For many, the kitchen is the center of the home. It's the area where the family gathers for small talk after a long day away from each other. It's the space to bond over grandma's famous chocolate chip cookie recipe. And of course, it's the place where you sneak to grab that late midnight snack you don't want anyone else to know about.

A living space that means so much to everyone in your household for many different reasons should look great; it's the style that exudes comfort and happiness. If you're currently thinking about redesigning your kitchen but want to make open shelving the main focal point of this area of your home, there are a few things to keep in mind throughout the design and decor process.

Here are some of our suggestions for styling a kitchen with open shelving:

1. Come up with a solid theme
Before you gather a bunch of random kitchen accessories and decorative items and throw them on the shelves, think about how you can make this feature more appealing and cohesive. A theme can be a simple way to do this.

First, look around your kitchen and evaluate the current setup and style. Do you want to completely change it up based on your new desire for open shelf styling? Or, do you want to match your shelves to the theme that already exists in the kitchen? A quick assessment of your wants and needs versus the current style and floor plan can help you decide how you'll move forward when you start decorating.

Make sure the items on the shelves match your kitchen theme.

2. Make sure the accessories and items placed on the shelves are uniform
Once you have a theme and you're ready to hit the ground running, assess the belongings you already own before you purchase other items. Because you're following a theme, these accessories should be more uniform to ensure the cohesiveness of the style. One of the biggest mistakes that often come with open shelving is accidental clutter. The last thing you want is for your open shelving to stick out like a sore thumb in your kitchen thanks to disorganization.

3. Design practical and playful shelves
Open shelving in the kitchen offers versatility. It's an option used to complement existing cabinetry and it's also an opportunity for a non-traditional take that can replace the cabinets altogether. No matter the open shelving scheme you currently have or want to implement, there are two main factors to keep in mind: practicality and playfulness.

• Practical shelving: If your open shelving plan is to display your plates, bowls and other kitchenware, be sure to stack items strategically; they should be well organized but don't be afraid to have fun with placement.
• Playful shelving: If your open shelving exists for decor only, plants, artwork and ceramic accessories are excellent options for decorations in the kitchen.

And don't forget: You don't have to choose one option over the other. Mix and match practical and playful shelving schemes as long as they flow with the rest of your kitchen style.

Use open shelving for practical and playful reasons.

4. Call a personal decorator from Decorating Den Interiors for assistance
Shelves can be intimidating to design. From bookshelves in the home office to corner shelves in the bedroom, it can be difficult to meet a practical versus functional ratio. The same can be said about open shelving in the kitchen, and we want to help you get it right the first time. At Decorating Den Interiors, we are constantly helping clients revamp their favorites spaces in their homes, and the kitchen is a popular place for transformation. That's why we encourage you to reach out for a free consultation.

One of our design experts will come to your home to assess your kitchen and provide decor tips based on your personal style and preferences. If you need help coming up with a theme or you simply want some assistance styling the shelves, we've got you covered.

You should always feel great in your living space, and making the right adjustments can help you achieve the ultimate comfort. Call us today to schedule your free consultation so you can enjoy your open shelving to the fullest extent.