Ditch Heavy Cabinets: Joanna Gaines' Gorgeous Alternative For Modern Homes

Cabinets are no doubt an essential part of kitchen design. They offer a sleek, closed storage option that keeps all your food and kitchenware out of sight. And yet, a run of lower and upper cabinetry around the perimeter of your space can look heavy and imposing. Sometimes, removing a few bulky cabinets in favor of a more stylish and personal alternative can totally transform a kitchen, and there's one specific option that Joanna Gaines uses time and again in her projects: open shelving.

Open shelves can take many forms. You might opt for a simple floating shelf above your countertops to display your prettiest kitchenware like colorful glasses and bowls. Or, if you prefer an industrial look, you could introduce an open-frame shelving unit with multiple levels for display.

If you're looking for inspiration, there's no shortage of open shelving ideas in Gaines' design portfolio. The HGTV star and "Fixer Upper" host clearly knows that saying goodbye to traditional cabinets can seriously pay off. For example, in Season 5, Episode 6, she uses a metal and glass wall with a black industrial style frame that doubles as storage for books, glassware, and plants. Earlier, in Season 3, Episode 12, she flanks the stove with three sets of traditional wood and bracket shelves on either side, using them to display a curated selection of dishware. These designs prove that trading heavy cabinets for open shelving can make a kitchen feel airier, more spacious, and perhaps most importantly, more personal.

Gaines is clearly a fan of open shelving as a kitchen storage solution. "It brings dimension, gives your space a finishing detail, and is also a space-saving and organization solution," she wrote on her Magnolia blog. It's not without its downsides, though. As Gaines writes: "What's a little more tricky about open shelving are the technical aspects such as construction, installation, or even space planning."

This is why it's important to choose the right type of open shelving for your space. If you're getting rid of a run of cabinetry, you'll still need space to store all the contents. In these instances, a single floating shelf won't be enough, so a larger open-frame unit across the length of a wall would be more suitable. Smaller shelves, by contrast, are better suited for a collection of compact decor pieces, or to store items that you want in easy reach of your countertop, like salt and pepper shakers. Joanna used both of these concepts in the Season 5 project, opting for a small coffee nook shelf in addition to the metal and glass unit.

To incorporate open shelving while keeping a clutter-free look, be intentional about what you store on them. It's also important to note that despite being more visually interesting than cabinets, open shelves aren't always the most practical choice for a kitchen. Any items stored on them will be exposed to steam, grease splatters, and dust. For this reason, they're best reserved for items like cookbooks, plants, and other decor, instead of dishware, which could require more frequent cleaning.