Ina Garten's Golden Rule for Kitchen Shelving That Looks as Good as It Works

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Scroll through any kitchen on Instagram and you'll find shelves brimming with decorative props—but Ina Garten has zero interest in that approach. Her open shelving? Functional, beautiful, and above all, authentic. "I adore working surrounded by beautiful objects, but I have no patience for anything that serves no purpose," she writes in a recent Substack essay that reads like a masterclass in purposeful kitchen styling.

These days, hyper-curated kitchens have become the standard—special-occasion glassware, whimsical Lettuce Ware, and tinted glass arranged just so, yet rarely touched. Garten flips that notion entirely, advocating for decorating with utility at the forefront. "When you display the dishes and serveware you genuinely use and cherish, your kitchen comes alive," she says.

Naturally, that doesn't mean crowding your shelves with just any bowls, utensils, or gadgets. Garten offers a few guiding principles. The 77-year-old cookbook author encourages layering old and new—from heirloom silver trays and artisan dinner plates to freshly minted porcelain bowls—and doing so with deliberate restraint. She advises against going overboard with a kaleidoscope of colors (unless maximalism is your signature). Instead, Garten suggests committing to a cohesive palette. "Think white porcelain paired with silver," she offers as one classic combination.

Beyond color, Garten stresses the importance of varied silhouettes—mixing shapes prevents visual monotony. "Choose different forms—round, flat, plus varying heights—so they complement one another," she advises, noting that leaning plates and platters against the back wall of a shelf creates instant vertical presence. And whatever you do, tuck in a few unexpected pieces that bring personality, such as a well-worn cookbook or a petite, warm-glow lamp.

Ultimately, Garten says, the goal is crafting a space that's equally satisfying to behold as it is to cook in. "Every morning when I walk into the barn, I think, 'I can't believe this is where I get to work,'" she shares. "I hope your own curated displays give you that same feeling in your kitchen!"

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