Tom Brady uses open shelves to upgrade a corner of his kitchen into a mini 'exhibit' – it's a personal way of introducing color to a neutral space

If recent years have taught us anything, it's that functional spaces like kitchens are just as worthy of design attention as the rest of homes. Gone are the days of sterile kitchens devoid of seating or decorative details. These spaces should say as much about who we are as our living room or bedroom, and Tom Brady's kitchen does exactly that (albeit subtly).

The quarterback is no stranger to giving followers a peek inside his home over on Instagram. While fixing up a protein shake in a recent video, he offered us a glimpse into his calming neutral kitchen. Raw wooden cabinetry and stone countertops create a pared-back palette, evidence the football player is inclined towards a more minimalist design. And yet, a set of intentionally curated open shelves offer a tiny splash of color in the otherwise neutral space, teasing just enough about Tom to keep us guessing.

One of the biggest kitchen trends in recent years, open kitchen shelving ideas are a great way to bring character and visual interest to this practical part of the home. If you want to bring warmth and color to your kitchen, it's a trick designers strongly encourage you to adopt. Here's why.

Rather than hiding everything behind closed cabinet doors, open shelving gives our decor a chance to shine, helping to add character to a kitchen that has none.

Tom's nook – nestled next to his vertical cabinets – strikes the perfect balance in his minimalist kitchen. The curated display is a far cry from rustic cottage-core style shelves. Instead, the pared-back styling relies on simple white stoneware with just a couple of cookery books stacked on the lower shelves. As an onlooker, they entice us in. Is Tom a fan of Anthony Bourdain, or more partial to a Barefoot Contessa recipe?

As designer Elana Mendelson points out, Tom's shelving blends functionality with a personal touch. 'It brings warmth, personality, and a welcome pop of color to his otherwise neutral kitchen,' she says. 'This approach not only makes the space feel more inviting but also reinforces the idea that kitchens aren’t just for cooking; they’re for living.'

As far as kitchen storage ideas go, open shelving is evidence that the smallest bit of thoughtful decor can go a long way. 'Tom Brady’s kitchen turns what could be a practical storage solution into an exhibition of personality and color,' explains interior designer, Nina Lichtenstein. 'By leaving some things on display, Brady has transformed his kitchen into more than a functional area; it’s a space that feels lived in, personal, and full of character, much like the books that line the shelves, waiting to tell their own stories.'

If your kitchen has always felt a little cold and impersonal, consider dedicating a small corner to some open shelves like Tom's. All it takes is a few decorative items and accessories to inject heaps of personality into a kitchen.