Homeowners have long embraced the appeal of open kitchen shelving — the easy access to dishes; their airy feel, especially in small layouts; and the opportunity to put decorative objects on full display. In fact
But now, a recent Kitchen Trends report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) has found that a growing number of homeowners are trading open shelving (and open pantries) for concealed kitchen storage that keeps clutter under wraps.
The NKBA surveyed more than 500 kitchen and bath professionals (designers included), and discovered that 87% said homeowners prefer pantry designs concealed behind cabinet doors or panels to maintain a polished look. What’s more, 66% believe walk-in pantries and butler’s pantries will be all the rage in the next three years.
“The appeal of open shelving lies in its ability to create an airy, layered aesthetic – one that works beautifully for clients with a highly curated collection or a disciplined sense of organization,” says designer Lara Apelian. “But in practice, the realities of daily life often call for a more tailored, efficient approach. Concealed storage – whether through custom millwork, integrated pantries or seamless cabinetry – provides a sense of refinement and cohesion, allowing the kitchen to feel like an uncluttered oasis.”
Designer Mikel Welch agrees: “Many people are moving away from open shelving because it collects dust and can easily look cluttered unless you know how to keep your stacks of plates and bowls perfect. Concealed storage, like cabinets and pantries, keeps things organized and hidden, making the kitchen look cleaner and more functional. Plus, it allows for smarter features like pull-out shelves and hidden bins, all while offering more privacy and a streamlined aesthetic.”
Designer Sharon Sherman of Thyme & Place Design believes there’s another reason for the rise in closed kitchen storage. “Driving this (trend) is a desire for organized spaces, which bring calm. It reduces the stress to keep exposed items clean and neat, placing the design emphasis on the beauty of the cabinets.”
But like many design choices, there’s a downside, too. It’s mainly the lack of room, according to Colleen Bennett of CBB Design Firm. “The con is that it just takes up a lot of space in the kitchen, especially if you don’t have a scullery,” Bennett says, noting that she prefers this clean kitchen aesthetic as a way to free up countertops.
Curious about how to make a kitchen full of closed cabinetry look as chic as possible? Consider the below tips from designer Emily Ruff of Cohesively Curated:
3 Ways to Elevate Kitchen Cabinets
✔️ Prioritize function. Start with the sizes and locations of your appliances, and then build out your cabinetry plan from there. “We tend to use almost all drawers for base cabinets, as it is a lot more functional than cabinet drawers with roll-outs,” says Ruff. “We also aim to create symmetry around the range and around the sink when possible, which helps to make sure our tile layouts are symmetrical as well.”
✔️ Aim for visual interest. “The key is to leave space elsewhere for artwork or tile to have the spotlight, so it isn’t just cabinet doors as far as you can see which makes a kitchen feel closed in,” Ruff says. “We always start with choosing the countertops, especially natural stone, and then we choose the cabinetry color from there. Your cabinetry color has to be a tone that looks good in the lighting of your kitchen, but also that plays nicely with your stone.”
✔️ Pick your hardware wisely. While it might seem like a simple detail, hardware has a way of elevating kitchen cabinets. Ruff suggests mixing your hardware to make a statement. “Don’t just put the same style and size pull on every cabinet and call it good. We like to put knobs on cabinet doors, pulls on drawers and vary the size of the pulls so it fits the size of the drawer well.”
Here are some guidelines:
- Under 24″ drawers get a 4″ pull; over 24″ get a 6″ pull; and over 33″ get an 8″ pull
- Appliance pulls for panel-ready appliances should be different from pulls in the rest of the kitchen, and make sure you go for at least 12″ or 18″ for larger refrigerators and freezers.
- Consider cabinet latches on smaller cabinets up high or cabinets under the sink — areas you don’t open/close multiple times a day
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, “What’s in My Cart.”
