Kitchen Island Cabinets vs. Island Open Shelving

If you’re remodeling your kitchen to add an island, one of the things to consider is whether to opt for closed cabinets for the base or to use open shelves. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, and both types look better in specific kitchen designs. Since your island works to provide storage and a focal point, the choice sets the tone for how the space works for you. Let’s explore how a kitchen island with cabinets compares to an island with open shelving, and take a look at mixing and matching styles, so you can select the best design for your home.

Quick Comparison of Kitchen Island Cabinets vs. Island Open Shelving

Factor	Closed Cabinets	Open Shelving
Look	Seamless front doors with matching kitchen hardware for a clean style	Offers an airy, styled display
Storage	Maximum amount of storage, & hides clutter better than open shelving	Moderate storage potential with easy-to-reach, visible access
Daily Use	Everything is behind doors	Fast reach to all of the items
Cleaning	Easier cleaning by wiping doors, and hides dust better	Frequent dusting and better staging needed to stay attractive
Budget	Mid to higher price with doors/drawers	Often lower cost  to build if using simple shelves
Safety	Child-friendly, and the option to lock the cabinet doors	Exposed items are all within reach and visible
Resale	Broad appeal and higher perceived resale value	Trend-forward, and more personal

Island With Cabinets

A kitchen island with cabinets underneath is best for busy families, or those who want to minimize visual clutter and match hardware with the other cabinetry for a more cohesive look. 

Pros

• High capacity storage with adjustable shelves and deep drawers
• Hides small appliances, baskets or bins, and cookware out of sight
• Can match cabinet hardware with the rest of the kitchen
• Lockable, making them safer for homes with kids or pets
• Can install appliance drawers or pull-out trash bins for more convenience
• Broad resale appeal

Cons

• Can feel heavy if all the front faces are solid
• You may more easily lose track of items
• Higher cost with custom cabinetry

Designer tips

• Mix drawers on the top and cabinets underneath for holding pots and serving trays.
• Add waterfall countertops to the sides if you want to make an impression, yet still maintain closed cabinetry
• Add an overhang to your island’s countertop if you want to provide seating there for eat-in dining.
• Break up a solid run with a furniture-style end panel, or toe-kick underneath.

Island with Open Shelving

Using open shelves in the island is better suited for styled kitchens, entertainers, and those who want to carefully showcase their decor or dishware where it is always visible and accessible.

Pros

• Provides a light, open feel that showcases materials
• Allows for instant access to bowls, boards, or items inside baskets
• Often a more budget-friendly approach than going with full cabinetry

Cons

• Needs to be regularly dusted, cleaned, and curated
• Can feel like visual clutter if overfilled, or filled with mismatched items
• Less secure for fragile or sharp items and no locking mechanism to keep things out or reach

Designer tips

• Use sturdy shelves 1 to 1.5 inches thick to accommodate heavier pots or dishware.
• For a cleaner look, organize items in woven or metal baskets.
• Keep the lower shelf for larger cooking/utility pieces and the top for display.

How to Choose Between An Island With Cabinets Or Shelving

Pick closed cabinets if you:

• Want hidden storage and a tidier look
• Have kids or a high-traffic kitchen
• Prefer to minimize your styling and provide quick cleanup 

Pick open shelving if you:

• You love styling and have display-worthy cookware
• Cook often and want to be able to quickly reach what you need
• Want to keep costs down with a simple island build

Cabinet – Best Fit Styles

• Traditional & Classic – With paneled doors, furniture-style bases, and finishes over rich wood cabinets.
• Transitional – With shaker-style cabinets that blend traditional designs with modern simplicity.
• Modern Farmhouse – These often use closed cabinets with rustic wood or quartz tops.
• Contemporary – For a sleek, handleless cabinet to provide a streamlined look.
• Luxury & High-End – For custom cabinetry in upscale spaces with different trim, integrated appliances or specialty drawers and features.

Why it works: Cabinets bring symmetry and order, and they fit styles that promote formality or depend on a clean, uninterrupted look.

Island With Open Shelving – Best Fit Styles

• Modern & Minimalist – These often have exposed shelves that emphasize intentional curation.
• Industrial – With metal or reclaimed wood shelves to promote a raw, functional feel.
• Coastal & Cottage – These frequently use open wicker baskets or stacked dishes to create a casual look.
• Eclectic & Bohemian – Relies on colorful ceramics and layered textures that shine in an open display.
• Scandinavian – Features light wood shelves and curated objects that highlight simplicity and warmth.

Why it works: Open shelving works best in kitchens that celebrate a curated display and a casual living style. The open shelves keep the island feeling lighter and make the space feel more approachable.

Designer Tip

If your kitchen style is more structured or formal, go with cabinets. If you want to emphasize a casual or display-driven appearance, then open shelving fits better. For many homeowners, a balanced hybrid cabinet storage option may be advised. This type of island setup has a working side of closed cabinetry facing the cook and the main cabinet run, and open shelving on the guest-facing side to show off your own personality.

Mixing and Matching Cabinets with Shelves For a Kitchen Island

Many kitchen designers go with a hybrid approach and use both cabinets and open shelves. As mentioned above, a popular option uses cabinets on the work side facing the range, fridge, and dishwasher. On the guest-facing or seating side, they use an open shelf or two for displaying cookbooks and baskets. Here’s why it works. You get storage capacity where you prep and a lighter look where guests gather.

Mix-and-Match Cabinets And Shelving Ideas

• Hybrid approach that works well: Use closed cabinets on the cook/work side and open shelves on the seating or ends for styling.
• Common combos: Install a drawer-on-top with a cabinet underneath, place shelving on the ends, add appliance bays paired with adjustable niches, or go with glass-front accent doors for a compromise.
• Design details that improve function:
  • Shelves: 10 to 16″ deep, and 9 to 12″ high
  • Drawers: shallow 5 to 6″ for storing utensils, and deeper, measuring 10 to 14″ for pots or small appliances
  • Add rails to open shelves, under-counter LED lighting, and toe kicks underneath
  • Recess the toe-kicks and use decorated corner bases for more traditional styling.
• Balance choices:
  • More open at the ends or guest-facing for display lovers
  • Split it between 50/50 cabinets/shelving for versatile kitchens
  • Go mostly closed with accents for minimalists or those with smaller spaces

Key takeaway: Keep storage closed where you cook, and add open or glass elements where guests can see, while still tying it all together with a cohesive design.

Final note

Choose the solution that matches your kitchen style, personality, and daily habits. If you value streamlined surfaces and easy cleaning, go with closed. If you enjoy styling and showing off your favorite items and treating your island like a stage, add open shelves. And don’t forget to consider a mix of the two options, which can give you the best of both worlds and the versatility you desire.