Need help with these kitchen shelves!

Are you talking about the bottom shelves?

They look like the perfect spot to put fresh fruit and veggis, you can make cute baskets to display them in- functional and decorative!!

I love these: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/rooms/decorating-with-baskets-19900558

and this is so simple but makes all the difference: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/rooms/color-blocked-basket-10650621

I would put a curtain on it with nice colors to go with your interior. Maybe put some wheels under it to raise it a bit and make it easier to clean under it? Now it looks like you have put it temporary there. Merry Christmas !

i would push the cabinet close to the frig. put a new counter top on top and extend it out to cover the garbage can. put doors on cabinet or more country look put a curtain on. If you want to leave it open make it a coffee station center the microwave and put you cup hooks in the cabinet store creamer coffee and pot inside

www.realsimple.com/home-organizimg/decorating/decorating-kitchen/kitchen-dec

I think some really nice baskets on the shelves would help declutter the area and look like it has a purpose. Pieces like that are very useful in a kitchen, if you have the space for it.

i love the idea of pushing the cabinet tight and adding a larger top, when you get that new top, also buy a shelf to match, in color and length, wide enough for the microwave to be stable. hang that shelf as high as you can and still allowing yourself to work your microwave properly. make your top onto a coffee bar, moving the coffee pot to the inside corner, nearer the fridge for stability (dont want to knock over the hot coffee pot while taking out the trash). Reposition the great wrought iron shelf you have in the open space below the microwave shelf, maybe adding a few extra cups hung using s hooks and a similar sign to your santa one for after christmas for over the coffee pot for balance. then look for some cool turquoise contact paper in a couple different patterns and go crazy with it. make cookbook covers, cover cereal boxes, make labels for the canisters in other parts of the kitchen. then do the back wall of the cabinet with some of that paper, and cover boxes for onion and potatoes or bottles of soda or whatever you need to store in the great space down there. your accessories dont really look rustic so dont go for a curtain to hide the space. it doesnt add to the more modern vibe i see developing in your kitchen. hit the thrift stores looking for your color kitchen things or just find shapes you like and then hit up the hardware store for some turquoise spraypaint. tape off stripes or chevrons and make the pieces work for you. and always remember, the only thing that looks bad is the thing you didnt do. once you start moving things around, you will get brave and see new ideas.

I think putting it on wheels to make it a bit higher and buying a scrap of countertop that is larger to make it more like a movable island---could be butcher block---using wire baskets would useful on the shelves and look neater. Can you put the microwave elsewhere and make it more of a coffee bar there?

I like the idea of putting a countertop on it, however, I would shift the cabinet away from the fridge and put the garbage can between the fridge and cabinet. That way you can put a curtain right across since the countertop would extend from your doorway to the fridge. Plus, use baskets.

I would also extend it out on top with longer shelve, adding legs to the end the trash is on. Paint it a color that pops! Put baskets in it. Mabye even put legs on it itself, be sure to account for the length you put on the end if you do that. I don't like things that sit on the floor in the kitchen. A contrasting color would make it interesting instead of trying to match it.

Great to store cookbooks!

I'd consider putting some chunky round "legs" on the bottom for a little more height and perhaps 2-4 wicker baskets or wire baskets in matching or coordinating colors (to give a more uniform look). The only problem with adding a top that extends over the trash can means you may have to slide the trash can back and forth each time you need to use it. That will get old quickly! If you could move the trash can elsewhere, I'd add some cute hooks and a small curtain rod or wooden dowel to hold tea towels. Good luck with whatever you decide. Hope you post pics for us to see!

What a difference already.

easiest thing would be a small extension rod ( put in top ) and coordinating fabric hanging from it ( find a pair of cafe curtains)

From the photo,I am not really understanding what you want?

s I would put doors on you could put pretty open shelves above it.

If we could see the rest of your kitchen area It could help.

Microwave carts have them higher but seen on TV shows where people but it lower in their cabinet. They do take up too much space---LOL--but we can't seem to get along without them nowadays.

Add a door or a curtain to the front of it. Paint the inside a different color and add more shelfs or section the inside off. You would also stencil something that you like on the sides, such as a flower design or what ever would go with your decor. Have fun.

make sure you post your "after" photos for us Maranda, want to see what you decoded to do. have fun with it.

It looks as if the cabinet is extremely out of proportion to the fridge. Would it be possible to stack another equal size cabinet underneath this one and to drill 2 holes in the back for the microwave and coffeemaker and place them inside the cabinet on the upper shelf? You could also remove the wall cup holder and place the cups neatly underneath the coffeemaker on the shelf below the coffeemaker plus add a nice plant on the very top of the newly stacked cabinet. Matching square baskets or containers in the new bottom cabinet would help you to keep from having any visible clutter. Also a white garbage can would match the area and not be as much a distraction as the black one is now. Hope this is helpful.

I would paint it to match the wall so it looks more like a built-in. Then add some nice deep wicker or woven baskets on all the shelves, 3 on each shelf.

I like the idea of creating depth by painting the insides of the shelves Or using decorative contact paper. Id also move the shelving to be flush with the end of the wall where the trash can is now. then Id get another one of those same white shelves and put it against the fridge, hopefully making an L shape. But instead of building it with the shelves Id leave off the shelf. The trash can can then sit in this open new unit ( I too would get a white one or even a prettier one and one that had a flat top). The fly squatter can be on a hook inside this new shelf too (The inner side). U could put a tension rod on this and slide a small currain on it to close it off From view. I would move the coffee maker to the top of this new shelf (cenrered) with coffee needs such as sugar and teaspoons and maybe a jar of biscotti) and running the cords behind the shelves I would then center the microwave On the shelf it is currently. U could add tall canisters for large utensils like stiring spoons/ladels or a knife set if it is close enough to Ur counters. On the wall I would add two white floating shelves (staggered to fit width of the wall... One flush with the current trash can wall edge and the other flush with the fridge side of the wall and they will meet and overlap in the middle). This will add height to meet the fridge and add Ur coffee mugs as u have now with a few more colorful ones Hanging on hooks From these new floating shelves. Clear canisters for sugar and coffee and tea would be nice (large ones for display purposes). On the white shelves u could put a large bowl for fruit (instead of on top of the microwave). Canisters like the one u have above the cups would also be nice and can hide smaller things (even plastic bags or a roll of trash bags). The basket you have on that shelf is nice too. If you don't need all the space you could put that in the center horizontally and then something decorative like bold colorful fruit bowls or a pitcher for water on either side. On the bottom shelf you could put a slighlty bigger dark wicker basket with a lid tI contain whatever is in that storage tub or art materials for the kiddos to use at the table. Id also put a glass cutting board under the coffee Maker instead of the towel and Id put one under the microwave too just in case. A third floating shelf could be put on the fridge with magnets maybe and have light things on it.

Wow! I hate to follow this (GREAT Advice Sapna). I was going to say add baskets to fit all lower shelves.

Perhaps you could use it in another room and/or area.

chalk paint it black...spray paint wicker baskets sane as wall the wall with few utensils on rack by microwave chalk paint that also...could have metal wire bows on shelves with fruit , towels etc... the shelf above needs to be spray painted dull black...i say this because your coffee pot and microwave are black...so you need to work in this as accent color i would have either a few plants or vintage collectables from hooks and on shelf...sifter, potato masher..or cheap at thrift stores...write on your chak painted board....put some chalk board themed picturs in dining room add at least 3 black items for accent color there

metal bowls)..your microwave and coffee pot are the main items there and since they are important...you need to work with those colors a bit

Someone else had suggested putting castors on this. I converted a tv stand with castors for kitchen use (painted it a nice country green) and it is the best idea in my kitchen. Simple to roll out to sweep all the cat hairs! Great idea to make life simpler.

Here are a few pictures of some ideas. All depends on your style. You already have the cute basket & other items.

I love this area. Wow what a change.

You can't go wrong with any of these options.

The interior of the shelf needs color. I could see the same grey as is on the walls. It would give the shelf some depth. Baskets on shelves are always great. They keep things from looking cluttered. The shelf above needs to be something that has a heftier feel. Floating shelves are a really modern option. I really like grey barn wood and would try to work that in some where. Maybe in the shelf above. Obviously you need a trash can in the kitchen. There are slimmer ones that would fit between the fridge and shelf. It might be hard to find but would be an option to get it out of the doorway.

Hello I would take the cup holder off of the wall I would add legs to it too and Heights and it a little bit maybe make a little desk out of the bottom put the decanter is on the top of the Shelf because you're going to have it up about like 3 feet well enough to put a chair under there but you have a little desk there and you know the Shelf up on the wall instead of on the floor and use the shelving for the microwave and stuff and then today are you are you have a little space to maybe write some recipes down maybe do some little bit of homework there I don't know who knows God bless you have a nice evening

I definitely would paint the inside of the cabinet. and I like the idea of more baskets. what theme are you going with? coffee or santa? what is the main color of your kitchen? Do you like baskets or bins? either would work well with the space. depending on if you like industrial or a softer approach. just some thought provoking ideas!