You don’t have to be an organized person to have an organized kitchen. The right hardware, space planning, and kitchen accessories can do most of the work for you.
Spend time thinking about how you use your kitchen and what space and storage needs you have. With a little planning now, you won’t have to think twice about where to find the ice tongs or the corkscrew. Consider everything that’s currently in your kitchen and work with your designer the most convenient and ergonomic place to put it in your new kitchen. Note on your new-kitchen blueprint what you plan to store in each cabinet and drawer.
When it comes to storage, take advantage of every corner of your kitchen, from cabinetry and countertops to walls and islands. Once you know what you’re working with, read through our storage tips to learn easy ways to turn a cluttered space into a smart kitchen.
Don’t be content with just basic standard cupboards and draws for your storage requirements. Check out the growing number of options for how to make drawers give you more storage space. They’re being used now to store plates, pots and pans, and snacks-and replacing base cabinet shelving in many instances.
And remember that the standard dimensions for kitchen cabinets are becoming less and less so. Find out from your kitchen designer or cabinetmaker how much you can push it. Maybe you can add 15cm of storage to your base cabinets making them. Or you could make your upper cabinets a taller than the standard.
Keep aesthetics in mind. To avoid turning your kitchen into an overwhelming collection of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, add some contrast. Screened or frosted cabinet doors hide clutter while breaking up the monotony of wood. You may want to consider open shelving. Or, stick with three walls of closed cabinetry but opt for an open floor plan-let the fourth wall open into an adjacent living or dining room. The options are endless.
Here are just a few kitchen storage solutions you may wish to consider:
SHELVES
Look at different interior shelving options for easy-access in hard-to reach places including:
- Pullout wire baskets
- Swing Pullout shelves
Turn an awkward corner into a valuable storage spot with a lazy Susan. Many shelving manufacturers offer accessories to make access even easier, like pie-shaped bins and slideouts.
BASKETS
- Add visual depth and interest with pullout wire baskets. These are great for the pantry and getting to hard to reach places
BINS
- Make cleanup a breeze with pullout trash and recycling bins or even a counter top bin.
DRAWERS
Use dividers and Blum orgaline kits for great organization and simplified retrieval:
- Cutlery/Utensil storage
- Spice drawers & trays
- Crockery Storage
- Cutting knife dividers and security
- Pots, containers and lids storage
- Consumables and bottle storage
- Odds and ends storage e.g. pencils and scissors
- Consider using drawers instead of shelving for your base cabinets.
- Don’t equate drawer storage only with cabinetry. Many appliances, including refrigerators, wine chillers, and dishwashers, now come as drawer units. Store milk and juice next to your breakfast nook or place frequently used items in a refrigerator drawer beneath your workspace.
- Keep what you use where you use it. A large drawer under a cook top is an ideal place for pots and pans.
PANTRIES
Buy in bulk and store with ease with a pantry unit, complete with your choice of shelving:
- Spice drawers & trays
- Fixed shelf pantry
- Pullout pantry
- Foldout pantry
- Rollout pantry
ISLANDS
Storage space doesn’t have to be along your kitchen’s perimeter-or even built-in. Islands have become an increasingly essential workspace, while freestanding pieces like hutches and armoires are quickly finding their way into the kitchen, adding visual interest and enhancing the room’s style with antique charm.
Don’t overlook their value of good storage. An organized kitchen is one that puts what you use where you use it. If you use your island for food prep, installing a cutting board, cutlery drawer, small sink, or trash drawer will save you valuable time. Similarly, locate pots and pans, pot holders, or serving platters on and in cooking islands.
Your options for storage solutions include:
- Place your cooktop on your island, freeing up the wall space formerly taken up by the ventilation unit.
- Consider installing a microwave in your island-they can eat up your countertop space.
BENCHTOPS
When it comes to countertops, organization tows a fine line. Though clutter can make food preparation difficult, completely bare countertops are often impractical. Don’t get rid of everything-storing frequently used small appliances can turn into a daily headache.
Your options for storage solutions include:
- Mount narrow shelf along the backsplash to store small, frequently used items like spices or timers.
- Opt for appliance garages to store toasters and blenders out of sight, or keep them in a corner or along the wall.
- Select a butcher block area with a cutout hole. Locate a trash container underneath to quickly discard scraps.
- Store spoons and stirrers in a ceramic crock on your counter for easy access.
- Install a pullout cutting board in an opening just below the countertop to maximize workspace.
- Want utterly bare countertops? Make sure you have the correct drawer storage as a substitute for countertop placement (i.e. a place for knives near your cutting board).
WALLS & SPLASHBACKS
Don’t ignore your splashback space-use it creatively, and you’ll find yourself with creative and stylish storage solutions.
Your options for storage solutions include:
- Mount a cookbook holder to your wall to keep recipes at eye level-and away from counters filled with bowls and ingredients.
- Make overflowing drawers a thing of the past with a splash back storage system, perfect for hanging cooking utensils.
- Hang a pot rack over your island or install one on your wall-just make sure your pots and pans are near your cooking space.
- A decorative wine rack can add a gourmet flair to your wall, but make sure the wine doesn’t sit for too long.
