We thought it was time to upgrade our kitchen shelves to keep up with our modern-meets-old-world farmhouse kitchen decor. You know we love to build everything ourselves, but we know that’s not an option for everyone. Let’s take a minute to talk about buying kitchen shelves vs building them, if open kitchen shelves are a good idea, and how to make your own floating kitchen shelves!

Is it cheaper to buy shelves or build them?

It is usually cheaper to build your own kitchen shelves than it is to buy prefab shelves, but there are pros and cons on both sides. Cheaper may not always be better if you are in need of a shelf that is going to hold a lot of weight and last for a long time. If you were looking for a sturdy, well-made shelf, it may run you a pretty penny if you are looking to purchase it pre-made. If all you need are some basic, decorative shelves, it would be quick and easy to order pre-made kitchen shelves online.

However, if you are renovating your space and want kitchen shelves that not only complement your design but are durable and functional, you may want to consider making your own! When you make your own kitchen shelves, you have the freedom to make sure they fit perfectly into your space and give you the most bang for your buck. In addition to being able to cut your kitchen shelves to fit your kitchen, you also have the freedom to stain or paint them any color you would like to match the rest of your kitchen.

While there are many great things about building your own kitchen shelves, this project does take some time and basic skills. When compared to clicking a button and having a shelf ready at your door, this may seem like more effort than you are willing to put in. If that’s you, there are a lot of options available. If you’re like me and need a perfect match, your options are limitless when it comes to DIY kitchen shelves. You can also choose exactly how long, wide, and thick you need your shelf to be, which is key when you’re looking to install long-term kitchen shelves in your home.

@thermalandoaks

We built our farmhouse 5 years ago. Young, in love & broke we used a spare cut of wood into our shelf with dreams of having a pretty beam in its place. We did not have any money left to make this the cottage kitchen of our dreams back then .. Years later we are adding some upgrades 😍✨ 🔨 #diy #diyproject #diyhomedecor #kitchenhacks #kitchendesign #kitchenshelf #kitchenshelves #kitchenshelfs #diyshelf #diyshelving #diyfloatingshelves #diyrenovation #diyrenovations #diyrenovision #homeupgrades #homeupgradetips2022 #upgrade #beforeandafter #homeupdates this is a cheap upgrade you can do. Follow along on our next video on how we made these DIY shelves.

♬ original sound – Vik White

Are open shelves in the kitchen a good idea?

Are you trying to find out if open kitchen shelves are right for you? While there are a few potential risks involved, I think you’ll find that the benefits highly outweigh any foreseeable hazards, and there are steps you can take to prevent any accidents entirely. When picturing open shelves, you may be worried about things falling down. However, with careful organization and installation, you can ensure that things are never tumbling down from your open kitchen shelves.

I can’t stress enough how important it is that your shelf is installed properly to ensure safe hanging. If the shelf is not properly secured to the wall, it can fall at any moment and whatever you have up on that shelf will come down with it. If you make sure that your shelf is securely fastened to the wall, you can hang the heaviest of kitchen shelves with no worry. If you do have small children as we do, you may want to keep all of your open shelves out of their reach, to further prevent any mishaps!

The great thing about open kitchen shelves is the convenience. Without doors that you need to open and close, you can easily reach to grab or put things away. Open shelves are also great for hosting company, your visitors will be able to see openly where the cups or plates are! Aside from the ease in which these shelves function, they also are one of the more sought-after design pieces in kitchens these days. The beautiful look that an open shelf provides is unmatched. They are not used for kitchen shelves alone but are also used in other places of the home for decor or collectibles.

How do you make floating wood shelves?

For our floating kitchen shelves, we used white oak and we cut the boards to size. The kitchen shelves that we originally installed were running out of room, and we needed more space! Instead of the shelf stopping where the sink starts, we decided to extend the shelf so that it goes across and beyond the other side of the sink. This gives us so much more room!

Once we got them to the size that we wanted them, we sanded it down with 200 grit sandpaper. It’s important to even out the wood and make it smooth before staining it and hanging it. If you leave any rough pieces in the wood, the stain will not look even in those areas, and it’s best to do things the right way if you have the time! We stained our shelf with Minwax in the White Wash option, which was the perfect color for our farmhouse kitchen.

To fasten our kitchen shelf onto the wall, we used floating shelf brackets. We chose the option that would stay hidden under the shelf, but they also have options that wrap around the front of the shelf, which is also a cute look. Whatever style you choose, just make sure that the brackets you are using are strong enough to not only handle the weight of the shelf that you are hanging, but also any items that you may place on top of the shelf. The brackets that we chose are heavy duty, because we really want to make sure that our shelf stays up there.

Of course, the final step after hanging is decorating! Stay tuned, because this project will be extended to the oven hood which is going to be repainted, and we will also be changing the lights. Have you put up any amazing floating shelves in your home? We would love to see!

Hugs,

Christina & Trevor