Hello lovelies! We’re back today with our favorite series, ever.
We’ve been at The Great Purge and a mission for simplification, for nearly a year now.
I think we’re just thrilled we’ve actually stayed with it. ;} And in that, we’ve continued our mission to simplify our home. It’s really transformed the way I look at everything, we’re still in that process, and I can definitely say we’ll never go back.
When I was reflecting on what has truly worked in our home, I realized one of my favorite elements is our open shelving.
We’re in our {nearly third?} year of living with a lot of open shelving, and honestly, we wondered why we didn’t do it sooner. It opened up our spaces, and makes things feel roomier, in general.
It’s truly held us accountable for what we have in our home, and we plan to utilize it in more ways as we continue to progress in “getting it together.”
It’s truly transformed the way that we use our home. Especially in those high-traffic, frequently used areas.
Today, we thought we’d share a few trips + tricks for living with open shelving.
1. Keep it contained.
If you plan to use open shelving in your home, have designated spots where you can put your things. Even “unsightly” things, or your extras that you don’t wish to display. We realize that not everything can be pretty. I’m not kidding when I say that I’m kind of at that place where I would like to toss absolutely everything.
Over. It.
But I’m torn and practicality has to win at some point, so I’m not purging everything. Keep it corralled with baskets, containers, and interesting pieces that will not only add visual appeal, but real purpose as well. This helps keep those open areas organized.
Baskets can be pricey, and I’ve found that collecting pieces over time, when you see sales, or great prices is kind of key. I’ve found the best deals on the fly, when I wasn’t really looking for them so I didn’t spend a fortune. Also, we’ve taken on building our own crates for things like toys, but they have a versatile purpose. I think being flexible with what you use is another element. So keep your eyes peeled… you never know what you can use.
2. Keep it purposeful.
I think that this is the beauty in open shelving. While you can have pretty things, you’ll also find that it’s a great way to stay accountable for what you have in your home. Because of this, over time we’ve found that we’re very purposeful in what we have. I think less is more when it comes to shelving, and I enjoy pops of color and pretty plates. But only the essentials.
That being said, every persons’ version of essential is different. But with experience and time, you’ll find what you like. It’s a great way to stay organized and find what you really ‘need’ in your home.
For us, we don’t have pointless containers or useless things that we regret purchasing, because we’ve stuck with this mantra and don’t need them. Living with open shelving, has taught us what we need to get rid of, and what we should keep. And we’re still working through it.
3. Keep it fresh.
Beyond the practicality of it all, it’s great to get creative + keep it fresh. Use it to show off your favorites. Move them around until you find what you love. Use it for easy access for those things you really utilize the most in your kitchen. And use it to stay organized.
Do our dishes get dusty? Sometimes, if they haven’t been used in a while. Simply rinse them off and move on. I think they get a little dusty in regular old cupboards, anyway. This is the question we receive the most, and it’s not enough to hold you back, the benefits truly outweigh the cons, if you want to go for it!
You guys can probably tell that we still have things to fine tune, and it is in no way perfect at all. But it has helped so much in our home, and if anything, has been a real catalyst in helping us purge these areas of our home even more… it’s held us accountable.
Do you use open shelving? What are some of your favorite tips for staying on top of stuff on your home? We’d love to hear!
Janet says
These tips really are great. Love it. Thanks so much!
Anna says
How adorable is your home? I love all of your ideas. We have been thinking about doing some open shelving, and these suggestions are great. Thanks for this. Did you guys choose to do liners in your kitchen cabinets?
ashley @ the handmade home says
Yes! We totally just used the little white liners that come in rolls at walmart. They add a little cushion, and even though we painted it, this is also white, and it keeps the bottom from getting scratched up over time. I hope that helps!
JT says
These are some great tips. I have been trying to talk the husband into open shelves for a while now. We will see what he does when I present him with this! Valid arguments, I say! š thanks again!
Will P says
Was it difficult getting used to that? Do you feel like it limits you?
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey Will! No, from the beginning it was pretty freeing. It makes it a challenge to keep purging places like, my kitchen. Overall, you know where things are at a glance, and it’s super easy for my family to use! ;}
Sarah says
My parents had open shelves in their kitchen for a decade (long story, but the never managed to get cupboard doors, so it was ALL open shelving) – what we found was that things got greasy from being in the room the food was cooked, and then the dust stuck, which made everything dirty AND hard to clean. When they finally redid their kitchen and got doors, everything had to be scrubbed! Because of that I’ve always stuck with cupboard doors, but I really like the open shelf look. How do you stop the grease?
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey Sarah! We haven’t had any trouble with grease. Maybe it’s the positioning of our plates in relation to the stovetop? Did your parents cook with it often? There could be a few differences, but we just haven’t had any trouble. They occasionally get a little dusty when we haven’t used them in a while, but they’ve been fine! ;} I hope that helps.
Sarah says
Hi Ashley! Yeah, they used the stove top almost every night, which probably was the difference. I find that the few things I have out in mine (stereo, knife block, kettle etc) do the same thing – and my kitchen is bigger and more open than theirs. I think I might have to invest in glass doors when we finally get to redo ours š
PS. I just read this series from start to finish and LOVED it! We have been doing the same thing over the last 9 months and, while the going has been slow (three kids under 5 and limited funds), it has made a huge difference and I feel so much better and freer! I will have to send you before and after photos of our garage when we finally finish it this summer (in Australia) – we’ve made huge progress so far and I’m determined it will be finished!
Thanks for being so open and honest – I can’t wait to see the final reveal of all the spaces you have transformed š
Sarah