Some rustic kitchen islands and carts have open shelving to provide easy access and storage of pans and pots. Because there are no doors, foot traffic within the kitchen won't be interfered. This is the exact reason why open shelving is ideal for a small kitchen. Open shelves, of course, come with their own downsides. For one, they make a kitchen look cluttered, especially if you don't exert an effort at arranging and tidying up the contents of the shelves. They can also collect dust. Islands and carts with cabinet doors and drawers may be excellent at hiding clutter, but they also require enough room for the doors and drawers to open.