Kitchen essentials transformed into aesthetic accents, inspired by Ina Garten, as she promotes the abandonment of traditional cabinets.
Ina Garten, the beloved host of Barefoot Contessa, shares her expert advice on how to decorate kitchen shelves effectively. Her approach is all about creating a warm, personal, and practical display that reflects your style and personality.
Mix Old and New Items
Garten suggests combining treasured antique or well-loved pieces with newer items you adore and will use often. This mix creates a warm, personal display that feels inviting and lived-in. For instance, you might find antique saucers nestled next to ceramic plates, or a charming pitcher serving as a fall accessory or gift idea.
Stick to a Small Color Palette
To maintain cohesion without busyness, Garten recommends choosing two or three colours you love, such as white, natural wood tones, and a pop of green. Repeating these colours throughout the shelves will help tie the display together, creating a harmonious look. If you're styling a wooden shelf, sticking to neutrals and metallics is a good choice.
Vary Shapes and Heights
To add visual interest and avoid a flat look, arrange items of different shapes (round bowls, rectangular boards) and heights (tall pitchers next to short jars) on your shelves. This variation will create a dynamic appearance that catches the eye.
Use a Beautiful Plate or Platter as a Backdrop
Leaning a plate or platter against the back wall of the shelf can add height and depth, highlighting special pieces while keeping them accessible. This trick is a great way to showcase items you love, adding a touch of elegance to your display.
Add Books You Actually Love
Mixing in cookbooks or other favourite books brings personality and a lived-in feel to the kitchen shelves. Garten encourages arranging these books in a way that feels pleasing and alive, creating a cozy and inviting space.
Display Dishes and Pots on Open Shelves
Garten is a firm believer in displaying dishes and pots on open shelves in the kitchen. This approach not only adds a decorative touch but also makes it easy to grab what you need when cooking.
Ina Garten's Kitchen as Inspiration
Garten's own kitchen design provides inspiration for kitchen shelving ideas. Her shelves are filled with ceramic pitchers, copper pans, cookbooks, silver saucers, and glass cakestands, all arranged in a way that feels warm, practical, and inviting.
Purchase Recommendations
If you're looking to update your kitchen shelves, consider purchasing an antique-inspired gravy boat with a shiny, silver finish, or a white, microwave- and dishwasher-safe dinnerware set. These additions will add a touch of elegance and practicality to your display.
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- To complement your kitchen shelves and elevate your interior-design style, consider incorporating a mix of old and new items, such as antique saucers and contemporary ceramic plates, for a warm, personal, and inviting display that reflects your lifestyle.
- For a harmonious and cohesive look on your home-and-garden shelves, adopt Ina Garten's advice by sticking to a small color palette, combining two or three favorite colors, like white, natural wood tones, and a pop of green, and repeating these hues throughout the shelves.
