At Medalco, we’ve helped homeowners across California and beyond navigate this design decision with confidence. With deep expertise in custom cabinetry, stonework, CNC precision, and aesthetic planning, our team works closely with clients to strike the perfect balance between beauty and functionality.
In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons of open shelves and closed cabinets and help you determine what’s right for you.
The Case for Open Shelving
Open shelves have gained popularity in modern and transitional kitchen design, offering a clean, airy feel and an opportunity to showcase style. Here’s why they work:
1. Aesthetic Flexibility
A Open shelves give your kitchen or living area a modern, relaxed feel. They invite visual movement and keep the space from feeling boxed in.
Pro Tip from Medalco: We recommend open shelving in areas where you want to showcase decorative plates, cookbooks, or ceramics. Our fabrication capabilities allow for floating shelves that look sleek yet support significant weight.
2. Accessibility
There’s no barrier between you and your most-used items. Whether it’s your favorite mug or daily-use spices, you can grab what you need with ease.
3. Budget-Friendly (Sometimes)
Open shelves typically require less material and labor, which can reduce cost though high-end wood or integrated lighting can tip the balance.
4. Opportunity for Personalization
From rustic reclaimed wood to minimalist metal brackets, open shelves are an ideal place to express personality.
Potential Drawbacks:
- Everything is on display clutter stands out.
- More frequent dusting and cleaning.
- Less storage security for delicate or child-unfriendly items.
The Case for Closed Cabinets
There’s a reason closed cabinetry is the standard in most homes it’s practical, customizable, and offers a classic visual anchor.
1. Concealed Storage = Cleaner Look
Closed cabinets allow you to store mismatched mugs, pantry items, or utensils out of sight. This can help keep the space feeling orderly, even on a busy day.
Medalco Advantage: We custom-build cabinets with soft-close hinges, interior dividers, and pull-out mechanisms that make storage seamless and smart.
2. Protection from Dust and Grease
Especially in the kitchen, enclosed storage keeps your items protected from cooking splatter, humidity, and airborne dust.
3. Design Continuity
Cabinet doors can be tailored to match any interior from minimalist slab styles to ornate raised panels—giving you control over the room’s design.
4. Increased Resale Value
Homes with well-designed cabinetry often fetch higher resale value because of the implied craftsmanship and storage capacity.
Potential Drawbacks:
- Higher cost for custom designs or premium materials.
- Can make a space feel heavier or more enclosed if not balanced well.
What Works Best Open Shelving, Closed Cabinets, or Both?
For most homes, the answer lies somewhere in the middle.
The Hybrid Approach
Mixing open shelving with closed cabinetry provides the best of both worlds. This is where thoughtful design comes into play and where Medalco’s custom capabilities truly shine.
Ideas to Consider:
- Open shelves above the sink or in a corner niche for decorative storage.
- Closed cabinets for all pantry and less-used items.
- A kitchen island with closed cabinets and a few open shelves on the side for cookbooks or display.
Real Project Insight – Medalco Design Team: In a recent project in Palo Alto, our client wanted a mix of Scandinavian minimalism and cozy function. We installed white oak floating shelves on either side of the kitchen window, while the rest of the storage featured seamless matte white cabinetry. The result? A bright, airy space that stayed functional and uncluttered.
Factors to Consider When Choosing
Choosing between open and closed storage depends on your home and habits:
1. Your Lifestyle
- If you’re organized and love curating your kitchenware, open shelves are a joy.
- If your schedule is hectic or you have a young family, closed storage keeps chaos at bay.
2. Cleaning Habits
- Open shelves require regular dusting.
- Closed cabinets reduce exposure and cleaning needs.
3. Your Space Size and Layout
- Small kitchens benefit from open shelves to avoid a cramped feel.
- Larger kitchens can handle full cabinetry without feeling boxed in.
4. Your Design Style
- Open shelving pairs well with industrial, farmhouse, and modern styles.
- Closed cabinets work beautifully with traditional, classic, and high-luxury designs..
Medalco’s Expertise: Design with Intention
What makes Medalco different is our intentional approach to cabinet and shelving design. We don’t just build we collaborate, innovate, and customize.
- Precision Tools: Our CNC and edge banding machines allow for precision detail perfect 90-degree shelf joints or seamless edges that elevate every piece.
- Material Mastery: From solid woods to engineered veneers, we help you select finishes that match your lifestyle and budget.
- Smart Storage: We integrate clever internal organization systems, lighting, and modular components so every inch serves a purpose.
- Blending Wood & Stone: If your open shelves are paired with a marble backsplash or stone countertop, our fabrication team ensures the visual transition is flawless.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not Either-Or—It’s What Works for You
The beauty of modern interior design is flexibility. Open shelving isn’t a trend to chase blindly, and closed cabinets aren’t a requirement to default to. They’re tools and the right designer knows how to wield both to create harmony in your space.
At Medalco, we bring together aesthetic vision, technical capability, and a deep understanding of lifestyle needs. Whether you crave the openness of exposed shelving, the security of hidden storage, or a combination of both we’re here to help you design storage that works as beautifully as it looks.
Let’s Design a Kitchen That Reflects You
🔸 Want a bright kitchen with statement shelves? We’ll craft it.
🔸 Prefer hidden storage with timeless appeal? We’ve got you.
🔸 Need both? Let’s talk layout.
Reach out to Medalco today for a design consultation.
