Maximizing space in your kitchen is one of the most important chores we face, but it’s also one of the more difficult! Let’s face it, we have way to much stuff! Of course, we need all of it! So, we need to find ways to store all of it. There are several ways to estimate your storage needs when designing your new or remodeled kitchen. With a little bit of creativity, you can follow an easy set of guidelines to add some necessary space to your kitchen!
1. Estimate your needs. There are several ways to estimate your storage needs, first remove everything from your cabinets, combine items appropriately into groups that would go in individual cabinets. What could you reorganize to use space more efficiently? What could you move to a less accessible space, because you use it less frequently? The best approach to cabinet planning might be to work with a kitchen designer, your contractor or your cabinet maker to place appliances and cabinets where they will make things readily available where you need them to be when entertaining, cooking or cleaning up. If you’re trying to work with the cabinets you already have, then evaluate how you can maximize your cabinet space with various cabinet organizers. Once you have estimated your needs, it becomes much easier to plan the style and design you most want while also ensuring that you will have the type and amount of storage space you need. A little imagination and some creative planning will result in the kitchen of your dreams.
2. Use your Doors. The inside doors of kitchen cabinets are largely forsaken many times. Whether you shop online or prefer department stores, many places sell racks that can either be mounted on the kitchen cabinet door or discreetly hang over the top.
These racks can hold everything from spices to travel size condiment packages without putting an unnecessary strain on the door. A further consideration is to add some self-adhesive hooks to the inside of the cabinet to allow for the easy hanging of dishtowels and pot holders. Either of these space saving solutions will free up space in other cabinet areas.
3. Extra shelves. To help maximize space add some shelves yourself. Consider planning out a specific use for each individual shelf and adjust the height accordingly. If you have room for an additional shelf after your plans, then get a board cut and install it (or have your hubby do it). Have a shelf for canned goods at one height, then a shelf for boxed non-perishables like potato flakes or biscuit mix, and then a shelf for some of the taller boxes like cereal. Not only can the new shelves add space, but they will assist in product organization as well.
4. Use vertical space. Most kitchen cabinets have a great deal of space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling. So,utilize this space! Many people will usually use the edge for storage of cute knick knacks or dinner plates, but it can also be used to a more practical end as a bookcase or as storage for extra food and cooking supplies. Using vertical space is also easier on the eyes, it removes the illusion of clutter. For example, why have a roll of paper towel sitting on a busy counter when you can hang one or more paper towel holders?
5. Create hiding spots. Trash and recycling fill up quickly in kitchens, so rather than purchasing freestanding bins, dedicate or convert a cabinet into dual purpose trash and recycling center. Or, use the drawer next to the stove as a spice drawer, especially one with drawer organizers.
Also, dead space to the side of the refrigerator can be reclaimed by creating a pull-out cabinet, with shelves designed to hold canned goods or cleaning supplies. Spices, teas and other small items are easier to reach when stored in small tin canisters hung on a magnetic strip installed on a wall, the side of a cabinet, inside a cabinet door or the side of the refrigerator.
Even a large kitchen needs ideas for unique kitchen storage and small kitchen owners can benefit by maximizing storage space for convenience and organization. Strategic or organizational changes will make any kitchen feel and operate more like your dream kitchen. Most importantly, you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so make it enjoyable!
Don’t forget to visit Plumbtile.com for everything from kitchen accessories to hardware!