In the 21st century, your kitchen should be both beautiful and functional. As a core part of your living space, there are many important kitchen tips and guides to consider – including how to get the perfect floating shelves kitchen.
However, there can be some challenges to creating the perfect floating shelves kitchen and you may find yourself asking questions like: How do I find quality kitchen floating shelves? Is a kitchen shelf the same as a bathroom shelf? What installation hardware do I need for kitchen shelves?
There’s a lot to consider if you want to get the best out of kitchen wall shelves, but you don’t have to worry! From buying choices to installation instructions, this comprehensive guide provides you with everything you need to create the perfect floating shelves kitchen.
Top 5 Floating Shelves Kitchen Options
1. SAUMONIERES Floating Solid Wood Shelves
Available in four different sizes, SAUMONIERES kitchen shelves add a modern touch to your cooking space. Available in six colors, you’re likely to find your preferred color so you won’t have to make aesthetic sacrifices.
This product also offers several features more commonly found in a custom wall shelf plus detailed instructions to ensure convenient installation. Also, this wall-mounted rustic wood shelf comes with a finish that makes it easy to maintain, which means you don’t have to worry about stains from cooking or your coffee maker spoiling the appeal of this furniture.
The compact design of the 48″ Kitchen Wall-Mounted Shelf means you’ll be able to make the most of your wall space. And, since the SAUMONIERES floating shelves come with up to three cabinets, you get the appeal and convenience of added storage space!
This rustic shelf is made from just one piece of 100% solid wood. This gives it a natural, stronger texture and better durability. It also means the kitchen floating wall shelf is better for the environment.
Pros
- Many choices in terms of color and size
- Edge markers and an installation guide for easy setup
- It’s made from a single piece of wood, so it’s more durable and longer-lasting
- The kitchen shelves have a high weight rating and can take up to 25 pounds of load
- The finish of the floating shelf makes it easy to clean and maintain.
Cons
- Poor-quality plastic wall anchors and screws, which means you may have to get metal brackets to ensure they stay in place.
If you’re looking for affordable wood choices made with quality cabinet material, it’s hard to beat SAUMONIERES floating shelves. The versatility of these floating shelves means that even purely decorative items won’t look out of place on them!
2. QEEIG Farmhouse Floating Shelves
If you have a lot of busy mealtimes at home, you likely need careful organization in your kitchen. The size and structure of the QEEIG Farmhouse kitchen floating shelves make them a great choice.
Not only can you choose between one to four brackets, but this product also comes in black, brown, grey, and white, which means you can get ample storage space without losing the visual appeal.
These kitchen wall shelves are made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which makes them more durable than products made from layered pieces of wood. The downside is that you can’t paint this type of shelf.
QUEEIG Farmhouse floating shelves kitchen products are relatively easy to put together, so you won’t need a skilled finish carpenter for the installation process.
The company provides limited-time deal offers, so you can get even more value for money when you go for this shelf hardware.
Pros
- Beautiful choices in terms of size and color
- The basic shelf is easy to install
- It’s made from MDF, a highly durable material
- It has a sturdy and practical design
- You can claim a limited-time deal with this product
- The QEEIG brand offers amazing customer service
Cons
- The floating shelf could have a stronger finish
Based on our research, the strongest selling points of these floating shelves are their affordable price point and durable cabinet material. Additionally, these shelves don’t take up too much wall space.
3. AMADA HOMEFURNISHING Solid Wood Floating Shelves
If you want to add rustic charm to your cooking area without making a custom floating shelf, consider AMADA HOMEFURNISHING Solid Wood Floating Shelves.
While this product only comes in three stain options, there’s plenty to love about these floating shelves. For starters, the spacing of the upper cabinets is near perfect, which means it’ll be far easier to store even the tallest item.
When installing floating kitchen shelves, you may think you need to do a lot of drilling. However, much of that hard work has been taken care of because this product comes with pre-drilled hole templates and other installation hardware so you can cut the fit time in half and quickly have your shelves ready for use.
Additionally, the bracket choice of this floating shelf uses an invisible mounting system. This means that the solid wood shelf almost looks like a built-in China cabinet.
Pros
- The wall-mounted rustic wood shelf is relatively affordable
- The installation hardware is solid and easy to use
- The single shelves are beautiful, durable, and made from non-endangered wood species
- The floating kitchen shelves are well-priced for the value they offer
- Easy to maintain
Cons
- The color selection is fairly limited
This floating shelf has ample display space and offers easy access to items. It’s also flexible to use and has enough good features to be a solid choice for your floating kitchen shelves.
4. Fixwal Floating Shelves
If you want your kitchen tabletop to be clutter-free, consider having four corner shelves with all your cooking necessities easily within reach.
Fixwal floating shelves aren’t made with white oak, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing in this case. Oak is fast becoming an endangered species, and not using it means you won’t have to debate the pros and cons of open- vs. closed-grain wood. Wood grain aside, with this product you won’t have to deal with bulky cabinets and their trademark sharp edges.
Instead, with Fixwal kitchen floating shelves, what you get is a picture-perfect aesthetic combined with heavy-duty functionality. As a bonus, you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg to make your busy mealtimes more convenient.
Like the other floating kitchen shelves on this list, these do not come with backsplash tile. But it more than makes up for it with a long-lasting finish that’s easy to clean.
Pros
- Comprehensive installation hardware pack at no additional price
- Made from durable materials
- Simple and detailed guide for shelf placement and installation
- The customer service team is fast, responsive, and helpful
Cons
- The drywall anchors shatter under excess pressure
These floating kitchen shelves are a fantastic option for people who want something similar to wooden built-in shelves. The upper shelves won’t hold your coffee maker, but they should comfortably store everything else.
5. BAYKA Floating Shelves
If you don’t have too much to put away in your kitchen, this might be a shelving option worth considering. Made from sustainable solid wood, BAYKA floating shelves consist of two long kitchen shelves. Thanks to the heavy-duty weight capacity, you’ll be able to easily store everything you need.
Our favorite thing about these shelves is how easy it is to set up the invisible bracket rods, thanks to the helpful installation video. You can have this done in less than 10 minutes! The visual aid comes in handy if you’re not familiar with DIY projects.
It bears mentioning that these floating shelves only come in three colors. However, we tried all three kitchen wall shelves in different backgrounds, and they all looked great! So, the limited color options may not be a hindrance.
In addition to complementing aesthetics, these corner shelves add an extra level of organization to your space, which is something every homeowner can appreciate!
Pros
- Comes with a helpful installation guide
- Made from environmentally friendly materials
- Decent weight capacity that supports heavy items
- Blends perfectly with different decors and color combinations
- The corner shelves offer good value for money
Cons
- There may be quality control issues as some of the anchors don’t fit the screws.
Perhaps the best thing about these floating shelves is how different they can make your kitchen look once they’re up. It’s nice that you don’t need to put too much work into installing it, either.
The Complete Guide to Getting the Perfect Floating Shelves Kitchen
Finding the perfect floating shelves for your coffee maker, rags, or condiments can be a tough job. However, it’s still important business. Installing open shelving for your kitchen not only makes it look better but it can also make cooking less stressful.
Here’s everything you need to know about kitchen floating shelves!
How to Pick the Right Floating Shelves
With so many brands and products out there, there’s seemingly no end to the floating shelves options. Learn how to pick the perfect shelf for you with the following top things to consider:
Kitchen Layout and Available Wall Space
The layout and design of your kitchen wall space are arguably the biggest determinants when picking the right floating shelves. While you might want to add floating shelves to increase the appeal of your kitchen, you also have to consider the functionality.
Make sure you have the real estate to accommodate floating shelves in your kitchen. This means considering how things like cabinet height, countertops, and appliances will work with the addition of floating shelves to your kitchen space.
Floating Shelf Material
Floating shelves for a kitchen can be made with everything from plywood to metal and even plastic and each of these materials come with pros and cons.
Be mindful when deciding on the type of material you want for your floating shelves. Select materials that have decent moisture and heat resistance, like MDF and plywood. Kitchen shelves made with these materials are generally more durable and long-lasting.
Load Bearing Capacity
Check the weight that the floating shelves can support. Of course, how crucial this factor is ultimately depends on what you want to place on the shelves, but it’s always better to play it safe in this department.
The material the shelves are made of greatly affects their load-bearing capacity. Typically, the stronger and more durable the material is, the more weight it can support. Check the maximum weight capacity of the shelves given by the manufacturer to be sure you’re getting what you need.
Your kitchen wall is also crucial in determining how much weight you can place on the shelves. Concrete walls will support more weight than plaster walls.
Ease of Installation
One of the perks of installing ready-made kitchen shelves instead of custom wall shelves is that the former is supposed to be easier to install. Ideally, you want to leverage this advantage as much as possible. This means ensuring you pick a product with a straightforward installation process.
You should also consider your DIY skill-level as well. Try to stick to products that won’t unduly task you to set up.
Floating Shelf Style and Design
You may also want to look at the aesthetic appeal of the floating shelf. The decorative feature of this kitchen accessory is just as important as its functional elements. This is because you don’t want something that supports you but looks out of place in your otherwise perfect kitchen.
So, do you have a modern or rustic kitchen? What color tones are you more partial to? Answering these questions is sure to point you in the right direction.
Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance
Finally, account for how easy it’ll be to keep your new kitchen shelves in their original condition. A big part of this is determined by the material the floating shelves are made of.
It’s best to go for something that doesn’t require much effort to care for. For example, for some shelves, all you need to do is wipe down with a damp, clean cloth. This hardly takes any time, so you can conveniently do it often.
Top Reasons to Get Kitchen Floating Shelves
Now that you know some of the best floating shelves kitchen options available, you know what to look for when picking the right ones for your space. But are floating shelves worth getting? What makes them one of the most essential tools for every kitchen?
Well, having floating shelves makes all the difference because of the following reasons:
Adds More Space and Storage to Your Kitchen
If space is at a premium in your kitchen, then floating shelves aren’t just a luxury for you – they’re a necessity! The unique design of floating shelves ensures that you can conveniently move items off of your countertop and onto the wall.
Essentially, with floating shelves, you can make every bit of your kitchen space count.
Makes Cooking More Convenient
No longer do you have to open and close cabinet doors to access your everyday spices and plates. With a floating kitchen shelf, you have all these items within easy reach!
What’s more, you can use floating shelves to organize and complement the beauty of your kitchen, all without sacrificing utility.
Enhances Aesthetics
We’ve all been there – the kitchen seems flawless, technically, but it lacks beauty and appeal. Adding the right floating shelves can elevate the look and feel of your kitchen space.
In addition to using the floating shelves to store your plates, you can also use them to hold cookbooks and other decorative items. Since floating shelves provide an open and modern touch to your kitchen, they can improve the atmosphere of the room.
Budget-Friendly Way of Getting More Out of Your Kitchen
If you want to make an old kitchen feel new without breaking the bank, adding floating shelves is a must. Compared to building a custom wall shelf or built-in cabinet, floating shelves are relatively affordable. Plus, you don’t need to cover the extra cost of getting professional help as you can install these units yourself.
What You Need to Install a Floating Shelf in Your Kitchen
In most cases, much of the installation hardware you need will come with the floating shelves. These can include:
- Bracket rods
- Metal brackets
- Plastic anchors
- Drywall anchors
- Short screws
- Long screws
- Wood glue
However, there are a few other tools you may need to complete the installation process, including:
- Mallet
- Drill
- Stud finder
- Measuring tape
Using each of these items not only makes installing this furniture easier but also ensures you do it the right way.
Top Mistakes to Avoid With Your Floating Kitchen Shelves
A floating shelves kitchen is nice to have, but only if you get all the pieces of the puzzle right. So, in addition to knowing what to do, you should be mindful of things you shouldn’t do as well.
Here are a few common mistakes you want to avoid:
- Forget to measure your wall properly.
- Use the wrong hardware to install the floating shelf. This can result in the shelf tipping over.
- Overloading the kitchen shelf. Failing to adhere to the weight limit set by the manufacturer can cause the shelf to sag or collapse.
- Not placing the wall shelf properly. This can ruin the aesthetics of your kitchen.
- Rushing the installation of the shelf. Not carefully completing each step of the shelf installation can compromise the integrity of the structure.
FAQs
Are floating kitchen shelves the same as bathroom shelves?
No, floating kitchen shelves are not the same as bathroom shelves. However, today, many brands manufacture floating shelves that can be used both in the kitchen and bathroom.
What’s the best material for kitchen floating shelves?
Metal, plywood, wood, and MDF are among the best materials for floating kitchen shelves.
Bracket versus drilling holes – Which approach should I use for floating shelves?
Aesthetically speaking, drilling holes is better as it gives the floating shelf a beautiful, seamless look. However, this shelf is typically not as sturdy as a kitchen shelf installed with brackets.
How much weight can a floating shelf hold?
Floating shelves can hold between 11 to 100 pounds of weight. Check the product description of the shelf you want to buy to find its maximum weight capacity.
Bottom Line
Even if you have a large space, a floating shelves kitchen is still a great thing to have. It’s simple, practical, and mostly inexpensive to set up. It also adds a level of organization to your kitchen space.
A simple design and wealth of design options make the SAUMONIERES Floating Solid Wood Shelves our top pick for 2024. However, if you don’t need something so high-end, the BAYKA Floating Shelves might be more to your liking.
But a floating shelf may not be all your kitchen needs right now. Explore this comprehensive guide to cookware choices to learn more.