How to Find Hidden Storage Opportunities in Your Kitchen
Look around with open eyes – are there any storage possibilities you might have missed?
Using all the available space in your kitchen will reduce clutter and improve organisation. So whether your kitchen is large or small, check out these storage ideas, which could work well in almost any cooking space.
The bookcase and wine rack in this small kitchen are great decorative features, as well as providing additional storage and removing items that might otherwise clutter the space.
Utilise a blind corner
Blind corners are always tricky to work with, so why not turn a negative into a positive? Creating a bookcase in an awkward corner gives extra detailing, as well as easy access to cookbooks and other reference materials.
Find a local kitchen designer and read reviews from previous clients.
Blind corners are always tricky to work with, so why not turn a negative into a positive? Creating a bookcase in an awkward corner gives extra detailing, as well as easy access to cookbooks and other reference materials.
Find a local kitchen designer and read reviews from previous clients.
Maximise a corner nook
This corner nook was given considerable thought before being turned into wine storage. It’s a great idea for any kitchen, pantry or even small home bar. Corners can be hard to work with, but here all the space is usable and functional.
You might also enjoy 25 Stylish Ways to Store Wine.
This corner nook was given considerable thought before being turned into wine storage. It’s a great idea for any kitchen, pantry or even small home bar. Corners can be hard to work with, but here all the space is usable and functional.
You might also enjoy 25 Stylish Ways to Store Wine.
Don’t waste a fridge gap
If you’ve ever bought a home with a fridge space that doesn’t match your fridge, you’ll most likely end up with a wide gap. Sometimes that gap is large enough to become a good ‘space opportunity’.
Most people will squeeze in the broom and possibly an ironing board, but if you want something more permanent and, dare I say, more visually appealing (or concealed), these solutions might be a great option…
If you’ve ever bought a home with a fridge space that doesn’t match your fridge, you’ll most likely end up with a wide gap. Sometimes that gap is large enough to become a good ‘space opportunity’.
Most people will squeeze in the broom and possibly an ironing board, but if you want something more permanent and, dare I say, more visually appealing (or concealed), these solutions might be a great option…
Spaces that are around 100mm wide are perfectly suited to wine storage, which requires minimal space. If you want something that’s a little more versatile, adjustable shelves can give you good storage for books, platters, trays and other bits you might want to tuck away.
Shelves, however, don’t use all the available depth. Fridge gaps are generally 500-600mm deep, so if you want to make use of this, a slide-out system might prove a better use of space.
If your kitchen is existing and you want to improve its functionality, some solutions can be retrofitted. It’s possible, for instance, to buy a five-tier pull-out rack on wheels that’s just 120mm wide.
The narrowest pull-out pantry can suit a cabinet that’s only 138mm wide (internal measurement). The more common types suit 250mm-wide spaces (internal). They provide great functionality, because all contents can be accessed easily. These systems are best professionally installed and tend to be more expensive.
If your kitchen is existing and you want to improve its functionality, some solutions can be retrofitted. It’s possible, for instance, to buy a five-tier pull-out rack on wheels that’s just 120mm wide.
The narrowest pull-out pantry can suit a cabinet that’s only 138mm wide (internal measurement). The more common types suit 250mm-wide spaces (internal). They provide great functionality, because all contents can be accessed easily. These systems are best professionally installed and tend to be more expensive.
Look for other narrow spaces
In narrow gaps between cabinets, a slide-out broom/mop holder like this one could be a good option. Its specially designed racks fit around the broom or mop, allowing for all the space to be used efficiently. It’s great for kitchens, laundries and under-stair cabinets.
In narrow gaps between cabinets, a slide-out broom/mop holder like this one could be a good option. Its specially designed racks fit around the broom or mop, allowing for all the space to be used efficiently. It’s great for kitchens, laundries and under-stair cabinets.
Some of these mechanisms can be fitted behind a hinged door, as well as installed into existing cabinetry.
Bottom-mounted slides will enable you to install pull-outs into really tight spaces; side-mounted slides in narrow spaces require holes to be screwed before the cabinet is assembled.
Bottom-mounted slides will enable you to install pull-outs into really tight spaces; side-mounted slides in narrow spaces require holes to be screwed before the cabinet is assembled.
Internal drawers can also be used in narrow spaces. The width options are highly flexible because they’re custom-made. Do your homework on the side-wall thickness, because some drawer systems might leave you with limited storage space, especially if the cabinet is less than 130mm wide inside.
Go halves on a clear wall
In narrow kitchens, it’s often a trade-off between having a wider area and additional storage. I love what they’ve done here: the room is still open, but the slim cabinets on the right provide nice visual balance and terrific storage. The cabinets may be shallow, but they offer plenty of space for glasses, mugs, cups, chopping boards and more.
In narrow kitchens, it’s often a trade-off between having a wider area and additional storage. I love what they’ve done here: the room is still open, but the slim cabinets on the right provide nice visual balance and terrific storage. The cabinets may be shallow, but they offer plenty of space for glasses, mugs, cups, chopping boards and more.
Fill empty floor space
Whether they’re freestanding or on castors, small kitchen islands can be useful in a wide range of kitchens. They can be moved around and serve a range of functions: additional food prep area, bar/serving station when entertaining, or a casual table to dine at.
Being able to integrate storage into these islands further adds to their value. Just consider the workflow of the space to make sure you can easily get around if dishwasher doors or drawers are open.
Whether they’re freestanding or on castors, small kitchen islands can be useful in a wide range of kitchens. They can be moved around and serve a range of functions: additional food prep area, bar/serving station when entertaining, or a casual table to dine at.
Being able to integrate storage into these islands further adds to their value. Just consider the workflow of the space to make sure you can easily get around if dishwasher doors or drawers are open.
Open up a cabinet end
Accessing a narrow space from the side, as with this end cabinet, can make it much more useable. Inexpensive and readily available hooks and fittings can be used to organise the wall space, so all those bits and pieces are stored away. You can also use racks (such as spice racks) inside these cabinets to maximise storage where there are empty sections.
Accessing a narrow space from the side, as with this end cabinet, can make it much more useable. Inexpensive and readily available hooks and fittings can be used to organise the wall space, so all those bits and pieces are stored away. You can also use racks (such as spice racks) inside these cabinets to maximise storage where there are empty sections.
Be clever with a shallow void
Shallow spaces like this can provide a great place to store narrow items such as brooms, mops and dust pans. These commonly used items are concealed within the cabinetry design, so they blend in seamlessly yet are easy to access.
Shallow spaces like this can provide a great place to store narrow items such as brooms, mops and dust pans. These commonly used items are concealed within the cabinetry design, so they blend in seamlessly yet are easy to access.
A nook may initially seem like a difficult space to use, because it’s commonly narrow and, if deep, difficult to access. But with a little thought, many of these spaces can be storage treasures.
The joinery around this doorway creates a lovely transition between the kitchen and adjoining room, while creating a great place for cookbooks and prized crockery.