Creative Ways to Decorate Wooden Kitchen Shelves

Wooden kitchen wall shelves can serve a number of purposes. They can be used to hold everything from dishware to knickknacks, and unless they are more than just ordinary stained and varnished wooden planks, they are nothing more than platforms for the items they hold. You can decorate plain shelving in creative and stylish new ways, especially if they are used for open kitchen storage.

I had open wooden wall shelves in a former kitchen, and although they were sturdy, they were very plain. The kitchen shelving had wooden supports, and it was painted in the same creamy beige hue as the walls. I wanted to find creative new ways to decorate the edges, but I found additional ways to make them stand out.

Decorate and Connect Wooden Wall Shelves with Paint

I did not have upper cabinets in my kitchen. I had three rows of shelves, but they looked cheap and uninspiring. The also looked like something that should embellish a bedroom wall instead of a kitchen. I came up with a creative way to visually connect the wooden wall shelves.

The shelving blended in with the walls, and I wanted to add dimension and color to the kitchen. I removed the shelves from the wall and painted them robin's egg blue. Once the paint dried I reinstalled the shelving, but I was far from finished. With a pencil and a level in hand, I vertically applied blue painter's tape along the ends of the shelves from the top to the bottom. I painted the creamy beige walls in between the shelves the same color as the shelving. The separate shelves became visually connected, and the kitchen looked fantastic.

Trim the Edges in Creative Ways

I had another creative idea in mind to complete my kitchen update. I purchased eye catching strips of wood banding from a Woodcraft store. It was made from exotic wood, and the pattern was beautiful. The strips were thin enough to snip with utility scissors, and special tools were not required. I used Gorilla brand glue to attach the wood banding. This easy way to decorate the wooden shelves was unique, and it gave the entire kitchen a rich and exquisite appearance.

Decorate Lower Cabinets to Coordinate with the Shelving

I used the same wood banding to decorate the kitchen cabinet doors. The beautiful bands visually connected the cabinets to the shelving. The finished project was unique and very stylish. It looked as if the shelves and lower cabinets were a set, and I was thrilled with the results.

I saved thousands of dollars by forgoing upper cabinetry. The shelving looked great, and they were more than sufficient. I added unique visual appeal to the heart of my home using unique and creative ways to decorate my wooden shelves and lower kitchen cabinets.

Source: Personal and Professional Home Decorating and Design Experience