Every so often, we witness a unique blend of both style and functionality with the latest interior design trends. Kitchen floating shelves combine the best of both worlds beautifully.

We’ll discuss how in this post.

What Are Kitchen Floating Shelves?

Floating shelves jut out from the wall with no visible support structures. This gives them the appearance of floating, hence the name.

Obviously, they don’t really float magically in your kitchen. Instead, they are supported by rods that are inserted into the back of the shelf after being appended to the wall.  Some are also fitted into an alcove that is supported by wooden cleats.

This unique approach to shelf installation offers a minimalist style that reduces the overall impact to your kitchen.

Functional Uses for Floating Kitchen Shelves

Floating shelves are far more stable than they appear. They carry their weight just as well as any other shelving and offer great storage spaces for kitchens. In fact, there are actually heavy duty kitchen floating shelves specifically designed for heavier loads. So, if you need extra space for your microwave, toaster, and coffee maker, this might be the perfect fit.

Installing Floating Shelves on Your Kitchen Wall

There are different types of floating shelves, and each type has its own installation method. Most have brackets that should be screwed into one of your kitchen walls’ studs. This will require the use of a stud finder. It’s also particularly important to use a detector that will find wires and pipes in your kitchen walls.

From there, it’s as simple as following the instructions included with your floating shelves. It’s typically a very straightforward process. You’ll often just attach the shelves to rods appended to the bracket. Don’t forget to finish mounting your shelves with grommet screws.

That’s it! Floating shelves are as easy as they are functional and stylish. Again, remember to check the documentation for full installation details.

How High Should Floating Shelves be in the Kitchen?

We recommend hanging floating shelves at least 18 inches (1.5 feet) above your kitchen counter. We recommend 54 inches if you plan to install them in an area with no counter space. This will place your shelves within reach for people of various heights while still giving you room to prepare meals and clean after.

Of course, you can hang your floating shelves a little higher if it better matches your kitchen’s décor. Just be mindful of who will need to access any items placed on the shelf and whether they can reach them comfortably.

Remember to consider both height and distance when installing floating shelves near an oven. Repeated heat exposure, especially if it’s distributed unevenly, can cause your shelves to warp and wear down faster.

Styles

Kitchen floating shelf styles are multi-faceted. The shelves themselves come in a variety of styles. Most reflect various wood grains, although some are made out of metal for a more industrial aesthetic. Both types come in a variety of colors.

However, it’s important for your shelves to match the overall style of your kitchen – and their placement will play a huge role in this.

Floating Shelves Next to a Kitchen Window

There’s something about the sense of nature invoked by wooden floating shelves that blends perfectly with a view of the outdoors. You can instantly refresh your kitchen’s style simply by installing your floating shelves next to a kitchen window. Just remember that items placed there may have excessive exposure the sun. This might cause some décor items to fade more quickly. That exposure and the increased heat that comes with it could even some prescription medications useless.

The Perfect Addition for Your Dream Home

We’ve discussed how easy, functional, affordable, and stylish floating shelves can be for your kitchen. That’s why they’re an essential piece of our dream home checklist! Floating shelves will instantly improve the style and functionality of your kitchen – and you won’t have to break the bank to buy and install them. If you’re ready to turn your house into a dream home, this is a great place to start. We’ve offered some inspiration below:

Images of Floating Shelves in Kitchens

Need some ideas? You’re in luck! We’ve included pictures below showing different styles of kitchen floating shelves in a variety of applications.