Ina Garten Swears by This Simple Formula for a Stunning Kitchen Shelf Display

Ina Garten shared some of her favorite kitchen shelf styling tips on Instagram, and they will change the way you style your open storage.

Garten knows how to keep a kitchen looking good while still prioritizing practicality—something you’ll appreciate the next time you’re reaching for your favorite dishes or cookbooks.

Display Items You’ll Actually Use

The items you display in your kitchen should be things that you enjoy looking at and will use. “I love working in a kitchen with beautiful things, but I hate anything that’s purely decorative,” Garten said in her Instagram post.

That doesn’t mean you can only display the nonstick pan and basic plates you use every single day. You’ll notice that Garten’s shelf setup features items such as a silver serving tray and several cake stands. These are items that Garten probably pulls out somewhat frequently, but they are generally used primarily for special occasions (such as hosting).

Include Both Old and New

Garten says that mixing old and new kitchen items is key for a shelving display. Some kitchen displays will opt for one or the other—such as a buffet cabinet used only for displaying vintage china, or a shelving unit featuring contemporary dishes and recipe books.

Mixing the two, however, will help you fill your shelf space with items you’ll use—and it can also give your kitchen shelving a more homey, lived-in feel. 

Choose a Small Color Palette

Garten prefers to stick to just a couple of basic colors to keep the focus on the dishes and the overall display. Everyone loves a curio cabinet or maximalist display case, but when working in the kitchen, it's unnecessary. Garten’s advice can simply help keep your kitchen shelving from becoming confusing or looking too crowded. Start with a few colors and add some neutrals where possible.

Vary the Shapes and Heights of Your Display

Selecting items with various shapes and heights will make your display appear more natural and add visual interest. Lining up your dishes by size or shape can make your display cabinet feel a little sterile; varying items offer a more organic look.

In some places, Garten opts to display dishes of similar heights near each other. For example, on the bottom of her buffet cabinet, she uses stacked dishes that are close in height. However, you’ll also see tall bowls next to short ones, stacks of books that add height variance, and items placed on top of one another to add visual intrigue.

Make Use of Your Favorite Serving Tray

Garden displays a gorgeous silver platter in the very back of one of her cabinet shelves, leaning up against the wall. Doing so adds height to the display, and it’s a great way to ensure the design on your serving tray is visible from a distance.

Don’t Forget Cookbooks

If you have a few favorite cookbooks that inspire you, add them to your shelving display, too. Garten places hers in a small stack to act as a divider for one of her kitchen shelves, but you could also scatter them throughout your shelving display. That way, your most beloved cookbooks are easily accessible and they're given a place of honor in your kitchen.