The open shelving vs. upper cabinets debate has been running in kitchen design circles for the better part of a decade. In Cleveland and across Northeast Ohio, homeowners are increasingly landing on a nuanced answer: it depends on your lifestyle, your kitchen's layout, and how much you enjoy cleaning.
Open shelving became popular for good reasons. It makes a kitchen feel larger and more airy, particularly in smaller Northeast Ohio homes where upper cabinets can feel oppressive. It puts your most-used items within easy reach without opening a door. And when styled well — with consistent dishware, a few plants, and intentional organization — it looks genuinely beautiful.
The honest reality is that open shelving requires a level of organization and maintenance that most households don't sustain. Dust accumulates on dishes and glasses that aren't used daily. Grease from cooking settles on everything within range of the stove. In Northeast Ohio's climate — with its humidity swings between summer and winter — open shelving can also expose dishware to more moisture variation than closed cabinets would.
At Bear Cabinetry, we've seen a clear trend: the hybrid approach. Most homeowners are choosing to keep upper cabinets for the majority of their storage, while incorporating one or two sections of open shelving — typically flanking a window, above a coffee station, or in a corner where display items make sense.
Glass-front upper cabinets give you the visual openness and display quality of open shelving while keeping dust, grease, and humidity away from your dishes. Bear Cabinetry carries cabinet lines that include glass-front door options in multiple styles — from clear glass to seeded glass to frosted.
Want to see how open shelving or glass-front cabinets would look in your kitchen? Schedule a free 3D design consultation or visit our Euclid showroom to see examples in person. See our full kitchen cabinet services, or check out our Beachwood service page.
Free custom design consultation. No pressure. No obligation. Bear Cabinetry has been serving Northeast Ohio since 1977.
Free custom design consultation. No pressure. No obligation. Bear Cabinetry has been serving Northeast Ohio since 1977.