Kitchen Storage Upgrades to Plan Before Cabinets Are Ordered
A kitchen can have plenty of cabinets and still feel short of storage. The problem is often not the total number of boxes. It is that shelves, drawers and corners were planned without considering what the household cooks, where appliances are used or which items need to be reached every day.
October is a useful time to review kitchen storage before holiday cooking exposes every crowded cabinet and cluttered counter.
Inventory the Kitchen Before Designing It
Emptying every cabinet may not be practical at first, but make a list of what is currently difficult to store. Include cookware, baking sheets, food containers, countertop appliances, pantry goods, pet supplies and recycling.
Notice where items are used. Pots belong near the cooking surface. Dishes and glassware should be convenient to the dishwasher or cleanup sink. Coffee supplies need a home near the machine, not scattered through three cabinets.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends locating a substantial share of storage near the main cleanup and preparation sink. It also advises choosing storage organizers around the user’s actual needs.
Use Drawers for Lower Cabinet Storage
Deep base cabinet shelves can hide items at the back. Wide drawers bring cookware, dishes and food containers into view and reduce the need to kneel and reach.
Plan drawer depth around the contents. A shallow top drawer works for utensils, while deeper drawers can hold pots or mixing bowls. Peg systems and adjustable dividers keep stacks from sliding when the drawer opens.
Traditional doors and shelves still make sense for some items, but they should not be the automatic choice for every lower cabinet.
Give Corners a Working Solution
Blind corners often become storage for things nobody wants to retrieve. The NKBA recommends a functional storage device in at least one corner cabinet when corner cabinets are present.
A lazy Susan, swing out shelf or pullout system can make the space usable. The correct option depends on door width, adjoining drawers and the objects being stored. Review the hardware in person when possible because different systems use the available space differently.
Create Vertical Storage for Flat Items
Baking sheets, cutting boards, trays and pan lids are easier to reach when stored upright. Narrow dividers above an oven, beside a refrigerator or inside a base cabinet can turn an awkward space into useful storage.
Do not make every slot identical. Measure the largest trays and allow enough width to remove them without scraping cabinet faces. A vertical cabinet can also keep serving boards from becoming a heavy stack that must be lifted apart.
Plan a Pantry Around Visibility
A deep pantry is not always an efficient pantry. Pullout shelves, shallow door storage and grouped zones can make food easier to see before it expires.
Store frequently used items within comfortable reach. NKBA access guidance places common items roughly 15 to 48 inches above the floor when possible. Heavy appliances should not be stored at the top of a tall cabinet where they are difficult to lower safely.
A pantry should also leave room for changing habits. Adjustable shelves are more forgiving than a fixed arrangement designed around one set of packages.
Hide Appliances Without Losing Counter Space
An appliance garage can keep a toaster, blender or coffee machine ready without leaving every item exposed. Check door operation, outlet placement and heat requirements before choosing this feature.
A lift shelf may help with a heavy mixer. An island can house a microwave, deep drawers or serving pieces, but storage should not interfere with seating or required clearances.
Include Waste and Recycling in the Cabinet Plan
The NKBA recommends waste receptacles near cleanup and preparation areas, with a second location for recycling in or near the kitchen. A pullout cabinet can keep containers contained while preserving a clear floor.
Design Storage Around the Way You Cook
Allure Baths and Kitchens designs and installs kitchen cabinets, islands, countertops, flooring, lighting and complete remodels throughout Phoenix and the surrounding Valley. For help creating storage that fits your cookware, appliances and daily routine, call 602 741 4745 for a free in home estimate.
Live References
Allure Kitchen Remodeling Services
Allure Kitchen Cabinet Cost and Planning Guide
