Kitchen Ideas - Floating Shelves
Floating shelves in the kitchen are commonplace nowadays, but making a decision to add them to the kitchen isn’t always straightforward. The main questions are always “what size”, “what location”, “what purpose”, and “what finish”.
Well, we’re here to help navigate these questions…
Hurd & Honey - Light Finish
Find Inspiration
You’ve probably already spent time doing this, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this, but taking the time to look for styles that you like is a good place to begin. We have a gallery just for this purpose, and it’s updated often, as customers submit their review photos.
Choose a “Look” or Aesthetic
Choosing a finish is a big decision. While light shelves are the most common, dark shelves are a beautiful option. You may be looking for shelves that are made with a specific wood, like oak, walnut, or maple. Thickness is also a consideration. The average floating shelf is about 2 1/2” thick (height), but maybe you’re looking for a thinner, more modern profile. Once you’ve chosen the style and finish you’ll be able to narrow down where you’ll be able to make your purchase.
Hurd & Honey - Dark Finish Shelves
Designate a Purpose
Knowing what your shelves are going to “do” for your kitchen is important. Some choose shelves to be merely decorative, where items will not move often. Others purchase shelves to hold the everyday dishes; items will move on and off the shelves daily. Considering your cabinetry and flow of your kitchen will help you in this decision.
A Few Practical Considerations:
If you want your shelves to be functional and not decorative, can you easily reach the items?
Do you want your children to be able to reach items?
Are you okay with your shelves not looking perfectly styled when your dishes are being washed?
Decorative shelves require a bit more dusting, as items do not move often, do you mind some dust?
Functional Shelving - Hurd & Honey Light Finish
Choose a Location
Now that you’ve answered a few questions, it should be easier to choose a location. You may not even have many options for location, but if you did, now you should know for certain where you’d want to hang your shelves. For functional shelving, placement will likely be closer to the sink/stove areas. Decorative shelving might be above a bar areas, or in small nooks near a window.
Hurd & Honey - Light Finish Shelves
Measure
Now it’s time to take measurements. We build shelving as small as 12” in length or as long as 96”. The depth can be as narrow as 4” deep or up to 12” deep (which we recommend for dinner plates). The average length is between 36” and 54” for functional kitchen shelves. For decorative shelving, smaller lengths are often purchased.
Hurd & Honey - Light Finish
We hope you found this helpful, and if you have specific questions please don’t hesitate to ask! Leave a comment below, or send an email, we’d love to hear from you.