The $132 Makeover That Instantly Transformed My Blank Kitchen Wall (It’s So Gorgeous!)

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

As much as I loved my previous apartment, it was a struggle finding storage for kitchen essentials, let alone decor and other display items. My new apartment has a one-sided galley kitchen with an almost excessive amount of cabinet storage space (which has definitely been helpful!), but I still wanted to show off kitchen items I couldn’t in my previous home, particularly cookbooks. Luckily, there’s a corner in my new kitchen that has the potential of being both a convenient storage space and an aesthetically pleasing nook — and here’s what happened.

This corner is directly across from the oven and right next to my husband’s office, so I figured it’d be a great storage display area as opposed to decorative with a wall hanging or pictures. I went on the hunt for a corner bookshelf or floating shelves and found the perfect set that’s given my kitchen the pop of style and color it was missing. 

I found this handmade set of floating corner shelves on Etsy (one of my favorite places to shop for unique or handmade home decor). The L-shape made each shelf a perfect fit in the corner, and I made sure to leave plenty of room between each of the three shelves for tall cookbooks or upright plants. 

Although the shelves aren’t deep enough to place my cookbooks the way I would on a normal standing bookshelf with the binding facing out, it’s almost better that I had to display them with the covers facing out, which feels more artistic and intentional. In addition to eight cookbooks, I also used these shelves to display two plants, a decorative plate featuring artwork of my first dog, an alebrije from my wedding, a clay mug and mini candle from Mexico, and my favorite Mexican hot chocolate and salsa macha. 

Although I was searching for a solution to display my cookbooks, I did want this little corner to encapsulate my style and love for my Mexican heritage, which is why the extra trinkets and food staples made sense to display. Now, my husband and I can easily grab whatever cookbook we’re looking for while admiring these special pieces that add color and meaning to our space. 

Love These Shelves? Then You’ll Also Love …

If you’re looking for something similar, Amazon has a wide variety to choose from at even lower prices, like these rustic floating shelves made of solid paulownia wood, or these l-shaped corner shelves with brackets for a slightly more industrial look. Whichever you go for, make sure to share how you styled them in the comments below!