15 Modern Kitchen Cabinet Ideas to Replace Your Open Shelves

Ah, open shelving—one day you were nowhere to be found, and the next day, you were the essence of every Instagrammable kitchen, the topic of entire Pinterest boards filled with deftly styled vignettes of cookbooks, ceramics, and trailing plants. Almost overnight, it seemed that every home worth its re-pins was spilling over with airy displays arranged just-so. But lately, we've been craving a return to cabinets—not just for the obvious practical reasons (hello, dust...) but also for the sleek and streamlined look they offer a kitchen. (It's also a lot easier to "fake" a clean and cohesive look when all your cookware isn't on display 24/7.)

But we're not hankering for just any cabinets. A new class of ultra-modern styles has emerged, and it's hitting the spot, if you ask us. Often hardware-less and subtly Scandi-inspired, these new cabinet styles feel fresh and lend an instantly pulled-together, polished look to any kitchen. Let's face it—if they're going to displace open shelving as the new crowd favorite, they have to be compelling. Equally popular? On the opposite end of the spectrum, hardware-lovers will rejoice at seeing oversized bar-style drawer pulls take center stage—literally—proudly displayed across the face of cabinets to bring a fresh new look to the kitchen.

No matter which side you lean toward—minimalist and sleek, or decidedly hardware-happy—we're sure there are a few cabinetry ideas that will spark some inspiration. Here are our favorite modern cabinet styles that have us considering a full kitchen remodel right now.

01 of 15

Subtle Sage

We're no strangers to the colorful cabinets trend—but to be honest, most of the dreamy deep blues and muted green cabinets we've seen have been a more traditional style, so it's refreshing to find some that are modern and modular like these. Plus, this space proves once and for all that modern cabinetry doesn't equal a "cold" kitchen—there's tons of texture, warmth, and personality in this space.

02 of 15

Back In Black

Is there anything cooler than slick black cabinets with a seamless, hardware-less face? We didn't think so—until we saw this space, which cleverly combines a graphic, vintage-inspired tile motif with these current & contemporary cabinets.

Della Tore Cementina Black and White 8-in x 8-in Ceramic Tile $1.38

Shop

03 of 15

Blank Slate

How to make white cabinets interesting? Add a graphic pop in the form of wide stripes to your walls and treat them as a blank canvas.

04 of 15

Circle Game

We're not ready to say goodbye to traditional millwork cabinets...but we do think they could do with an update. These whimsical oversized half-circle door pulls are just the thing to bring a classic cabinetry style into the now.

Looking to dip your toes in this trend? These smaller—but still striking!—half circle pulls will make a similarly bold impression.

ModShop Half Circle 4" Drawer Pull Pair $60.00 $42.00

Shop

05 of 15

Custom Mix

There's no rule that says you need to match your hardware on upper and lower cabinets. These modular grey-hued cabinets look even more stunning with a hint of brass on the lowers, but we like the idea of leaving the uppers knob-less for a more clean look. We'll be dreaming about owning this kitchen one day...but until then, we'll just stock up on some similarly minimal-chic grey ceramics to get the look.

Hawkins New York Shaker Dinerware Salad Plates, set of 4 $80.00

Shop

06 of 15

Go With The Grain

While we could only dream of having this much storage in our kitchens, there's something about the way the wood-covered doors and cabinets blend together and disappear that feels almost like a magic trick. Contrasting white cabinets bordering the room provide just the right amount of added interest.

07 of 15

Top Notch

We thought we'd seen every possible arrangement of different colored top-and-bottom cabinets, but this space proves there are still a few chic design tricks to be tried. The light wood upper cabinets bring tons of additional texture to this space, and act as a sleek backdrop for this scene-stealing light fixture.

Tom Dixon Mirror Ball Pendant $9,001,000.00

Shop

08 of 15

Pyramid Scheme

They may not be the most "modern" in the traditional sense, but we couldn't complete this list without mentioning these stunning pyramid-motif cabinets used by Whittney Parkinson. We love the unexpected X-shape they create in a more traditional space.

09 of 15

Black On Black

Not ready to break up with your open shelving just yet? These tinted clear cabinet doors are a good solution to ease the transition (without putting your mismatched dishes front-and-center). Plus, the combination of reflective and matte surfaces is a surefire hit.

10 of 15

Cutout Chic

Who doesn't love a unique cutout detail? These hardware-less cabinets have a funky geometric accent that makes them easy to open and shows off contrasting wood beneath.

Article Esse Light Oak Counter Stool $299.00

Shop

11 of 15

Center Fold

We haven't seen hardware used quite this way before on upper cabinets. Centering a bar-style pull at the bottom of the cabinet puts a fresh twist on a more commonly seen style of millwork.

12 of 15

Brass Masterclass

Sometimes you just need a little sparkle. Light-catching oversized brass bars bring dimension and glamour to this streamlined shape.

Emtec Modern Oversized Cabinet Pull in Satin Brass $166.00 $133.00

Shop

13 of 15

Slide Step

One word: drawers. It's easy to see why more and more homeowners are replacing their cabinets with tons of drawers—they're easy to organize and keep even your most troublesome tupperware contained and tidy. This lust-worthy wood rendition is stealing our hearts...and it's made even cooler by the contrasting white cabinetry that sits opposite.

14 of 15

Blue Note

We saw *SO* many blue cabinets over the past few years, but they always seemed to lean traditional...until now. This ultra-saturated shade feels new again on a more mod-leaning cabinet style, and when paired with a warm wood island, the look is totally refreshing. We love how the unexpected floating brass counter area plays perfectly off brass-accented stools, too.

15 of 15

Grade-A Grain

Ok, we're seriously swooning over the way this unique cabinet finish shows off the wood's natural character and grain while also providing a moody wash of color. And have we mentioned that glass-front top cabinets are a great way to show off your styling chops without subjecting all your stuff to a coat of dust and cooking grease? It's a win-win.

5 Gorgeous Wallpaper Backsplash Ideas for Kitchen Spaces