Open shelving is a kitchen trend that’s growing in popularity because it can make small spaces appear larger, lighter, and brighter, but many people are intimidated by the idea of dishes and other items hanging out on display all the time. If you like the idea of open shelving but aren’t sure how to get started or even if it’s for you, here are a few tips for making it work.

Stage it for use, not for show Function should come first when you’re deciding what dishes to put where. A kitchen that looks user-friendly and lived in is so much warmer and more appealing than a perfectly pristine one where people are afraid to touch anything.

Don’t buy dishes just for their looks Relating back to our first tip you want dishes that are attractive but also usable — normal people (even rich ones) have mismatched dishes and eclectic assortments of glasses that they use on a daily basis.

Let you and your home’s character shine through!

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing Sometimes taking the doors off just one or two well-placed cabinets can give you the effect you’re looking for while still allowing for plenty of discrete storage space for hiding easily jumbled and cluttered items.

Be ready to dust regularly Dust and residue from cooking will be your worst enemy with an open shelving arrangement. Invest in some good dusting/cleaning supplies and establish a regular schedule for giving everything a once-over to keep it looking fresh.

Think of dish piles as little sculptures When deciding how to display dishes on open shelves groupings are better than random, loose placements. Arrange dishes by color and size and put them into rows and stacks as if you were creating individual pieces of art or sculpture.