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Ultrashelf's Kitchen Floating Shelf Ideas

Woman placing decor on kitchen floating shelves

Austin Merrill |

Customizing your kitchen comes in many forms, one of which can be adding floating shelves. Floating shelves in the kitchen are a good idea because they expand the storage capacity of your space in a beautiful, aesthetic way.

Kitchen floating shelf ideas are in abundance online. Picking the right floating shelf design for your kitchen should be a balance of personal taste and functionality. Start your search for kitchen floating shelf ideas by sourcing inspiration online.

Because floating shelves can be crafted to your specific needs, you have so many options when it comes to customizing your kitchen with a unique look that blends both form and function.

Kitchen floating shelves

Maximize

Floating shelves are a great way to increase your kitchen's storage space. Especially when you’re working with limited space, maximizing wall space is a great way to give you more freedom in the kitchen.

You can install your floating shelves above your countertops or near your cooking area to store items like dishes, spices, and cooking utensils. This will help free up valuable counter space and make it easier to find what you need when you're cooking.

If you want something out of the ordinary though, consider installing shelves in your kitchen not above your main countertops. Shelves can make a great accent on a wall in the dining room or above a sideboard. This still increases the storage space in your kitchen but gives you a more unique look.

Display decorations on kitchen floating shelves

Display

If you have a collection of decorative plates, bowls, or glasses that you want to display, floating shelves are a great way to do it. You can aesthetically arrange your items and create a focal point in your kitchen.

If your home has a strong design element to it that needs to be carried throughout the kitchen, using your floating shelves to hold coordinating decor can help your kitchen feel integrated and connected to the rest of the home. The walnut shelves pictured above blend vintage design with a few useful kitchen items. 

By letting the design aesthetic be the driver for these shelves, they seamlessly integrate into the rest of the home and give the homeowner a place to store kitchen items while still showing off that personal style.

This will also add a personal touch to your space, making your kitchen—arguably the heart of the home—warm, inviting, and homey.

Utilizing wall space really does give you the chance to show off a little of your personality in your kitchen.

Green cupboards and kitchen floating shelves

Colors

One of our favorite kitchen floating shelf ideas involves lots of colors and textures.

Timeless homes are filled with various, complimentary colors and textures. When you layer these various elements cohesively, you can create a space that feels personal and timeless.

Floating shelves lend themselves to this blending of colors and texture because they themselves are a good way to add color and texture to your kitchen.

Your custom shelves can be painted to match uppers or creatively contrast with lower cabinets, bringing color into your kitchen in a way that draws your attention upward. Custom shelves can also be crafted from natural wood, bringing interesting textures and patterns into your space.

This added visual interest in your kitchen is a good way to truly personalize your home.

Open windows and kitchen floating shelves

Open Up

If you have a small kitchen or kitchenette and want to create an open-concept feel, floating shelves can help. By removing upper cabinets and replacing them with shelves, you can create a more spacious feeling in your limited space.

Especially when you’re working with limited space, true floating shelves are great because you don’t have to work around the hassle of an external bracket. An internal bracket, like the Studlock floating shelf bracket, can hold 50 lbs of weight for every stud that it’s attached to—keeping everything on your shelf nice and secure.

As people get more and more creative with the space in their homes, we see these same “opening up” principles applying to second kitchens, butler’s pantries, and coffee bars.

Matching kitchen items and floating shelves

Matching

Taking these kitchen floating shelf ideas and making them your own is the best thing you can do to represent yourself in your space.

Floating shelves come in a variety of styles, from modern and sleek to rustic and traditional. By mixing and matching different styles, you can create a unique look that reflects your personal taste. 

You can also add other decorative elements such as plants, artwork, or photos to make your shelves stand out and seamlessly blend with your design style.

Different wood types and stains play a big part in the way your shelves play into the overall design of your home. While lighter color shelves may bring a more modern feel to your home, darker shelves—like Walnut floating shelves, will play well in homes with classic and vintage design aesthetics.

Selecting the right wood type and finish for your kitchen will complete the design of your kitchen and function as the perfect finishing touch.

Because we are committed to craftsmanship, all custom floating shelves we create are handcrafted in the United States. Made to your specifications, these custom open shelves artfully accentuate your kitchen.