Here’s How to Increase the Storage & Functionality of Your Kitchen

Adequate storage is essential for maintaining a smooth-running kitchen. It will also help keep your kitchen looking great and ready to receive visitors at a moment’s notice. From cabinets and shelves to kitchen carts and islands, here’s how to get the most storage out of your kitchen space.

Kitchen Cabinets

If you live in an older home, your original kitchen storage cabinets may not be as useful as they could be. Replacement could be the answer to achieving an optimized space that matches your home’s existing decor. There are several options available.

Requiring a little time on your part, these cabinets are also easy to install. Manufacturers usually provide a choice of door styles. 

• Delivered to your door in parts and boxed for easy identification 

• Simple-to-follow instructions are usually included 

• Require joining the cabinet box pieces and attaching doors & hardware 

• Wide range of styles available at multiple price points

Building Cabinets from Scratch

This type of cabinet project is more suited to the skilled DIY enthusiast who has the tools and experience to do the job. You can also consult with a contractor or take advantage of our Home Installs Service. 

• Requires careful planning, measuring, cutting and assembly 

• Entirely customized design and finish 

• More expensive than ready-to-assemble options

Shelving to Suit Your Particular Kitchen

Every kitchen requires shelving – usually the more the better. The type of shelving will depend on the size and layout of your space. Here are a couple of practical options.

Pantry and Closet Shelving

An existing separate pantry or closet can be equipped with pantry shelving designed for your specific needs. Repurposing those spaces is an easy job for the DIY homeowner. If you’re not that handy, choose pre-made shelving units made of wire racking, vinyl or wood. These require only screwing or snapping together before installation inside the pantry or closet.

Open Kitchen Shelving

A kitchen without a pantry or closet can benefit from open shelving instead of upper cabinets. This popular option frees up counter space, provides extra storage, and gives you a display option for attractive kitchenware.

Add a Kitchen Cart

If floor space allows, a kitchen cart will give you added workspace on the top and storage space underneath. Carts can be placed against a wall or under a window. You could even make one a home for your microwave or coffee maker. A kitchen cart on wheels is simple to move whenever necessary.

Add a Kitchen Island

If you have an open-concept kitchen you might consider a large kitchen island vs. a smaller cart. These can be found with large countertops, plenty of kitchen storage all around and a custom look. A kitchen island can either be attached to the floor or move freely to suit your space and design needs.

Drawer Organizers

When you’re looking for the bottle opener but it’s hard to find in a cluttered, overstuffed drawer, it’s time to buy a drawer organizer. Decide what’s going in each drawer and then choose organization trays to suit each one. For instance, cutlery trays have spaces to separate the types of utensil. We offer a variety of multi-space trays and single space boxes to keep all your small tools and gadgets easily accessible.

Pull-Out & Pull-Down Racks

Kitchen cabinet organizers include racks for keeping smaller items neatly stacked and accessible. For bottom cabinets, pull-out racks fixed to the floor of the cabinet are ideal for storing items such as cereal and cookie boxes, or cans of vegetables and sauces. Wire pull-down racks are good for upper cabinets and storing small jars and the like.

Slide-Out Waste Bins

A waste bin hidden in the sink cabinet keeps your kitchen looking neat and tidy. A slide-out bin makes it easily accessible. There are three types of slide-out garbage bins available and all are fairly easy to install.

Pivoting Bin

The pivoting bin can be mounted on the cabinet door and works in both frameless and face-framed cabinets.

Sliding Bin

The sliding bin mounts on a slide-out assembly installed on the floor of the cabinet.

Inside Drawer Bin

If you have a lower large drawer in your kitchen, you can install one or two waste bins inside. Perhaps one for garbage and one for recycling.

Lazy Susans

A Lazy Susan is a circular platform that swivels. Lazy Susans are available in a variety of sizes for different uses. They are commonly installed in corner cabinets where access is a bit limited compared to a straight face cabinet. They make it easier to access items that would otherwise be hard to reach at the back corner of the cabinet.

Spice Racks & Drawers

Home cooks tend to collect a wide assortment of herbs and spices that need to be easy to find and accessible to the range. Luckily, a variety of solutions are available. 

• Drawer Trays are perfect for a shallow top drawer in a lower cabinet. Bottles lie down in the tray and are slightly raised at the back for easy viewing 

• Tiered Cabinet Racks work well in upper cabinets with each row set above and behind the first one 

• Revolving Countertop Spice Racks are good when you have abundant counter space. Spices are stacked and set in a circular frame which is spun by hand

Bins, Jars, Canisters & Stackable Food Storage Containers

Kitchen organization relies heavily on multiple containers for food as well as cleaning products. Make a list of the things you commonly keep on hand so you can determine which containers will work best. Reusable containers can be labeled for quick identification. 

• Large bins with lids: good for flour, sugar, pasta and bread 

• Tins with hinged lids: best for tea bags and coffee 

• Glass jars and canister sets: great choice for food staples such as dried pasta 

• Stackable storage containers: airtight containers save space and help keep food fresh longer

Foldable Shopping Cart

Now that you’ve organized your new practical kitchen, what’s next? Bringing home the groceries, of course! Pick up a foldable shopping cart and make just one trip from the store to the car and the car to the kitchen.

A place for everything, and everything in its place. Your newly organized kitchen is bound to make life better for you and your family. Finding things will be easier, and meal prep will be quicker. Start browsing our wide selection of kitchen products to find the storage solutions that work best for you.