Florence Pugh's kitchen showcases a beautiful way to decorate above lower kitchen cabinets, say experts

Florence Pugh is no stranger to impeccable style, so when the English actress posted a picture of her kitchen online, we noticed a lack of upper cabinetry. Instead, a simple visual design trick for decorating above kitchen cabinets caught our eye.

While cabinets are fundamental for storage, the size of a kitchen will often dictate whether they are truly worth it, especially if you want a small kitchen to look bigger. If you decide to do without, there are so many beautiful ways to decorate above lower cabinets that will inject modernity, textural interest, and decorative style into your kitchen, similar to Florence Pugh's modern kitchen shelving idea.

Kitchen shelving is a great option if you are the proud owner of an impressive crockery collection, or are a keen cook who appreciates having ingredients close at hand. 

Here's why some of the best kitchen designers and experts love Florence Pugh's curated display that proves you can do more with your kitchen walls than just adding kitchen cabinets.

Not everything needs to be hidden away when it comes to storage – in fact, decorative solutions can make a huge difference to your look and feel. A cluster of simple floating shelves work particularly well in a kitchen, where there may be a fair amount of closed cabinetry taking up space along the walls. They add an element of interest that draws the eye, all while helping to keep countertops clear. 

It’s best to mount open shelving just above eye level and within easy reach if you intend for the shelves to hold day-to-day items, such as plates and mugs. For a stylized look, stack collections of your favorite crockery, line up fresh herbs and incorporate small pieces of art along a run of open shelving.

Decorating above lower kitchen cabinets is a wonderful way to fill the space with an attractive feature, rather than installing yet more upper cabinetry or leaving your kitchen wall bare. 

Be they decorated with ceramics, vintage glassware, plants, or recipe books, shelves can be used to add individual style to a kitchen, as Mike Fetherston, design director of Hetherington Newman, explains. ‘As kitchens are increasingly central to the home and where families come together for meals and to socialize, areas for display are important to personalize the space and add interest, giving a more relaxed and welcoming feel.’ Choose floating shelves (without visible supports) for a modern kitchen, or install vintage brackets, similar to Florence Pugh's, for a truly unique look.

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