Finishing Touches
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Finishing Touches

The Ultimate Guide

Introduction
  • 50 DIYs to Update Your Kitchen
  • 10 DIY Wood Bar Carts
  • Styling Tips for Kitchen Shelves
  • Ways to Display Your Cookbooks

15 Stylish Cookbook Display and Storage Ideas

By
Lauren Thomann
freelance writer Lauren Thomann
Lauren Thomann
Lauren Thomann is a jewelry expert passionate about crafting and DIY home improvement, writing on both topics. She has been in the antique jewelry business for over 13 years. She completed formal training on diamond and gemstone courses at the Gemological Institute of America and makes her jewelry from reclaimed materials and antiques. While refurbishing her 1916 bungalow on her own, she shares lessons learned through her DIY and home improvement articles.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
and
Lacey Ramburger
Profile
Lacey Ramburger

Lacey Ramburger is a personality assessment expert based in Kansas City, Missouri, with more than five years of experience. Her areas of expertise include Zodiac, Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram. She is the author of the book "Being Whole" and dozens of articles on personality assessments and relationships.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 10/08/21
Wooden shelves displaying cookbooks and houseplant next to kitchenware and coffee maker

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

Though many households rely on digital solutions to keep track of recipes, some still hold fast to good, old-fashioned cookbooks. Cookbooks can be heirlooms, contain some tried and true gems, or may add to the decor of the kitchen.

Take a look at these cookbook storage ideas to help you add style and function to your kitchen, whether you have two cookbooks or 20.

  • 01 of 15

    Line Them Up Against a Stunning Backsplash

    kitchen with white upper and lower cabinets, set of 5 cookbooks propped up on counter besides black bowl

    Blue Copper Design

    Storing cookbooks on the countertop is ideal for books you often use since they'll be easily accessible. A simple option is lining the books against the backsplash. You can use decorative bowls or other items already on the counter to serve as bookends so they won't risk falling over.

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  • 02 of 15

    Keep Cookbooks on a Built-In Beverage Station

    beverage station with blue cabinets, built in wooden shelf with cups and cookbooks

    Design: Velinda Hellman of Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sarah Ligorria-Tramp

    This cookbook display idea requires a little more planning if you don't already have built-ins, but it's well worth the investment if you have space. To replicate this look with existing built-ins, arrange your cookbooks by color or place them on alternating sides of the shelves.

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  • 03 of 15

    Add Built-In Shelves to Your Kitchen Island

    island with built in shelves for cookbooks

    Studio Peake

    If you have more than 10 cookbooks and a wide enough kitchen, going for an island that already has (or could incorporate) shelving is a great option. If you want to go the DIY route, a creative option is to turn a sideboard into a small kitchen island with open shelving or build a bookshelf to serve a similar purpose—both are perfect for displaying your wide array of cookbooks.

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  • 04 of 15

    Add a Cookbook Shelf

    kitchen island with built-in cookbook shelf

    Our VickyPark Home/Instagram

    Consider this cookbook idea if your small kitchen is lacking storage space both on the countertops and within the existing cabinets. Since cookbooks aren't a necessity, it makes sense in a small kitchen to keep your display as minimal as possible. Attaching one to the side of your kitchen island can be a sleek and easy way to display your favorites without taking up any much-needed space in other parts of your kitchen.

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  • 05 of 15

    Style Cookbooks on Open Shelving

    open shelving with various kitchen dishes and cookbooks

    Ashley Montgomery Design

    Open shelves​ are trendy in kitchen design right now, but you must learn how to style them. Cookbooks make exceptional filler items for this purpose. The only drawback is that depending on how you style the shelves, the books may be difficult to access. Keep your most-used cookbooks on the lower shelves and stored vertically.

    How to Use Kitchens With Open Shelves
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  • 06 of 15

    Make Use of Smaller Shelving

    kitchen island with built in corner bookshelves

    Charlie Coull Design

    Sometimes furniture offers plenty of shelving and storage space—but can come in unusual shapes and sizes. If you have a small amount of shelving open, it could be ideal for displaying your favorite recipes, like the kitchen island shown here. The open shelving makes sure the cookbooks are a focal point. Make sure you put some time into arranging them, though—otherwise, you may run the risk of looking cluttered.

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  • 07 of 15

    Keep Cookbooks Organized in the Pantry

    pantry with organized shelves, baskets and a table for cookbooks

    Neat By Meg

    If your kitchen has a pantry, see if you can designate one of the shelves for cookbook storage. Keeping them on an eye-level shelf is the best call to ensure your favorite recipes stay within reach. Just about anything can work as bookends for this idea, so get creative.

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  • 08 of 15

    Opt for Glass Door Cabinets to Display Cookbooks

    kitchen cabinet with clear glass panels to see items inside

    Afro Bohemian Living/Instagram

    If you want the look of open shelving but don't have the means to rip out existing cabinets, consider trying cabinet doors with glass panels. Give the inside a fresh coat of paint, and you'll be able to style your cookbooks without having to spend a ton of money updating the kitchen.

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  • 09 of 15

    Store Cookbooks in a Multi-Tier Basket Stand

    set of wicker baskets holding various kitchen items including cookbooks

    JC Design/Instagram

    There are a lot of baskets and trays on the market that will work perfectly for creating a cookbook vignette on your countertop or around your kitchen. But before you go out and buy something, look around your house. If you happen to have a set of storage baskets or even a multi-tier version like the one shown above, it can easily be repurposed in your kitchen to store cookbooks and mugs that you want easy access to.

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  • 10 of 15

    Choose One to Display With a Book Holder

    kitchen counter with floating shelves and backsplash, one cookbook propped open for display

    Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions

    If you happen to have a favorite cookbook that you use all the time, why not make it the focal point? Using a book holder, prop the book open to your favorite recipe and allow it to stand alone without other distractions surrounding it.

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  • 11 of 15

    Utilize the Blank Space Above the Fridge

    white modern kitchen with retro fridge cookbooks and bowl on top of fridge

    Design: Jess Bunge for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Tramp

    The space above the fridge poses a challenge for many of us, especially if our fridge isn't under a kitchen cabinet. Sometimes the best option can simply be stacking a few books right on top of the fridge itself! Try stacking them horizontally so their names can easily be seen yet still provide a space to set items you might typically want to display on the refrigerator.

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  • 12 of 15

    Add a Corner Shelf to Display Cookbooks and Decor

    wooden corner shelf with cookbooks, plant, and other small decor items

    Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions

    Corner shelves are an ideal solution to add extra space into bare corners that are hard to decorate. Installing corner shelves can serve as the perfect option to display beloved cookbooks that you don't want to hide away. If you have extra space, you can add a few plants or dishes to add some variety.

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  • 13 of 15

    Keep Them On Top of Cabinets

    kitchen with white cabinets and cookbooks and plants placed on top

    Home By Polly/Instagram

    Often, overlooked space can be the perfect way to solve our problems—especially when it comes to storage. If you have open space on top of your cabinets, why not use it to showcase your collection of cookbooks? This can be especially useful if you have a wide variety of books that you just can't find room for in a smaller kitchen.

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  • 14 of 15

    Arrange Your Cookbooks by Color

    cookbooks arranged by color

    Neat By Meg

    As other ideas have demonstrated, grouping your cookbooks by color can make the display more eye-catching. Whether you stack them horizontally or vertically on a shelf, try creating a stunning rainbow of recipes that will undoubtedly stand out.

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  • 15 of 15

    Install Small Cubbies Made for Cookbooks

    white kitchen with white octagon backsplash and small cubbies for cookbooks

    Arbor & Co.

    If you are a huge fan of your cookbook collection, it only makes sense to create specific space for them. Small cubby-style cabinets like the ones shown here have just enough room to show off a curated cookbook collection without taking up too much room elsewhere.