I would worry more about sunlight damage on open shelving, than dust.

That's what I always think about when I see the magazine pictures of fabulous quilting studios with piles and piles of fabric all arranged by color on open shelves. They look great for the photos but I have to wonder if it's just so they'll look good in the magazine.

I live on the highway and have found no matter whether the cupboard or open or closed you will get dust. I put mine in either plastic containers color coded or in colored boxes for the same reason. I am always in all of them, the fabric never sits more than a few weeks with out being taken out and replaced so they don't get creases in them. But then you must make up your own mind what you really want.

Thank you all for your input. If I go with open shelves, I'll make a sheet cover to keep out light. I never considered fading as a factor!

My stash is in drawers or in the big (65 qt. at least) plastic clear totes.

I live on a farm, the dust comes in no matter what, so I use those totes with the covers!