How to style glass fronted kitchen cabinets – 8 ways to elevate your kitchen storage

Glass fronted kitchen cabinets can really enhance a kitchen space, bringing with them many practical and aesthetic benefits. Whether fitted on the wall, incorporated into a freestanding unit or dresser, or even built into a kitchen island, glazed cabinets are a brilliant way to combine storage and display while keeping items clean and dust-free.

Unlike kitchen cabinets with solid doors, where all manner of items can be crammed in and piled up without a second thought, glazed cabinets require a little more consideration and will need to be curated and organized to keep the space looking elegant and tidy.

If you’re planning on incorporating glazed kitchen cabinets then you’re in the right place as we’ve gathered an array of design and styling ideas to get you inspired.

What are the benefits of glazed kitchen cabinets?

The beauty of glass fronted kitchen cabinets is that they allow you to store and display kitchen items and tableware without them getting dirty. While open kitchen shelving continues to be a popular kitchen trend, the drawback is that any items you store there will be exposed to grease and dust from the working kitchen and will require regular cleaning.

'Sometimes gadgets and treasures can get a little dusty or greasy if displayed in open areas of the kitchen, this is not such an issue if you use your things every day but if not it is a problem. So glazed cupboards are a good solution, old museum cabinets and vintage glazed pieces, although hard to find, are a great way to display and store in style,' Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL.

Glazed cabinets can also have an impact on the look and feel of a kitchen as a whole, as they can help make kitchens feel lighter and more open whilst also contributing to the visual interest of a room. While solid doors are good for concealing clutter, they can feel quite robust and stark – alternatively, filling glazed cabinets with beautiful objects instantly adds depth and personality.

‘We love to incorporate glazing as the lightness of glass juxtapositions beautifully against the solid cabinetry as well as giving spatial depth and the chance to play with light reflections,' says Anthony Earle, lead concept designer at Artichoke. 'Glass doors add to a room’s storytelling by displaying collections like china or glassware whilst the more practical food ingredients, bulky appliances, and smaller equipment can be discreetly housed behind solid doors.'

More than just storage, glazed cabinets offer a great opportunity to make a statement, too, especially when you introduce fun interior kitchen cabinet colors or decorative materials. 'Embracing glazed cabinets is a perfect way to elevate your kitchen design and move away from the oak wood trend,' adds interior designer Jack Ovadia, founder of Ovadia Design Group.

'Today’s glazed cabinets come in bold colors and intricate detailing, creating a striking visual impact. They can be incorporated into wall units for eye-catching displays, as part of a kitchen island for functional yet stylish storage, or even as standalone pieces in a dresser format.'

How to style glazed kitchen cabinets

How you style cabinets really depends on what you plan to store in them. Generally speaking, glazed cabinets are best for items you want on display such as attractive dinnerware, cups, and glassware.

They are also great spaces to display decorative collectibles such as occasional china, vases, and kitchenalia. Arranging these items in wall-mounted glazed cabinets rather than being hidden away allows you and your visitors to really enjoy them. Practical items like small electric appliances, pans, cooking equipment, groceries and store cupboard goods are often best housed out of sight to prevent cabinets looking cluttered.

1. Keep glazed cabinets neat and organized with customized storage

How you style a cabinet really depends where it is and what you need to use it for. For example, if your wall storage cabinets are positioned near a coffee-making station it makes sense to use them to showcase a collection of lovely mugs or lovely tea and coffee canisters, and to have them close at hand.

Alternatively, if a glazed cabinet is positioned near the cooker you might want to use it to store dishes ready for plating up food. Similarly, glazed cabinets in dining areas make great places to showcase your finest glassware, family china, or beautiful serving dishes. This might sound obvious, but sometimes it can be easy to forget the everyday practicalities when designing a kitchen.

Working with a kitchen designer on bespoke glazed cabinets is a great way to ensure they’re fit for purpose. The interior of each cabinet can be customized to suit your needs with fittings like plate racks, wine glass fittings or adjustable shelves to fit what you need to store.

'In this kitchen, the owners wanted a Parisian feel, with wired glass providing a raw, urban edge. Each cupboard had a particular role, from the individual plate separators to the bespoke glass display unit for their wine and champagne glasses, before a final cupboard displayed perfectly imperfect mugs,' says Richard Davonport, managing director at Davonport.

'The secret to making this a success is the carefully thought-out role of each cupboard, with the kitchen company able to devise bespoke elements to ensure each could be styled appropriately. If you are inheriting display cabinets in a kitchen without a full kitchen renovation project, it might be worth asking a joiner to look at the internal make up with you so that you can get the best use out of them, and for the world to see what you’d like them to see.'

2. Go for practical fluted glass

Glazed cabinets with fluted or reeded glass have become increasingly popular in recent years and are loved for being relaxed and easy to live with. The textured surface of reeded glass softly blurs the contents of a cabinet, meaning homeowners can benefit from the lightweight look of glazed cabinets yet don’t need to worry too much about what’s inside or how the contents are arranged.

‘Not everyone is brilliant at keeping their cupboards tidy (we include ourselves here!) so having reeded glass is very forgiving whilst giving you added texture and interest to your kitchen,’ says Charlie Tilbury, co-founder of Penrose Tilbury.

‘Reeded glass softens the shapes within and imbues the display with a sense of mystery and charm. Reeded glass transforms the contents into a play of light and shadow, emphasizing silhouettes rather than intricate details,’ explains Paul Staden, founder and designer at Pilgrim House. ‘This allows for a more forgiving curation style. Items don’t need to be as meticulously aligned as they would in a clear-glass cabinet, making reeded glass perfect for creating a relaxed, understated look. Opt for materials with textures and subtle tones, such as aged ceramics, wooden objects, or woven textiles, as these resonate beautifully when diffused through the glass.’

3. Don’t overfill glazed cabinets – less is more

When styling glazed cabinets often less is more, say the experts. Unlike closed cabinets which can conceal packed and cluttered shelves, glazed cabinets are far less forgiving. Limiting the contents of a cabinet to a limited number of carefully arranged items will help achieve a calmer atmosphere.

Additionally, if you have a bespoke cabinet with a beautiful interior finish then you may want to keep the contents to a minimum in order to showcase these decorative details. Perhaps you have painted the inside of the cabinet a vibrant color, or maybe it has a beautiful natural wood finish?

‘At Pilgrim House, we tend to favor the principle of "less is more". I think this gives a more serene balance. A more monastic sense of calm if you like,’ explains Paul Staden, founder and designer at Pilgrim House. ‘I think a minimalist approach is key to achieving a calming aesthetic.

'Avoid overcrowding the cabinet. Instead, allow space to highlight the beauty of individual objects or small groups of items. Consider the interplay between negative space and the items on display. For example, a single ceramic vase or a small stack of linen-bound books can command attention when given room to breathe. Focus on a cohesive palette of colors and materials to enhance harmony - think natural tones, earthy textures, and organic forms.’

4. Group items by type or color

If you want a pared-back kitchen with a calm and harmonious feel then consider grouping items by type or color so the cabinets remain easy on the eye. Glassware is perfect for storing in cabinets as it prevents it from getting dusty and greasy, but visually it also helps maintain a light and elegant feel.

Alternatively, if you're after a more rustic feel consider filling your glass fronted cabinetry with a collection of artisan ceramic dinnerware.

5. Style a glazed cabinet with vintage items and collectables

If you love decorating with vintage then glazed cabinets are a wonderful place to showcase curated displays of characterful collectibles such as heirloom china or treasured ceramic vases picked up from flea markets.

Unlike modern items vintage pieces are often one of a kind and will bring unique character to your space. There’s no need to spend lots of money, there are plenty of attractive items which can be picked up cheaply from flea markets or yard sales. Look for interesting shapes, textures and patinas.

When arranging items work in groups of three or five and stagger the heights. Start with the large items and then layer in smaller ones - creating arrangements in rough triangular shapes often looks pleasing to the eye. For more inspiration check out our article on how to make 'clutter' and collections look beautiful.

Rather than having an off-the-shelf or new glazed cabinet, interior designer Kristin Mullen installed a large vintage wooden cabinet to bring extra character to this traditional kitchen.

6. Showcase beautiful wallpapers or color ideas

One of the wonderful things about glazed cabinets is they offer scope for lots of decorative ideas. For example, you could paint the inside of a cabinet in a bold color to set off your kitchen items, or the inside could showcase a different material to the wall.

Keeping the interior of wooden kitchen cabinets with a natural wood finish is a lovely way to add organic warmth. Alternatively, why not set a backless glazed cabinet flush with the wall to showcase an ornate kitchen wallpaper as done here?

7. Add kitchen cabinet lighting

Integrating accent lighting into glazed kitchen cabinets is a great way to elevate glazed kitchen cabinets. Not only will the addition of warm LED lighting help show off the contents of a cabinet, it will also enhance the mood, adding a warm and uplifting glow after dark.

'Glazed kitchen cabinets can be a great way of showcasing some of your personal possessions. However, to really shine a spotlight on them (excuse the pun!), then be sure to have some form of lighting inside your cabinet. It could be that you choose a spotlight which is embedded into the top of your cabinet, or if you have several shelves, choose LED strip lighting under each shelf,' says Richard Davonport.

'Even with a semi-opaque glass such as fluted, having internal lights inside your cabinets, can dispense the light in a different way, adding texture and interest in unexpected ways.'

8. Keep everyday items at easy reach

While glazed cabinets and dressers should look visually appealing, it's also important that the items inside are arranged in a practical way. Think about positioning everyday items on the shelves which are easiest to get to, while more occasional items can be placed on higher shelves.

Similarly, heavier items are often best stored lower down with lighter ones higher up - not only does this make practical sense, it often looks better visually, too, with the larger items serving to anchor the display.

Practical and stylish, glazed kitchen cabinets are the perfect solution if you're looking for somewhere to both store and display kitchen items. As interior designer Jack Ovadia, founder of Ovadia Design Group explains, 'Glazed cabinets are experiencing a resurgence in contemporary kitchen design, offering a refined elegance that feels fresh and modern.'

'After a strong trend in oak wood kitchens, many homeowners are now seeking alternatives that bring depth and character without the heaviness. These cabinets are perfect for showcasing your finest dishware, colorful glassware, or artisanal ceramics, adding a personal touch to your space.'