Creative kitchen storage
As many modern domestic kitchens become as much of a place for the family to gather and spend time together as they are a place to cook, so the dilemma can get greater: just what do you do with all those small appliances, kitchen tools and other bits and pieces so that they don’t get in the way or make the place look untidy?
Or look at it another way, because if you have a small kitchen, you have a very different problem. In that case, you really do need to make use of every spare inch going to store those things if you want to have the space just to work.
Then again, you might just want to find the right balance between a practical kitchen you can create culinary masterpieces in and an attractive and stylish room that doesn’t have every surface covered in the various things you actually need to cook with.
These are dilemmas facing families up and down the country, so this month we’re considering some clever kitchen storage ideas and how they can make your kitchen not only look fantastic, but also make it a great place to work and a pleasant space to spend time.
Make the most of the space you have
Unless you’re planning on knocking down walls or going for a full kitchen extension, you’re probably going to have to work with the space you currently have. That means you’re going to have to use it more efficiently and use up the space you’re currently wasting. If you think you’re already using every spare inch, you might find a few of these ideas helpful:
- Floating shelves – shelves offer the perfect combination of storage and ease of access. Ideal for storing regularly used things like plates, mugs and glassware, you can make them as big or small as you like depending on the amount of unused wall space you have available. Alternatively, they can also be used to display your more attractive small kitchen items.
- Ceiling hooks – even more than walls, ceilings represent masses of underused space in many kitchens that can offer useful storage solutions. Hooks on the ceiling allow you to hang saucepans by their handles so that they’re out of the way, but quick and easy to get to when you need them.
- Floor-to-ceiling cabinets – many standard kitchen cabinets have space above them that goes unused but easily acquires dust, dirt and grime that’s difficult to get at to clean. Bespoke floor-to-ceiling cabinets from a specialist designer and installer such as Highline Design & Build can make sure you can use every inch of your wall space effectively.
Build storage into every space
Look around your kitchen and you might be surprised just how much unused space there is. We’ve already mentioned a few areas where you’ll find some, but there’ll be gaps here and there that can be put to much better use. Most kitchen suppliers are unlikely to have suitable kitchen storage cabinets to fill these gaps, but a good designer will be able to come up with creative kitchen cupboard storage ideas to usefully fill them. Narrow cabinets that pull out are one solution and have the added bonus of making it easier to get to any items at the back.
There’s also often a lot of spare room on top of your kitchen cabinets, so smart kitchen worktop storage, such as collapsible risers, can be a great help. You can use them to put things on when you need them and then put them away again afterwards to ensure your kitchen stays uncluttered.
Maximise your cupboard space
Most fitted kitchens come with standard cupboards with doors. To get anything out that’s not at the very front, you’ll probably have to get down on your knees and shift everything that is at the front out of the way first. And there’s bound to be plenty of unused space in there as well.
Large drawers, on the other hand, can make far better use of that space. Not only are they easier to fill up to the very top without making everything too awkward to sensibly use, they also make getting anything out considerably easier, no matter how far back it is. Some of these drawers also have an extra ‘hidden’ drawer at the top, ideal for use as cutlery drawers or for storing other small items.
Bespoke design from an expert
If you have the luxury of starting from scratch with your kitchen storage, a skilled and creative designer will be able to take a holistic view of your kitchen and take into account every nook and cranny, every unusual shape and all your own ideas and needs when creating your storage. Whether you have the space for a large island with in-built storage or you’re in need of creative and smart small kitchen storage ideas, an experienced kitchen designer should be able to help.
For the best in kitchen design in and around Egham, Twickenham and Weybridge, you can’t do better than talk to the experts at Highline Design & Build. With over 20 years of experience in the business, we’re your local experts when it comes to designing dream kitchens and creating practical storage solutions.
Get in touch with us now for a free home visit and cost-effective quotation.