It seems like nearly every kitchen you see in design magazines these days features some form of open shelving. Whether it’s one long shelf spanning the back wall or multiple tiers of shelves displaying picture-perfect dishware and decor, open shelving has become an aspirational kitchen element. That’s because the look of open shelving in a kitchen can provide charm and personalization while also maintaining a sleek, tidy aesthetic. In reality, though, “Open shelves can be a blessing and a curse in kitchen designs,” says interior designer Hannah Goldberg, the founder and principal of Hannah Charlotte Interiors.

There are several reasons that open shelving might not end up being the best fit for your kitchen and your lifestyle—but there are also several reasons it might be just right. So, here’s what you should consider before you do a full kitchen remodel.

Your Dishware

Unless you just add one small shelf for cookbooks and small, decorative accents, you’ll likely need to display some of your dishes on your open shelves. So, think about what your dishes look like and whether you’d be happy to see them on display all the time.

“It doesn’t make sense to add open shelving if you don’t have complete dishware sets or if you don’t like to see bits and bobs out when you are done using the kitchen,” says interior designer Emma Kemper, author of the new book, House Rules: 100 Ways to Feel at Home. “You may feel like open shelves feel messy and cluttered.”

If you wouldn’t want to display your current dishes and kitchen items on your open shelves, consider whether or not it’d be worth it to buy new items for your shelves.

If, on the other hand, you love your dishes and wish they weren’t all hidden behind closed doors, then open shelving could be a great way to show off your collection.

Your Design and Organization Style

A great thing about open shelving is that it works well with a wide range of design styles, and you can alter the style of the shelves to fit your kitchen aesthetic. “Hidden bracket open shelving lends itself to sleek and contemporary designs nicely and organic modern designs, but open shelving can be just as at home in a European rustic, French country, or English cottage setting when paired with beautiful shelf brackets and gallery rails,” Goldberg says.

Kemper says that open shelving can also work in both minimalist and maximalist kitchens—and everywhere in between. “Minimalists seem like they would be great at keeping open shelving nice and organized,” Kemper says. “They only have what they need and what brings them joy, and why not display the objects that bring you joy? However, I think a curated collector would have a very nice kitchen with open shelving. This way they can display the niche teapots they’ve collected from around the world or the colorful glass bottles that have a cool story behind each one.”

However, you should be realistic about both your design and organization style and what you’ll be able to maintain. If you’re more of a maximalist knick-knack lover at heart but you’ve been looking at minimalist kitchen photos, you may be disappointed when your kitchen display never looks quite like the inspiration photos.

“If you’re an aspirational neat freak—but not actually all the way there—open shelving may not be right for you,” Goldberg says. “Give it a test run. If the open shelving helps you get to an organizational level you have always dreamed of—great! But if it’s a chore for you, and you dread the daily chore of keeping your dishes and glassware organized, then closed storage is the way to go.”

The Size and Look of Your Kitchen

Open shelving may seem like a luxurious addition reserved for large, sprawling kitchens, but experts actually say it can be an especially practical choice for kitchens with a smaller footprint.

“It makes a lot of sense to add open shelves when the kitchen already feels small and maybe dark but there is not enough storage,” Kemper says. “This way you don’t have full cabinets filling up walls and absorbing the limited light.”

Open shelving can also be a solution for kitchens with unusual layouts. “Open shelves are wonderful when you are working with unique ceiling conditions and angles that make traditional upper cabinets more cumbersome to install,” Goldberg says. She adds that open shelves can also be used to fill in odd or tight spaces that would otherwise be unused wall space.

How Often You’re Willing to Clean

Finally, one fact that shouldn’t be ignored about open shelving is that they’re exposed to everything that may be floating around your kitchen. “My best piece of advice is that open shelves will collect dust,” Kemper says. “If you aren’t into dusting and do not need more storage or display style storage, steer clear of open shelving.” If you store dishes on open shelves and you don’t stay on top of dusting, this may also mean that you need to rinse or wipe out those dishes every time before using them, so keep that in mind before you opt for this choice.

However, if you’re willing to stay on top of dusting and wiping down your open shelves every so often, then we say go for it.