Create a storage-packed kitchen with our 20 clever solutions for making the most of your kitchen cabinets, drawers and pantry.
Open shelves provide plenty of storage while keeping everyday serveware, pots and pans within easy reach. For the true chef, built-in knife slots in this kitchen’s butcher-block island keep culinary tools handy. Photo courtesy of The Brooklyn Home Company
Keep little ones busy while you finish up dinner prep with hideaway kitchen storage for art supplies. Roll-out shelves make the most of the storage space at the end of this colorful island and make it easy for kids to access crayons and paper then neatly put everything away again. Photo courtesy of Mullet Cabinets, Inc.
Shelves, pullout baskets and shallow drawers will ensure your pantry offers a place for everything and keeps everything in its place. “Even small closets can be converted into orderly and spacious walk-in pantries. It’s about making the best use of the space you have,” says Rozalia Kiss, design manager of transFORM.
Even if there isn’t room for a walk-in pantry, you don’t have to sacrifice much-needed storage. Designer Bart Lidsky of The Hammer & Nail, Inc. embraces the height of this kitchen to create a fully functional pantry with cabinetry. No space is wasted with tall pullouts and drawers and shelves of varying sizes which allow for a variety of food storage needs.
Curved cradles turn an ordinary pantry shelf into a beverage storage center and allow you to store wine — or even water or soda — bottles on their sides without fear of them falling off the shelf. Photo courtesy of transFORM
Storing spices in a drawer rather than a wall-mounted rack ensures seasonings are handy for cooking while preserving their delicate flavors by protecting them from sunlight, moisture and heat. Photo courtesy of Dura Supreme Cabinetry
Put corners to work with a carrousel-style rack that spins to allow easy access to items in the back. Photo courtesy of transFORM
Keep root vegetables, like onions and potatoes, fresh longer by storing them in a cool, dry, dark place. Handy open-weave baskets, like these, provide air circulation to keep the veggies dry while the cabinet’s interior protects them from sunlight. Photo courtesy of Dura Supreme Cabinetry
Instead of precarious stacks of cookware piled in the back of a cabinet, store your everyday pots in a handy drawer. This drawer features two separate sections: a deep area for housing big pots and a shallow roll-out for storing potholders, lids and trivets. Photo courtesy of Dura Supreme Cabinetry
To really maximize the storage in your kitchen, put unused areas to work. Typically, the “drawer” in front of the kitchen sink is just a false front, but with the addition of cleverly hidden hinges and a stainless steel tray, it becomes out-of-sight storage for wet sponges and scrub brushes. Photo courtesy of Mullet Cabinets, Inc.
Make the most of your utensil drawer with dividers that organize utensils, steak knives, measuring spoons and even your favorite spices. Photo courtesy of Dura Supreme Cabinetry
A clever peg system allows dishes to be placed in a base cabinet for easier lifting and organization. Sturdy slides under the drawer can support up to 250 pounds, so heavy plates are no problem. Photo courtesy of Mullet Cabinets, Inc.
Pullout pantry racks are a smart place to store canned goods, dry goods, and fruits and vegetables, while still providing greater visibility and ease of access. “Your home and pantry should enhance your lifestyle, whether you are hosting friends or cooking dinner for the family,” says Rozalia Kiss, design manager of transFORM.
Stash dishwashing supplies out of sight. This narrow pullout provides sink-adjacent storage for dish soap, scrub brushes and hand towels. Plus, a towel rack allows the dish towel to dry after use. Photo courtesy of Dura Supreme Cabinetry
Homeowner Susan Opperman wanted to display her husband’s passion for wine in a fresh, modern way. Her custom-constructed island safely houses 30 bottles of wine in a functional design without distracting from the kitchen’s overall look. Design by Sally Ross Designs and Kenzer Furniture; Photo by George Ross Photographs
Make the most of those pesky corners with drawers that embrace the right angle. Another perk: Corner drawers increase the depth of a standard kitchen drawer by six inches. Photo courtesy of Mullet Cabinets, Inc
Hideaway storage is key to keeping a kitchen looking well organized and clean. Pantry-style shelves and pullout drawers maximize storage space in a narrow cabinet next to the double ovens and refrigerator in this kitchen designed by Jennifer Gilmer Kitchens & Bath Ltd.
Large islands are the ideal space to add much-needed storage as well as a few luxuries. Designer Jennifer Gilmer of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchens & Bath Ltd., included an under-counter beverage refrigerator, deep and shallow drawers, and even an extra prep sink to create a functional and stylish island.
Keep pots handy for cooking by storing them right below the range. This convenient drawer even features a partition at the back that neatly stores all the lids in plain view. Photo courtesy of Dura Supreme Cabinetry
Vertical pullout spice racks are the perfect solution for small kitchens, since they take up a minimal amount of real estate while providing plenty of storage. The hidden storage also keeps the spices out of light, which can weaken their flavor. Photo courtesy of Dura Supreme Cabinetry