in neutral tones, clear glass, wood and stainless steel for a timeless appeal. You're welcome...
| 1 | Clear glasses, IKEA 365+ | 2 | Elzora and Courbe grey dinner plates, both Habitat | 3 | Freight HHG black steel tray, Trouva | 4 | Save-It wooden boxes, Rig-Tig | 5 | Lastu birch boxes, Verso Design | 6 | White mugs, Made.com | 7 | Hario enamel coffee kettle, Arket | 8 | Dark grey bowls, Granit | 9 | LSA bread bin and bread board, Amara | 10 | Stainless steel mixing bowl, Arket | 11 | Skagerak soft board, Skandium | 12 | Slate blue linen napkin, The Conran Shop | 13 | Chopping boards with ceramic plate, Golden Biscotti | 14 | Grey stoneware jug, H&M | 15 | Glass jar, H&M.
*Written in collaboration with Out There Interiors, who gifted me the wire unit for the purpose of this post. Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley